I'm looking for decorating suggestions for small studio room in assisted living. Any ideas?

men are easier . beer , my hobo knife and a drip pan for my motorcycle .

A few dried flowers to brighten her room from time time may cheer her (and everyone) up. Maybe you can buy her one of the digital picture frames that you can upload some picture into... The pictures change by themselves... I'm sure you can purchase them on amazon. just thinking... At the Dollar Store you can buy female 'pads' and toiletries to make things easier for her(?) to take care of herself.

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. True, my MIL taste are not mine, but that is not why we will not be bringing much of anything. Most items are very dirty or in poor / broken condition. She is generous with her money when it comes to donating to the mail scams, church, politics etc. but has refused to spend or let us spend anything on her. We will bring photos/pictures and some of her dishes. There are many reasons she is heading to assisted living, but I will post that as a new thread. My dear mama just passed two weeks ago at 90 (she lived with us), the next day my MIL entered the hospital, then rehab and will transition to a.l. It is very strange to be making funeral plans for my mom in one phone call and the next call be making rehab plans for my mil. I've yet to have my good & necessary cry. We were/are the poa's, pod's, executors and family hold it togethers. Keeping our heads barely above water. btw, we are very pleased with the a.l. place for mil in fact had researched it, etc a year ago knowing we were heading that direction. Whew!

Teaka, you don't mention why MIL is moving to AL but take into consideration her challenges, present and future. Visit the AL and/or ask for a list of suggested items, I am sure they have it. Some items on the lists here were provided at my Mom's and MIL's AL.

A few ideas - A lift chair. Sam's club has them for much less than other places. The limited colors (if you go this route) will be the start of color selections for MIL's new room. At MIL's place,we have dishes/bowls/glassware for 4. Truly, only the glasses get used. I agree with the idea of going to a thrift shop for that type of thing, the selections near me are terrific and the cost is nothing.

Add an inexpensive vase so flowers arriving wrapped in paper have someplace to go . Don't forget health and beauty items --- body wash/lotion, shampoo, dental stuff, etc. Dish detergent, sponges. In both places we used, linens and shower curtains were provided. Make sure EVERYTHING is washable. And don't be afraid to take things home or use the machines at the AL to wash items. The staff doesn't have time to do that. Will you need a shower floor mat? Or something to step on when exiting the shower? Add a non breakable bathroom cup. I wouldn't spend a fortune on the comforter, they get hard use in a facility. One of the off price chains might be better so you don't gulp when it's time to toss it ( stains, communicable diseases, etc). Keep the TV stuff VERY simple. Actually, if you can get an old fashioned TV, MIL might actually be able to work it!

Wall hanging might be a big family photo, a stenciled phrase meaningful to MIL (Available in dept store Kohl's for instance), a family photo album, any religious items that may be important. Drawer organizers (cutlery, jewelry, scarves). She will also need a phone (keep it simple) , paper and pencil, greeting cards, address book, stamps, playing cards or game books - word search, suduko, etc. You may want to keep some cleaning stuff at her place. Trust me, the facility does what it does and you may want to 'help them' a bit. Finally, depending upon how close you live, a family member may need to 'store' bulky items that just can't be stored in an AL room. Holiday decorations, out of season clothing, etc come to mind. Good luck.

My mthr was a hoarder so we started with nothing. The facility provided her a twin bed, bedside table, and lamp. I went online and bought a pair of "leather" club chairs (small and perfect for elder, also at Sam's club). They are lightweight and we had 6-8 screws to do on each for about 150 each. Bought a tv stand, table w drawer, desk. clothes hangers. Smart tv with dvd included was mistake, she'd never used a remote before and broke it in a few mos.

If I had to do this over, I would have gone to the Hospice Thrift store I've since discovered and bought her stuff there. It's from the same era as she owned, just cleaner, but nothing upholstered because of mites and bedbugs. Buy old pretty dishes and teacup there too. The only thing that was "hers" was the new family portrait on the wall and the college diplomas I had remade by the college. She had lost hers decades before, and was still in shape enough to recognize them.

YES on the adjustable bed, but NO rails on it. A bedskirt will make it look homier. Mom has an under bed box for storage. She also likes her little radio for listening to NPR or classic music. The facility provides her with towels and linens, which were nicer than her own. Do NOT get her a fridge, it will end up filled with rotting leftovers. Remember, NO irons, hairdryers or electric blankets or anything else that generates heat. NO over the counter meds or even vitamins--- all that stuff goes to the nurse's office. We got written MD orders for PRN (as needed) Tylenol and Dulcolax. Label every item with her name, even the TV remote. (mom got hers mixed up with the facility remote).

Kudos to you! You seem to have given this a lot of thought. Too bad you can't bring at least one side table, favorite chair, blanket, rug, etc. it can be very comforting if you can "recreate" some piece of home for your loved one vs all new as its a lot to get used too and settle in when everything's new and sterile...

If there is a way to clean an old blanket, or cut up some of the items, then re sew into a quilt or lap blanket might be comforting. Hang her favorite pictures, print, family pictures on the wall where she is likely to sit and can see them.

Consider painting a wall her favorite color.

If you can get a nice new easy chair with an electronic lift--they are wonderful and appreciated by elders. Bed, bath, beyond has some nice magazine, remote, phone holders that can hang on side of chair and make items convenient for her.

As for dishes and flatware --bring the ones she loves from home...no matter how much you like or don't like them, her own glasses, cups, saucer.

Again, it's hard to start over and the more things she brings from her old home, and mixed with new, the more comforting it will be.
Maybe hang some secure hooks on the wall, low where she can easily reach for her to hang jacket, sweater, hat.

Look for lamps that she can just push a switch at the base and can turn on and off easily.

A TV you can mount on the wall low for her would be nice and conserves space.
I'd just keep in mind "mom's" taste and not yours...no matter how much we're tempted to decorate to our taste.

Best wishes to mom in her new digs.