From hygge to home: how to make assisted living feel cozy

You sold the house, downsized, and found an assisted living community that feels right. Now comes another important and sometimes daunting task: making your new space feel like home. That’s where the Danish idea of hygge can help.

What is hygge?

Hygge is a Danish term that captures some of the best qualities of home: coziness, comfort, companionship, and contentment. The idea of creating a warm, welcoming indoor space grew from Denmark’s long, cold, and dark winters. It can also inspire you to make your assisted living apartment and community feel comfortable and familiar throughout the year.

To explore how to create that feeling, we gathered advice from assisted living residents, their loved ones, and professional senior living advisors who have helped families through a move. Their practical tips can help you turn an unfamiliar space into a cozy home, bring a little hygge into your life, and make your transition to an assisted living community a little smoother.

Finding hygge: think beyond your apartment

Moving from your longtime home to an assisted living community is a major milestone. As you settle in, meet new people, make new friends, and find places for your personal belongings, it may help to reframe how you think about your new space.

Senior living advisor Catherine Shepard offers a helpful way to look at the move. She compares assisted living to a cruise: “I ask groups of seniors how many have gone on cruises, and most raise their hands. Then I ask why cruises are so fun, and their answers are always the same: the chef-prepared meals, activities, socialization, and housekeeping. I tell them, that is what assisted living is - think of assisted living facilities as a cruise ship on land.”

Senior living advisor Jasilika Davidson offers another perspective. Her advice focuses on viewing the entire community as home, rather than trying to fit every part of your former home into one apartment. “You don’t live in every room of your house. The assisted living community is your home - where you go out have fun and be social. Your assisted living apartment is your bedroom - where you go to rest and sleep.” Many people feel they need to recreate an entire home in a smaller space. One advantage of an assisted living community is that shared social areas extend beyond your apartment.

Setting up your space for everyday life

Unlike a cruise, moving to assisted living means leaving a familiar home and neighborhood behind. You may have lived independently in your previous home for decades and made many memories there. The move will probably involve downsizing and letting go of pieces such as a favorite coffee table or a worn, comfortable chair. Deciding which personal belongings and pieces of furniture to bring can be difficult, so start with these practical tips from senior living advisors.

Draw the floor plan. Senior living advisor Carol Katz recommends starting with a floor plan. Map out where each piece of furniture could go, and use measurements to determine what will fit. Starting with the largest items can help you leave enough space to move around comfortably.

Remember that less is more. Begin with a few must-keep items. If possible, delay selling your home until after the move, or consider using a storage facility for belongings that won’t fit right away. You may find it reassuring to know you can revisit items you’re unsure about later, once you’ve settled into your new space.

Choose what brings you joy. Bring familiar belongings that have personal meaning, whether they’re photographs, a favorite blanket, or pieces of furniture. One mother treasured memories of family outings at the beach, so she brought and displayed her shell collection.

Use your walls strategically. Think of your room as having five sides: the floor and four walls. Use each surface thoughtfully. For example, you can frame smaller cherished items or display them in a shadow box.

Make room for photos. Place photos in collage-style frames to save visual space. You can also hang them in clusters to create a focal point, leaving room between collections to give your eyes a place to rest.

Think beyond your room. If you’ve toured several assisted living communities, you may have noticed that residents often decorate their doors or hallway areas. Personal markers can be particularly helpful for people living with memory loss or dementia because familiar pictures and belongings may make their rooms easier to recognize. These meaningful items can also express your personality, mark the entrance to your new home, and help introduce you to new neighbors.

Keep the floor clear. Support the safety features of your new home by keeping the floor free of rugs, decorative items, and cords that could create tripping hazards.

Add texture. For a strong sense of hygge, add plenty of texture. Throw pillows, blankets, and textured wall hangings can make a plain space feel cozier. One family added texture with a rattan ceiling fan, which didn’t create a tripping hazard.

Commit to color. As many older adults experience, older eyes perceive color differently. Colorful items can bring joy and vibrancy to a smaller space. Consider a new bedding set or lamp that fits your favorite color scheme.

Plan for visitors. Your assisted living apartment may not be your main place for socializing, but you’ll probably welcome visitors from time to time. Think about items that can help you entertain friends, family members, and grandchildren when they stop by. A pack of playing cards, a puzzle, or a few board games can make visits feel fun and celebratory while helping everyone stay engaged.

Three ways to support a parent moving to assisted living

If you’re helping a parent move to assisted living, the process may feel emotional for your whole family. Every family dynamic and moving experience is different, but these three dependable approaches can help you support your parent through the preparation period and the transition into their new home.

Acknowledge every feeling. Major changes can bring both joyful anticipation and feelings of loss or grief. Staying positive can help, but don’t dismiss what your parent may be experiencing. As you prepare for the move, take time to sort through meaningful belongings and reconnect over the memories attached to them.

Do it together. Whether you’re sorting belongings, downsizing, or shopping for new items, support can make the process easier. If possible, take time away from work or other routines so you can be present during the preparation period.

Bring comfort and joy to moving day. Before the move, stock the pantry and refrigerator with favorite foods, bring a bouquet of balloons, or frame a meaningful photo as a surprise. One daughter made moving day more familiar by bringing a few flowers from her mother’s prized garden.

Expand your idea of hygge

Moving to a long-term care community is a major milestone, but it can also be a chance to create an environment that reflects how you want to live. Your new home can offer opportunities for quiet reflection, time with close friends, and stimulating activities throughout the community. By bringing a little hygge into your apartment and the larger community, you can create a comfortable, cozy place that feels warm, welcoming, and truly your own throughout the year.