How to Make Your University Room Feel Like Home

Moving to university is exciting, but packing up your life and settling into unfamiliar accommodation can also feel daunting. Once the boxes are unpacked and the essentials are in place, how do you transform a standard student room into somewhere that genuinely feels like home?

We caught up with Jaq, a former Master’s student, to revisit his university experience and discover how familiar comforts, including his favourite ÉLAN fragrance AFTER DARK, helped him create a space in which he could relax, study and feel more settled.

Jaq, what does home mean to you?

I guess it’s a feeling. It’s being comfortable, having good food around you and spending time with your family.

What advice would you give someone starting university?

It goes by before you know it, so do as much as possible and really throw yourself into the experience. You can either sit in your room for three or four years or get out, meet people and explore everything that interests you.

University brings together so many different people that, however niche your interests might be, you’re likely to find someone who shares them. Find the things that excite you and get involved.

Can you make university accommodation feel like home?

Absolutely. I learnt that your room becomes your haven. The more effort you put into keeping it clean, comfortable and personal, the easier it is to relax.

You may be a long way from home, so it’s important to create a space where you feel good, somewhere you can sleep, study and switch off properly.

What motivated you while you were studying?

I wanted to succeed in whatever I eventually chose to do, and I felt that learning as much as possible would help me get there. University taught me that the more you learn, the more you realise there is still to discover.

What brought you joy at university?

I’m a very visual person, so seeing the progress I’d made always felt good, whether that was in rugby or academically.

My friends were a huge part of it too. When you develop a genuinely strong bond with someone, nothing beats it.

Can it take time to make friends at university?

Definitely. You have to remember that real friendships can take time.

There’s a lot going on when you first arrive, but if you make an effort, stay open-minded and have a little patience, people begin to show their true colours and you can form genuine connections.

What was your favourite fragrance?

AfFTER DARK by ÉLAN Home Fragrances. I love both the candle and the reed diffuser.

What does After Dark remind you of?

It makes me think of my mum because she bought my first one. It also gives me that feeling of having everything together.

I used to light my candle after tidying my room. It was the final step that told me I was finished for the day and could relax. I kept the matching reed diffuser in my bathroom too.

I received so many compliments. All the boys loved it and said it was like aftershave for your room. It made the space look and smell good, but it also felt sophisticated and I was quite happy to take that!

Whenever somebody said, “Your room smells really nice,” I would quietly think, “Thanks, Mum.”

Jaq’s five university-room essentials

1. A favourite ÉLAN candle or reed diffuser - Jaq chose AFTER DARK

2. Photographs of friends and family

3. Warm ambient lighting

4. A good desk lamp for studying

5. Plants - or convincing artificial ones if keeping them alive feels like one responsibility too many

Fragrance has a remarkable ability to make an unfamiliar space feel comforting and personal. Whether it reminds you of home, marks the end of a productive day or simply makes your room feel more inviting, choosing a fragrance you love can become an important part of settling in.

Please check your university or accommodation provider’s fire-safety rules before using candles, reed diffusers or other fragranced products. Never leave a burning candle unattended.