Making your space feel like home

A bare room with strip lighting and empty walls can make living alone feel lonelier than it needs to. A few small, low-cost changes can turn it into a place you are happy to come back to, and a place you feel proud to invite people into.

Bring home with you

• The University of Dundee suggests bringing familiar things from home, such as cushions from your bedroom or crockery from your kitchen, to help your new space feel settled.
• Pack a few meaningful items: photos, a prayer mat, a favourite blanket, a small coffee set or dallah, a scent you associate with home.
• YoungMinds suggests keeping your culture close by cooking a home dish, listening to familiar music, or rewatching a comfort show.
• Check your accommodation rules before putting anything on walls or using candles or incense, as rules on open flames and wall fixings vary (see Safety When You Live Alone).

Set up for sleep and rest

• NHS Every Mind Matters notes that noise, light and being too hot or cold can make sleep harder. Make your bedroom comfortable, dark and quiet.
• Useful low-cost items: blackout curtains or an eye mask, earplugs, and an extra blanket for cold climates or a fan for hot ones.
• If you can, keep your bed for sleep and rest, and work at a desk, so your mind links the bed with winding down.

Zones, order and light

• Create simple zones even in a small room: a study corner, a rest corner, and somewhere to eat that is not your bed.
• A tidy room is easier to relax in and easier to invite people into. Use the routines from Running a Home, such as a 10-minute daily reset.
• Swap harsh overhead light in the evening for a warm lamp. It is a small change that makes a room feel much more welcoming.
• Open curtains and let in daylight in the morning; it helps the day feel started (see your daily anchors in lesson 2).

Bring in life

• Mind says spending time in nature, or bringing nature into your everyday life, may support wellbeing, and suggests growing food or flowers. Mind's loneliness tips mention growing something, even on a windowsill.
• Easy windowsill options: herbs such as mint or basil, which you can also cook with.
• Music, podcasts or the radio can make a quiet flat feel less empty; NHS Every Mind Matters lists listening to podcasts and radio among things that help with loneliness.
• Pets are rarely allowed in student housing. Mind mentions pet-sharing schemes and community farms as alternatives in the UK.

Make it a place you can invite people to

• Keep a few extra mugs, a kettle or coffee pot, and simple snacks so you can say 'Come round for tea' at short notice.
• Invite one or two people for something simple: tea, a film, or a shared meal (see Cooking for Others and Hosting).
• Follow your building's rules on guests and quiet hours, and respect flatmates (see Living With Others).