Moving off campus feels like such a major growing-up moment. Suddenly you are buying toilet paper in bulk, learning what “utilities” actually mean and figuring out how to hang a picture without losing your security deposit. But the biggest shift is not just logistical; it is social. Without dorm lounges, dining halls or opportunities to spontaneously bump into people, it is easy to feel a little disconnected from campus life.
Waking up the first morning in my apartment, I already missed my friends and the college experience I was used to. I expressed these feelings to my roommates, and we all shared the fear of losing our old friendships. To help us still feel like part of a community, we started to plan some low-effort strategies to keep friendships strong while embracing the off-campus lifestyle. Here are six ways to stay connected and make your space feel a little more like home for both you and your friends.
1. Host a Paint and Decorate Night
Grab a few cheap canvases, paintbrushes and some snacks, and invite your friends over for a paint night. Everyone can design their own art. After our paint night, we kept all of the artwork and hung it in our living room. It is creative, low-pressure and a perfect excuse to hang out without spending too much money. We found cheap 5×7 canvases online and asked around to see if anyone had extra paint or brushes that we could use. Each time we look at the artwork in our apartment, we remember the fun evening and the people who helped make our new place feel like home.
2. Throw a Dinner Potluck Party
Instead of dropping $30 per person at a restaurant, we asked each friend to bring a dish or drink to our place. I have found potlucks to be most successful when you choose a theme, like pasta night or comfort food classics. You will get to try a little bit of everything while catching up, laughing, sharing stories and realizing that eating together still feels special, even after you age out of the dining hall. Plus, it is a great way to discover and show off a signature dish, even if it is just Trader Joe’s frozen gnocchi.Â
3. Sunday Reset Hangout
When you move off campus, Sunday scaries hit different. Instead of tackling your to-do list solo, make it a social rest day. You and your friends can meet at a cafe to plan the week, go grocery shopping, meal prep or just clean while on FaceTime. You still get everything done, but it feels way less like a chore when you have accountability buddies. I also love to call my family while I do my weekly chores because it is a great way to catch up with loved ones when life otherwise feels too busy.Â
4. Rotating Game or Movie Nights
Pick one night every week or two and rotate who hosts. One person chooses the movie or game, another can bring a snack and someone else can bring a drink or something sweet to share. It is super easy to pull off, and this no-pressure tradition gives you something to look forward to after a long day of classes or co-op. In our experience, not everyone can make it to each week’s hangout, but having a consistently scheduled time to relax and have fun together gives everyone the chance to plan ahead without worrying about finding time for friends on their own.Â
5. Study and Snack Session
You do not have to give up the cozy chaos of the library just because you moved off campus. Pick a local coffee shop and schedule a study date with your friends. You will get work done and experience that same sense of community that dorm and library studying once provided, but with better coffee and less noise. Becoming a regular at a coffee shop is also a great way to create a new community. When I consistently go to coffee shops to study, I find it easier to make small talk with the baristas and feel more at home in that space. Once I moved off campus, I realized how much more productive I am when I feel comfortable in my study environment, so for me, building a connection with a cafe is a game changer.Â
6. Start a Monthly Cheap Eats CrawlÂ
If your friend group loves food as much as mine does, start a monthly restaurant crawl and take turns picking a new affordable spot to eat. Think hole-in-the-wall ramen shops, tucked-away local diners or that new taco place you always walk past. Everyone gets to try something new, explore a different neighborhood and catch up without the pressure of a big event or hefty check at the end of the meal. It is especially fun if you have friends in different areas, because you can show each other your local go-tos. It is an easy way to make sure that you see each other regularly while discovering new favorite spots in the process.
Living off campus does not mean your community is lost; it just means you have to be more intentional about keeping it alive. Whether it’s a paint night, a potluck or simply a walk around your neighborhood, there are many ways to maintain a meaningful sense of connection away from campus. Friendship looks different once you move out; it is less spontaneous, but more purposeful, because you are choosing to be there and show up for each other.Â