How to make a loved one’s care home room feel like home

The best way to make a care home room feel like home is to fill it with familiar, personal things, such as photographs, favourite bedding, a well-loved chair and music, set up before the move and chosen with the person. Check with the home first about furniture, wall fixings and electrical items, then label everything and add to the room gradually.

At a glance

• Set up the room with familiar items before the move, where you can, so the person arrives somewhere that already feels theirs.
• Place photos and ornaments where the person can see them easily, and involve them in deciding where things go.
• Ask the home what furniture and electrical items it allows, and what its insurance covers.
• Label clothing and belongings to reduce loss.
• Settling in takes time, so keep adding small touches and keep in touch.

Why does the room matter so much?

For many residents the bedroom is the one space that is fully theirs. NICE’s quality standard on mental wellbeing of older people in care homes includes a statement that residents should be enabled to maintain and develop their personal identity. Familiar objects are a practical way to support that, especially when other things around the person have changed.

A personal room can also help visits feel more natural and gives staff talking points. Read about daily life in what it is like living in a care home.

What should you ask the home before you bring things in?

Homes have different rules, so ask before you buy or carry anything over. Age UK notes that you may be able to bring favourite furniture, but that this depends on the home, so check before you move.

Which items make the biggest difference?

The Alzheimer’s Society suggests setting up the room with familiar items before the move, placing photos and ornaments where the person can easily see them and involving the person in deciding where belongings go. Age UK suggests photos and soft furnishings.

• Framed photographs of family, friends, pets and places, at eye level from the bed and chair.
• A familiar blanket, throw, cushions or bedding.
• A favourite chair or small piece of furniture, if the home agrees.
• A radio, music player or tablet with favourite music and calls with family.
• A clock, calendar and noticeboard to keep track of days and visits.
• A memory box or photo album, which the Alzheimer’s Society lists among helpful items for people living with dementia.
• Books, puzzles, craft supplies or hobby items that fit the person’s interests.

Our what to pack for a care home guide and the moving-in checklist cover clothing, toiletries, medicines and paperwork.

How do you personalise a room for someone with dementia?

Familiar objects can help any new resident feel more at home. For someone living with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society suggests items such as a memory box and a photo album of family and home. Keep the room uncluttered enough for safe movement, put the most important photos where they are easy to see, and ask staff which objects are comforting and which cause distress. The Alzheimer’s Society advises noting any reminiscence triggers that upset the person and recording them in the care plan.

Ask staff and the manager about signs, lighting and layout that help the person find their way, as these vary by home. Read choosing a dementia care home and what a care plan contains.

How can you involve the person?

Involve the person as much as they want and are able to be. Visit the room together if possible, let them choose where things go, and keep decisions theirs rather than yours. If you set up the room alone, show them what is there and let them move things around afterwards.

It is normal to feel guilty about the move. Our guides on moving a parent into a care home and coping with guilt offer practical support.

What else helps a new resident settle?

• Pets: some homes allow them. If not, the Cinnamon Trust can help arrange long-term care for a pet. See care homes that allow pets.
• Staying in touch: a phone line, mobile phone or tablet makes calls and video chats possible.
• Photos and notes between visits, as the Alzheimer’s Society suggests, to keep the person connected.
• Time to settle: give the person space to build relationships and adjust to the routine before increasing visits.
• Couples: if you are moving together, see couples in care homes.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring your own furniture into a care home?

Often, but it depends on the home. Age UK says you may be able to bring favourite furniture, so check before you move. Space, safety and fire rules can limit size and type, so agree what is allowed in advance.

What should you put on the walls of a care home room?

Ask the home how pictures may be fixed. Family photographs, familiar prints and artwork the person loves work well when placed where they can easily see them. Staff can advise on safe positions.

Can a care home resident have their own TV?

Many homes allow it, but check the rules on electrical items and where it can go. A resident who watches live TV in their own room needs the right licence. See our guide to TV licences in care homes.

Should you label belongings?

Yes. The Alzheimer’s Society advises labelling clothing and belongings to reduce loss. Ask the home how laundry is handled and whether it has a system for marking items.

How long does it take to feel at home?

It varies. Many people take weeks or longer, and the Alzheimer’s Society advises giving time to build relationships and adjust to the new routine. Keep adding familiar touches, stay in touch and raise concerns early.

Where to get help next

If the move is still being planned, read how to choose a care home and look for homes that welcome personal touches through Find care.

Sources

• Alzheimer’s Society: Supporting a person with dementia in a care home
• Age UK: Care homes, finding, choosing and paying for a care home
• Age UK: Factsheet 29, Finding, choosing and funding a care home
• NICE: Mental wellbeing of older people in care homes (QS50), quality statements

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.