Know Thyself
As you consider moving from your current home, it’s important to look at a variety of senior apartments before making a final decision. Your new residence should comfortably accommodate the way you want to live in retirement.
Will you be based at your new address full-time or live in Central Florida only part of the year? Do you prefer to spend time at home and in the community? Or will you answer the call of Orange City golf courses and nearby beaches?
Whether you’re a sunbird or a snowbird, like being indoors or are more outdoorsy, knowing how you’ll spend your days will influence your choice of a floor plan for independent living.
What to Ask
Start by gathering information from your shortlisted communities before you visit. Our list of questions will help you dive into the details:
- How many different senior independent living floor plans are available?
- Are there multi-bedroom and multi-bath floor plans?
- Do floor plans offer kitchenettes or full-sized kitchens?
- Are balcony or patio spaces private or shared?
- Are laundry facilities private or shared?
- Where are residences located within the community footprint?
- Is additional storage space available if needed?
- Can residences be customized?
- Are guest rooms available on-site?
Next, look over your favorite floor plans, room by room. Whether you’re looking at a floor plan drawing or a 3D view, you’ll start to get a sense of what it could be like to live in your new home.
6 TIPS FOR SMALLER SPACES
You need a lot less space than you think you do.
- Bedroom: Do you really need a nightstand? A floating shelf or small side table work just fine.
- Kitchen: No built-in island? A free-standing island doubles as prep area and storage.
- Living room: Imagine it fully occupied with family and guests to avoid overfilling with furniture.
- Dining room: Use a bistro table and a hanging pendant light to instantly define a cozy dining area.
- Balcony or patio: All you need is space for an outdoor chair or two and somewhere to set flowers and a cup of coffee.
- Storage: Stash seasonal decor and other clutter in storage. Choose double-duty furniture to maximize space.
(Get even more tips on making smaller spaces livable. Check out our blogs: Decorating for Small Spaces and Downsizing Tips.)
Find Your Flow
Are you used to a more traditional layout where walls distinctly separate rooms, or are you in favor of a more open floor plan? Imagine yourself moving through the spaces represented in the floor plan. They should comfortably work for your normal activities — cooking, TV watching, entertaining, working or relaxing.
Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Make sure the furniture you plan to keep will fit your new senior apartment. Take measurements or cutouts of your pieces with you to arrange in a prospective floor plan. Compact pieces such as a loveseat instead of a sofa will create a feeling of spaciousness.
Look at the Big Picture
Take a good look at the floor plan of the building in which your apartment will be located. Some communities centralize amenities around a hub, while others spread them out. Notice where dining, health services, fitness facilities and the pool are located in relation to your preferred apartment. Are there covered walkways in case of inclement weather? Are indoor hallways so narrow you have to stop and wait for someone to pass? Add these observations to your list of pros and cons.
Fit Your Finances
Have a budget in mind when you review the array of independent living floor plans at a community. After you visit the community, you may revise that number based on what you’ve learned, but make sure you pick a floor plan that won’t cause financial strain.
Villas, Cottages and Apartments, Oh My!
Explore a range of well-appointed one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans that will fit your budget and style using our Floor Plan Finder. We offer villa homes, garden cottages and apartments in a delightful Orange City setting that feels like a friendly neighborhood.