Whether you’re preparing to move from your family home, or you’ve recently downsized to a smaller residence, moving is an opportunity to rethink your decorating habits while creating a space that suits your unique style and preferences.

Although it might feel like options for customizing your smaller living area are limited, the truth is there many ways to make the most of your downsized space. In fact, at The Reserve, our apartments are the largest 55+ one and two-bedroom floor plans in Geneva—so you’ll have ample space to create a living area with everything you need and more! As a bonus, apartments at The Reserve feature high-end finishes, open layouts, large closets and quality upgrades to ensure an optimal living experience.

To assist you in your downsizing journey, we’ve gathered four decorating tips to help you create a cozy and welcoming space for your new apartment.

Create a floor plan for the new space.

Before you move, ask the community for a copy of the floor plan of your new apartment. Carefully look at the dimensions of each room, including the locations of windows, doorways and closets. This can help you create a plan for where your furniture, lamps, rugs and décor will go. Knowing the dimensions and layout will also help you identify which items you can bring with you to your new space, and which belongings you should leave behind.

You should also consider how you see yourself living in your new space. Will you use your apartment to entertain family and friends? Do you envision quiet days reading or baking in your private oasis? Answering these questions will give you a better idea of how you want your apartment to look.

Consider furniture size.

Will your large dining table take up too much space in a smaller kitchen? Will your oversized sofa look out of place in your living room? With your new home’s dimensions in mind, carefully select furniture based on the layout of each room. Bring furniture that will fit comfortably in your apartment and shop for new pieces that may better suit your floor plan and interior décor.

Proper storage is key.

The secret to a clutter-free apartment living is having proper storage weaved throughout your new space. Open shelves, decorative baskets, storage ottomans and coffee tables with cabinets are great options for cutting down on clutter and neatly storing frequently used items like, books, electronics or remotes.

At The Reserve, we understand the desire to keep a lot of sentimental items and keepsakes. To accommodate your belongings, we offer extra on-site storage space for residents that they can access whenever they need.

Add your personal touch.

Relocating offers an exciting opportunity to try a fresh interior design. Some helpful tips for personalizing your space include:

• Decorating with photos of loved ones and special heirlooms that spark joy.
• Using neutral colors in living spaces, keeping your color scheme cohesive and adding colorful accent pieces throughout the home.
• Adding mirrors and large artwork to walls to open up a room and make it feel larger.
• Enhancing furniture or living areas with throw pillows, rugs and comfy throws to add dimension and charm.
• Including fresh house plants or flowers for added color and warmth.

Take advantage of community life.

When you move to an active adult community, like The Reserve, you can look forward to enjoying a lot of time relaxing or entertaining in your spacious apartment. But don’t forget about the endless opportunities right outside your door. By releasing yourself from the responsibilities of homeownership, you can enjoy all the benefits of an active adult living community, which includes resort-style amenities, shared community common areas, chef-prepared dining and a wide range of activities to explore—both within the community and in the surrounding areas of Geneva.

Ready to learn more about our one and two-bedroom floor plans and the life-enriching services and amenities at The Reserve of Geneva? We’re happy to answer your questions and show you around our beautiful community. In the meantime, you can explore floor plans on the website and or contact our team for more information.