Making Student Accommodation Feel Like Home

Going to university is an exciting part of your life and finding the right student accommodation can be a hassle. It’s full of twists, turns, life lessons and endless growth. Even so it can be a little bit daunting and so it is important to have a place that feels safe and comfortable. A place that feels like home. One of the first challenges you face on this journey starts before your first semester even commences. The ever anxiety filling move to res.

Now, if you went to boarding school, moving into res might not be that big of a deal for you. However, for those who have stayed at home for their entire lives this might be a huge adjustment that you need to make, and it might be a little daunting. Whether you are staying with us at KCI student accommodation, in the IIE MSA res or in an apartment, whether you have roommates or not it is totally normal to feel like you are living in a stranger’s house… at least at the beginning.

Luckily there some adjustments that anybody can make to make their weird boxy student accommodation room feel more like home. You have all the power necessary to turn your room into your sanctuary.

Personalise Your student accommodation With Items That Reflect You

Fill your student accommodation or rather, your new home-away-from-home with things that you like. Now you are most likely living in a rental so you can’t make any permanent changes but there is nothing stopping you from tweaking a few things. If you prefer a specific type of lighting, then feel free to buy and install your preferred light bulbs or put up some RGB lights just make sure that they wont rip off the paint when you take them down.

If you are a big fan of rainbows, you can get removable decals to stick on your window to catch the light during the day and it will project stunning rainbows into your room when it catches the light.

Fill the bookshelf with not only textbooks but some of your favourite books from home, something you always grab off the shelf when you feel like reading or a book that you’ve been meaning to read but never found the time for. It is always nice to be surrounded by your favourite things so put up a poster of your favourite character, movie, or car. Every one of our rooms comes with a pin board so if you feel like you need a little extra motivation to keep you on track, you can use the pin board to create vision board. An aspiration there, and a dream over here and suddenly you have an extra kick of motivation when you get up in the morning.

Build Joyful Routines

If you like to get up early and have a cup of coffee do that and you can do it on your patio to enjoy the sunrise. If you enjoy journaling before bed light a nicely scented candle and write to your hearts content, just remember to blow it out before you go to sleep. And if you are a regular gym rat then Planet Fitness is just 1.4km away or you can make use of the IIE MSA gym that is on campus.

Few things are as uplifting as your favourite song. Make sure to put on your favourite playlist when you are taking a shower or washing the dishes to fill the silence. Just make sure to keep the noise level down and that you aren’t disturbing your neighbours.

Stock your fridge with all your favourite comfort snacks. It might be your favourite snack from your childhood, or maybe it’s a meal that only your mom can perfect. Having some comfort food that you can turn to will ensure that you have something to munch on after a long day and will help you survive all-nighters during test week!

Make some social connection, come by our office, and get a sleepover pass and have one of your friend’s come spend the night (even if they are more than just a friend ). At KCI we allow our tenants to bring their own TVs, you can even hang it up with our permission. So, bring your TV and your PlayStation or Xbox and have play some games with your friends.

Bring some literal life into your spaceSucculents, lilies, and snake plants are all low maintenance plants that you can keep in your room to bring a little life into the place. If you are like me and any plant that you are tasked with taking care of will likely die a dry and miserable death, then there is no shame in going for fake plants. Same outcome with less effort.

There are a million things that you can do to make your space feel like you. I’ve only given a handful of examples but with a little creativity the options are endless. The point is, if you fill your space with things that bring you joy and positive vibes, the strange boxy student accommodation room you got will start to feel more like home, more like you. The possibilities are endless.

Your Home Away from Home Starts with KCI

University life is filled with new experiences—and having a student accommodation that truly feels like home makes it all easier. With just a few personal touches and a little creativity, you can transform your student accommodation into a space that’s unmistakably you. At KCI Properties, we offer student housing that prioritises comfort, community, and convenience. Whether you’re looking for privacy or shared living, our residences are designed to help you thrive. Apply for your space today at KCI Properties and start your university journey in a place that feels like home.