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Ideas for Apartment Home Decorating to Refresh Your Space

Apartment design is an art form unto itself. At its core, it’s about creative space management and transforming less square footage into more charm and comfort. Here are a few ideas for apartment home decorating to give your space a fresh new look for 2019. Set Your Budget Now that you’ve taken the plunge and rightsized into the perfect active adult community, let the interior design process begin. All it takes is dollars and sense to create a space that reflects your taste and personality but does not break the bank. If you are realistic about your finances and take the time to do a little research and leg work, apartment decorating on a budget will be both fun and successful. Before You Buy, Rearrange Arrangement and spacing are every bit as important as picking out the perfect furnishings. Consider rearranging your existing pieces before replacing with new furniture. You would be amazed at how a new design layout can make a bigger impact than a new couch or piece of artwork. Area Rugs In an apartment setting, area rugs serve two vital functions. They anchor your furniture but also create room boundaries in big open spaces like an apartment living/dining room. Before buying a new rug, try swapping existing rugs and see if that improves the ambiance. If that doesn’t work, it will be fun to shop for a new solid or colorful rug that will completely recreate the mood. To change a room’s perspective, try shifting the area rug 90 degrees and angling the furniture. Less is More Clutter is never your friend, but in an apartment, it is the mortal enemy. With limited space, clutter can make rooms feel crowded and messy . No doubt you jettisoned much of your extraneous stuff before rightsizing, but now that you are living in your apartment, you may realize more knick-knacks and furniture must go. Once you’ve narrowed the space down to the essentials, it will be easier to find an arrangement that does not overwhelm. When it comes to apartment decorating tips, getting rid of the clutter is at the top of the list. Refresh Your Bedding As a major color field, duvets and bed linens define the décor of the bedroom. The easiest way to update a bedroom is to introduce new linens. Pick a new color, pattern, or style and you’re adding a whole new design element into the bedroom. Go Green Plants and flowers are an apartment’s best friend. They are inexpensive, they don’t take up a lot of space and they will add color, scent, and texture to a room. Green plants can provide permanent support to any décor and flowers can be changed as often as the mood dictates. Accent Pillows Add Flair Accent pillows are the quintessential portable décor. Instead of replacing a couch that feels dated, change the accent pillows. It’s a simple step that can alter the color scheme and overall look of the room. Switch from florals to a cleaner more modern look, or move into a different color family altogether. More than one person will be sure to ask if you got a new couch! Change Up a Lampshade Lampshades are highly versatile and can be mixed and matched quite easily with different bases. Getting rid of a tired old lampshade and replacing it with a boldly colored or patterned shade can be the difference between blah and beautiful. Check Out Your Local Thrift Store They say one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Nowhere does that ring more true like it does at the thrift store, a wonderland of light fixtures, furniture, and accessories. Thrift store apartment decorating will give you great bang for your buck, while adding charm and warmth to your space. Maximize Small Spaces The object of apartment home decorating ideas is to make the best possible use of the available space. Choosing the right size and amount of furniture and devising a floor plan that leaves open floor space is the first step. There are also tricks for creating the illusion of extra space. White walls reflect light, vertical decorating, useful wall art, and furniture that multi-tasks as storage are all helpful tools to make your apartment feel uncluttered and spacious. Your former home was all about your family. This time around it’s your turn. Apartment home living for seniors is about surroundings that make you happy and comfortable and enhance the active adult experience. When it comes to both the function and aesthetics of your space, small changes can make a big difference.

Date Night Ideas

As the formidable Bette Davis famously remarked “getting old is not for sissies.” Same can be said for dating—especially for those who have actually heard of Bette Davis. Returning to a dating scene that bears no resemblance to the one you left decades ago can be daunting. But making new connections, whether they lead to romance or not, is well worth the effort. As the smarter, more experienced version of your 20-something self, you’re certainly not going to let a few first date jitters stand in the way of potential future happiness, right? Below are a few dating suggestions for sharing a meaningful, relaxing, fun day or evening with a new prospect—or somebody already special. Learn Something New To break the ice, try a new activity that takes you out of your respective comfort zones. If you are both fleet of foot, make it a night of dancing at a local dance studio and learn a few new moves like the cha-cha or tango. Cooking classes are always fun and will certainly spark conversation and a few laughs. Also, many cities offer painting classes that are stress free and engaging. A Multiple Restaurant Experience If your city has multiple restaurants within walking distance, split the evening at different venues. Try one location for appetizers, one for the main course and another for dessert. Take your time over each course and use the time in between to get to know each other better. It takes some advance planning, but can add some pizzazz to dining out. A His and Her Joint Planning Mission Split the planning responsibilities with each of you tackling half the event. You could wind up starting the evening at a high-end eatery and finishing up at a bowling alley. Be sure to give your partner a heads up on appropriate dress and keep an open mind. Brunch is Beautiful If this is a first outing, there is no law that says it must be in the evening. Every city has great brunch places and you can enjoy a casual, fun daytime encounter to see if the two of you are a good fit. Popular brunch spots get busy, so a reservation would be advisable. Keep it Moving If both you and your date are exercise enthusiasts, you may enjoy connecting through your favorite sport or physical activity. A friendly game of tennis or golf between two like-minded participants is a great way to spend relaxing time together. A long stroll through a scenic park would facilitate natural communication. Whether you begin your senior dating experience through internet sites, get fixed up by a friend or strike up a conversation at the grocery store that leads to an evening out, remember, the basic premise is as old as time and unchanged. Girl meets Boy. They go out on a date. It doesn’t work. The End. Or, it does work. The Beginning.

Healthy New Year's Resolutions

The start of a new year is a great opportunity to assess the past and focus on making changes that will positively impact the future. Keeping in mind that old habits die hard, especially for adults as we get older, it’s important to take a moment to set some realistic new goals that will inspire you to escape the routine and embark on a path to a healthier, happier you. Check out these healthy New Year’s resolutions suited for active adults. How Are You? To genuinely improve your overall fitness requires an accurate understanding of your current health status and the habits that are impeding your wellness objectives. For example, you may already be fairly active, but need an outlet that reduces anxiety and stress . Yoga and meditation may be what your workout strategy is missing. Or maybe it’s blood sugar that is your issue, so begin by researching low sugar dessert and cooking options. Know thyself to improve thyself. Put One Foot in Front of the Other Every Day Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity. So, even if you are not fond of the gym, set a goal to get up and walk regularly. If 30 minutes is too strenuous, start with 10 and work your way up. Join a walking club and socialize your way to better health. Get Out the Bucket List There is no time like the present to cross an item off the old bucket list. Whether it’s planning a trip, signing up for a class you’ve always wanted to take, or starting that memoir, bringing aspirations to fruition is both mentally and spiritually uplifting. Get Connected Staying in touch with friends and loved ones is critical to health and happiness, and has never been easier. The technology is user friendly and available. If you’re not tech savvy, ask a friend—or grandchild—for a quick tutorial and see what a difference it makes in your life to reconnect with old friends and make new memories with new ones. Explore New Volunteer Opportunities As a healthy New Year’s resolution, nothing checks off the boxes like volunteering. Find a new way to give back to the community and you will increase your sense of accomplishment, enhance self-confidence, and engage with like-minded individuals, all while using your time in a meaningful way and helping others. Enjoy the Grandkids Stop saving the grandkids for holidays and special occasions. Now that you have the time, make it a point to reach out to them more often and strengthen that special bond. They will benefit from the contact as much as you will. Challenge Your Brain Keeping your brain active is every bit as critical to your health as moving your body. This year commit to sharpening your cognitive skills with new information and mental exercises. Take a class to learn a new subject, maybe even a foreign language. If crosswords are your thing, make sure to continually increase the level of difficulty to keep your brain working harder. The pursuit of health and happiness is about enjoying life to the fullest. As you set about accomplishing your healthy New Year’s resolutions, remember to have fun! Happy, Healthy 2018!

Stay Safe During Your Next Yoga Class

Whether you are a junior or a senior, there is a yoga practice for you! Strengthen the body. Quiet the mind. Enrich the spirit. Yoga is truly the ultimate multi-tasking discipline. As more and more baby boomers and older adults discover the benefits of practicing yoga, studios are filling up with devotees who are striving to stay strong and flexible even in the face of Father Time’s many daunting obstacles. For the 55+ crowd, yoga can be a significant factor in maintaining the muscle tone and balance that prevent life-altering falls. It can also increase range of motion in aging joints. Yoga breathing techniques can steady the nervous system and help combat depression. As with any fitness pursuit, the object of the exercise is to reap the rewards — not to exacerbate existing issues or wind up with a new injury that puts you on the sidelines. The key is to listen to your body and find the right balance between enthusiasm and ability. Seriously, at this stage of the game, who among us doesn’t know what happens when the former overwhelms the latter? Yoga is Flexible — Even if You Aren’t The beauty of yoga is that is it so easily adapted to accommodate a wide spectrum of physical abilities and limitations. Those who are slightly less flexible can enjoy a yoga regimen that is just as enjoyable — and equally, if not more, beneficial. And while you may associate yoga with a younger demographic, the truth is, many people never had the freedom to even think about yoga until they became of a certain age and had more leisure time. In your current reality, it is more than just a form of exercise. Think of it as a tool to promote longevity, enhance quality of life, and create social connections that are so important as we age. If at First You Feel Overwhelmed, Just Breathe Although it’s possible to learn from books and videos, the safest way for you to begin a yoga practice is through in-person training with an instructor. In a gentle yoga class, your teacher will observe how your body moves and teach you how to minimize the risk of injury by adapting poses to suit your skill level. It is important to stay within the limits of what feels right for you and not strain yourself. Hatha, a gentle yoga practice designed to align and calm the body, mind, and spirit is a great place to start. Iyengar yoga with its emphasis on making postures accessible through the use of props is also a good choice for older adults. Viniyoga and Kripalu, both of which make a point of tailoring the practice to fit each individual, can be great options as well. Even if you begin by focusing on breathing and gradually transition into poses, you will find yourself becoming more and more flexible over time. Those with limited mobility may want to try chair yoga, in which all poses are done with the support of a chair. There is also water yoga, which is especially therapeutic as the body feels weightless and moves more easily under water. If you have arthritis or osteoporosis, yoga can be a positive addition to your routine, providing you work one-on-one with a qualified instructor. Check Out a Class Before you begin actively participating, you may want to observe a yoga class to make sure the pace and poses being taught seem compatible with your goals and physical condition. Consider also whether the instructor is a good communicator and creates a non-competitive environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves without straining. Be sure to start where you are — not where you think you should be. If a pose causes pain, stop what you’re doing and your instructor will suggest an adaptation. Five Simple Guidelines for Safe Yoga for Seniors: Start slowly. It’s a marathon. Not a sprint. Even two 5-minute sessions a day can impact posture and wellbeing. Be kind to yourself and be patient with your body. Respect your limits and don’t strain yourself. Communicate with your instructor so he or she can keep you safe from injury with modified poses when necessary. Set realistic goals and don’t give up! Your positive attitude toward yoga can increase your positive outlook on life. Namaste

Should You Go Digital? Tips for Keeping Up With Technology

Remember when the generation gap meant your parents hated your clothes, hair, music, and—if you were a teenage girl—most probably your boyfriend? They just didn’t get you, man. Today’s technology has boosted that gap to a whole new level. Your kids and grandkids are plugged into a fast-paced world of apps and virtual reality that has revolutionized their existence. Without a willingness to understand at least the basics, you will be stuck on the outside looking in, totally disconnected from their lives. Seriously, it’s hard to annoy your children with voicemail messages anymore. They don’t even bother to check them. Much more efficient to stalk them on Facebook or shoot them a nagging text. And they will go totally nuts when you discover emojis, those funny little expressive icons. It’s worth it to find a class that is designed to teach seniors technology just for that! It’s Not How. It’s Why. The truth is for most active adults, the disconnect with technology is related to function more than form. It’s not about being incapable of learning how to connect to the internet or operate all the various devices. It’s about not understanding just how this gadgetry can be relevant to life at this stage. Finding out about the apps and software that meet your needs will elevate you from observer to participant and make your life both easier and more fun. Digital Health and Wellness The right apps and software can help keep you on top of your healthcare. For example, there are accessories and apps to help check your blood sugar. There are also fitness apps to bring the gym to you wherever you are. There are games and brain exercises to keep your mind engaged and alert. And remember, the device goes wherever you go so whether you’re on the couch or on the move, it’s always handy. Stay in Touch Texting the kids is one thing. Video chatting can make the miles between you and your long distance loved ones evaporate. You can check out the grandkids’ school projects or take a tour of their new house and keep the family connection strong and vital. Just wait until you show them you know how to facetime. That will do them in! And once you know how to upload, download and send photos by text or email, your kids can easily keep you in their loop. Back to School Your devices offer unlimited learning opportunities. As an active adult, you may have more time on your hands than ever before. Tap into the resources at your fingertips to learn a new craft, take a mini course, listen to a stimulating podcast or chat with others from all over the world who share your passions and interests. With a little information, the information highway can be yours to navigate. As you realize how easy it is to get connected, you’ll wonder why you hesitated. Seniors and technology, a match made in 21st century heaven.

Declutter and Rightsize Your Life

As Bob Dylan so aptly said, “The times they are a-changin'!” And let’s face it, if you are more than peripherally familiar with the man and his music, the times may have already changed for you! The kids are gone, or soon will be. Dinner table discussions that once focused on soccer practice are now all about rightsizing your life and embracing this new chapter. Rightsizing Definition So, what does it really mean to rightsize your life? It literally means leaving a house that has outlived its purpose and relocating to a living space that is the right size and style for your current life needs. Simply put: When your house just feels wrong, it’s time to right-size. Rightsizing vs Downsizing To be clear, rightsizing doesn’t always include downsizing. Downsizing involves moving to a smaller space and there are times in one’s life that call for a larger home. However, when it comes to active adulthood, it’s impossible to separate the two. At this stage of life, downsizing is critical to rightsizing. You want a comfortable, manageable space that provides easy, stress-free living. Rightsizing into your downsized space means an enhanced lifestyle, filled with opportunities and freedom from home ownership headaches. How to Downsize Your Home As you contemplate downsizing from your house of many years to an apartment home, and moving to a community that is geared specifically for the you of today and tomorrow, the first hurdle is going head to head with decades worth of stuff. You know, the flotsam and jetsam that is no longer relevant to your life but continues to be unnecessary, stressful baggage. Whether you already have one foot out the door or are still pondering your immediate future, rightsizing means some of your stuff has got to go. Your extraneous possessions are not going to enhance your future. Sifting through the accumulation of a lifetime is no easy task, unless of course, you are completely organized and live in a totally pristine and clutter-free environment. Of course. Helpful Tips for Downsizing from House to Apartment Home Start Small Once you’ve committed to the project, start small with one drawer, or one pile or one cabinet. Make this task a part of your regular weekly or even monthly routine. You’ve got to start somewhere. You’ll be surprised how satisfying that first clean drawer feels. Set the Timer Set aside an hour. Set the timer and give yourself permission to quit when the hour is up. If that’s too much, try smaller increments of time more often. Maybe 10 minutes a few days a week will work. Don’t make yourself crazy. There is no clutter police to dictate strategy. It’s up to you to determine the best way to accomplish this task. Yes. No. Maybe? To keep, or not to keep. That is the question. Everything you sort through will either remain part of your life, be tossed away or be sold or given away. The tricky items are the ones that land in the dreaded maybe pile. Those will turn up again, so it might be best to decide yes or no now and save additional angst on the second pass? Maybe a quick tour around to create a preliminary list of must-haves will speed up the process. A Little Help If you find you are spinning your wheels, help is but a phone call away. The member directory of the National Association of Professional Organizers is filled with pros who can help you wade through the piles. Depending on the scope of the job, you may prefer a certified relocation and transition specialist. As you interview candidates you will get a sense of what your project entails. Some professionals charge an hourly fee. Others charge per project. Keep in mind you will be working closely with this person and going through the intimate details of your past and present so be selective to find someone you feel comfortable with. As you prepare for this mission, remember you’ll be basically taking an arduous hike down good—and bad—memory lane. Decluttering can be an emotional journey, but also cathartic and freeing. Explore more about rightsizing firsthand from our guest author, Dan Carlson, as he takes us through his journey of rightsizing and finding happiness at Overture Ridgmar. Check out the first of the four-part "Home Sweet Apartment" blog series here , and use our downsizing home checklist when you are ready to get started. .