diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 60d02c4d46..2001f0d4ad 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
     "lodash": "^4.13.1",
     "matrix-js-sdk": "matrix-org/matrix-js-sdk#develop",
     "optimist": "^0.6.1",
+    "prop-types": "^15.5.8",
     "q": "^1.4.1",
     "react": "^15.4.0",
     "react-addons-css-transition-group": "15.3.2",
diff --git a/src/component-index.js b/src/component-index.js
index d6873c6dfd..090a27d5ed 100644
--- a/src/component-index.js
+++ b/src/component-index.js
@@ -103,10 +103,14 @@ import views$dialogs$UnknownDeviceDialog from './components/views/dialogs/Unknow
 views$dialogs$UnknownDeviceDialog && (module.exports.components['views.dialogs.UnknownDeviceDialog'] = views$dialogs$UnknownDeviceDialog);
 import views$elements$AccessibleButton from './components/views/elements/AccessibleButton';
 views$elements$AccessibleButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.AccessibleButton'] = views$elements$AccessibleButton);
+import views$elements$ActionButton from './components/views/elements/ActionButton';
+views$elements$ActionButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.ActionButton'] = views$elements$ActionButton);
 import views$elements$AddressSelector from './components/views/elements/AddressSelector';
 views$elements$AddressSelector && (module.exports.components['views.elements.AddressSelector'] = views$elements$AddressSelector);
 import views$elements$AddressTile from './components/views/elements/AddressTile';
 views$elements$AddressTile && (module.exports.components['views.elements.AddressTile'] = views$elements$AddressTile);
+import views$elements$CreateRoomButton from './components/views/elements/CreateRoomButton';
+views$elements$CreateRoomButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.CreateRoomButton'] = views$elements$CreateRoomButton);
 import views$elements$DeviceVerifyButtons from './components/views/elements/DeviceVerifyButtons';
 views$elements$DeviceVerifyButtons && (module.exports.components['views.elements.DeviceVerifyButtons'] = views$elements$DeviceVerifyButtons);
 import views$elements$DirectorySearchBox from './components/views/elements/DirectorySearchBox';
@@ -119,12 +123,20 @@ import views$elements$EditableTextContainer from './components/views/elements/Ed
 views$elements$EditableTextContainer && (module.exports.components['views.elements.EditableTextContainer'] = views$elements$EditableTextContainer);
 import views$elements$EmojiText from './components/views/elements/EmojiText';
 views$elements$EmojiText && (module.exports.components['views.elements.EmojiText'] = views$elements$EmojiText);
+import views$elements$HomeButton from './components/views/elements/HomeButton';
+views$elements$HomeButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.HomeButton'] = views$elements$HomeButton);
 import views$elements$MemberEventListSummary from './components/views/elements/MemberEventListSummary';
 views$elements$MemberEventListSummary && (module.exports.components['views.elements.MemberEventListSummary'] = views$elements$MemberEventListSummary);
 import views$elements$PowerSelector from './components/views/elements/PowerSelector';
 views$elements$PowerSelector && (module.exports.components['views.elements.PowerSelector'] = views$elements$PowerSelector);
 import views$elements$ProgressBar from './components/views/elements/ProgressBar';
 views$elements$ProgressBar && (module.exports.components['views.elements.ProgressBar'] = views$elements$ProgressBar);
+import views$elements$RoomDirectoryButton from './components/views/elements/RoomDirectoryButton';
+views$elements$RoomDirectoryButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.RoomDirectoryButton'] = views$elements$RoomDirectoryButton);
+import views$elements$SettingsButton from './components/views/elements/SettingsButton';
+views$elements$SettingsButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.SettingsButton'] = views$elements$SettingsButton);
+import views$elements$StartChatButton from './components/views/elements/StartChatButton';
+views$elements$StartChatButton && (module.exports.components['views.elements.StartChatButton'] = views$elements$StartChatButton);
 import views$elements$TintableSvg from './components/views/elements/TintableSvg';
 views$elements$TintableSvg && (module.exports.components['views.elements.TintableSvg'] = views$elements$TintableSvg);
 import views$elements$TruncatedList from './components/views/elements/TruncatedList';
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/ActionButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/ActionButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..267388daf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/ActionButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+import AccessibleButton from './AccessibleButton';
+import dis from '../../../dispatcher';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+
+export default React.createClass({
+    displayName: 'RoleButton',
+
+    propTypes: {
+        size: PropTypes.string,
+        tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+        action: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+        label: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+        iconPath: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+    },
+
+    getDefaultProps: function() {
+        return {
+            size: "25",
+            tooltip: false,
+        };
+    },
+
+    getInitialState: function() {
+        return {
+            showTooltip: false,
+        };
+    },
+
+    _onClick: function(ev) {
+        ev.stopPropagation();
+        dis.dispatch({action: this.props.action});
+    },
+
+    _onMouseEnter: function() {
+        if (this.props.tooltip) this.setState({showTooltip: true});
+    },
+
+    _onMouseLeave: function() {
+        this.setState({showTooltip: false});
+    },
+
+    render: function() {
+        const TintableSvg = sdk.getComponent("elements.TintableSvg");
+
+        let tooltip;
+        if (this.state.showTooltip) {
+            const RoomTooltip = sdk.getComponent("rooms.RoomTooltip");
+            tooltip = <RoomTooltip className="mx_RoleButton_tooltip" label={this.props.label} />;
+        }
+
+        return (
+            <AccessibleButton className="mx_RoleButton"
+                onClick={this._onClick}
+                onMouseEnter={this._onMouseEnter}
+                onMouseLeave={this._onMouseLeave}
+            >
+                <TintableSvg src={this.props.iconPath} width={this.props.size} height={this.props.size} />
+                {tooltip}
+            </AccessibleButton>
+        );
+    }
+});
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/CreateRoomButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/CreateRoomButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e7e526d36b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/CreateRoomButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+const CreateRoomButton = function(props) {
+    const ActionButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.ActionButton');
+    return (
+        <ActionButton action="view_create_chat"
+            label="Create new room"
+            iconPath="img/icons-create-room.svg"
+            size={props.size}
+            tooltip={props.tooltip}
+        />
+    );
+};
+
+CreateRoomButton.propTypes = {
+    size: PropTypes.string,
+    tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+};
+
+export default CreateRoomButton;
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/HomeButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/HomeButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c446f24c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/HomeButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+const HomeButton = function(props) {
+    const ActionButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.ActionButton');
+    return (
+        <ActionButton action="view_home_page"
+            label="Welcome page"
+            iconPath="img/icons-home.svg"
+            size={props.size}
+            tooltip={props.tooltip}
+        />
+    );
+};
+
+HomeButton.propTypes = {
+    size: PropTypes.string,
+    tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+};
+
+export default HomeButton;
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/RoomDirectoryButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/RoomDirectoryButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5e68776a15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/RoomDirectoryButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+const RoomDirectoryButton = function(props) {
+    const ActionButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.ActionButton');
+    return (
+        <ActionButton action="view_room_directory"
+            label="Room directory"
+            iconPath="img/icons-directory.svg"
+            size={props.size}
+            tooltip={props.tooltip}
+        />
+    );
+};
+
+RoomDirectoryButton.propTypes = {
+    size: PropTypes.string,
+    tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+};
+
+export default RoomDirectoryButton;
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/SettingsButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/SettingsButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c6438da277
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/SettingsButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+const SettingsButton = function(props) {
+    const ActionButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.ActionButton');
+    return (
+        <ActionButton action="view_user_settings"
+            label="Settings"
+            iconPath="img/icons-settings.svg"
+            size={props.size}
+            tooltip={props.tooltip}
+        />
+    );
+};
+
+SettingsButton.propTypes = {
+    size: PropTypes.string,
+    tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+};
+
+export default SettingsButton;
diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/StartChatButton.js b/src/components/views/elements/StartChatButton.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..02d5677a7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/StartChatButton.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+import React from 'react';
+import sdk from '../../../index';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+
+const StartChatButton = function(props) {
+    const ActionButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.ActionButton');
+    return (
+        <ActionButton action="start_chat"
+            label="Start chat"
+            iconPath="img/icons-people.svg"
+            size={props.size}
+            tooltip={props.tooltip}
+        />
+    );
+};
+
+StartChatButton.propTypes = {
+    size: PropTypes.string,
+    tooltip: PropTypes.bool,
+};
+
+export default StartChatButton;
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
index 49af1560f1..8d396b5536 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/RoomList.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
 Copyright 2015, 2016 OpenMarket Ltd
+Copyright 2017 Vector Creations Ltd
 
 Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -28,8 +29,16 @@ var Rooms = require('../../../Rooms');
 import DMRoomMap from '../../../utils/DMRoomMap';
 var Receipt = require('../../../utils/Receipt');
 var constantTimeDispatcher = require('../../../ConstantTimeDispatcher');
+import AccessibleButton from '../elements/AccessibleButton';
 
-var HIDE_CONFERENCE_CHANS = true;
+const HIDE_CONFERENCE_CHANS = true;
+
+const VERBS = {
+    'm.favourite': 'favourite',
+    'im.vector.fake.direct': 'tag direct chat',
+    'im.vector.fake.recent': 'restore',
+    'm.lowpriority': 'demote',
+};
 
 module.exports = React.createClass({
     displayName: 'RoomList',
@@ -53,6 +62,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     getInitialState: function() {
         return {
             isLoadingLeftRooms: false,
+            totalRoomCount: null,
             lists: {},
             incomingCall: null,
         };
@@ -73,8 +83,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         // lookup for which lists a given roomId is currently in.
         this.listsForRoomId = {};
 
-        var s = this.getRoomLists();
-        this.setState(s);
+        this.refreshRoomList();
 
         // order of the sublists
         //this.listOrder = [];
@@ -317,21 +326,29 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         // any changes to it incrementally, updating the appropriate sublists
         // as needed.
         // Alternatively we'd do something magical with Immutable.js or similar.
-        this.setState(this.getRoomLists());
-
+        const lists = this.getRoomLists();
+        let totalRooms = 0;
+        for (const l of Object.values(lists)) {
+            totalRooms += l.length;
+        }
+        this.setState({
+            lists: this.getRoomLists(),
+            totalRoomCount: totalRooms,
+        });
+        
         // this._lastRefreshRoomListTs = Date.now();
     },
 
     getRoomLists: function() {
         var self = this;
-        var s = { lists: {} };
+        const lists = {};
 
-        s.lists["im.vector.fake.invite"] = [];
-        s.lists["m.favourite"] = [];
-        s.lists["im.vector.fake.recent"] = [];
-        s.lists["im.vector.fake.direct"] = [];
-        s.lists["m.lowpriority"] = [];
-        s.lists["im.vector.fake.archived"] = [];
+        lists["im.vector.fake.invite"] = [];
+        lists["m.favourite"] = [];
+        lists["im.vector.fake.recent"] = [];
+        lists["im.vector.fake.direct"] = [];
+        lists["m.lowpriority"] = [];
+        lists["im.vector.fake.archived"] = [];
 
         this.listsForRoomId = {};
         var otherTagNames = {};
@@ -353,7 +370,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
 
             if (me.membership == "invite") {
                 self.listsForRoomId[room.roomId].push("im.vector.fake.invite");
-                s.lists["im.vector.fake.invite"].push(room);
+                lists["im.vector.fake.invite"].push(room);
             }
             else if (HIDE_CONFERENCE_CHANS && Rooms.isConfCallRoom(room, me, self.props.ConferenceHandler)) {
                 // skip past this room & don't put it in any lists
@@ -366,8 +383,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 if (tagNames.length) {
                     for (var i = 0; i < tagNames.length; i++) {
                         var tagName = tagNames[i];
-                        s.lists[tagName] = s.lists[tagName] || [];
-                        s.lists[tagName].push(room);
+                        lists[tagName] = lists[tagName] || [];
+                        lists[tagName].push(room);
                         self.listsForRoomId[room.roomId].push(tagName);
                         otherTagNames[tagName] = 1;
                     }
@@ -375,16 +392,16 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 else if (dmRoomMap.getUserIdForRoomId(room.roomId)) {
                     // "Direct Message" rooms (that we're still in and that aren't otherwise tagged)
                     self.listsForRoomId[room.roomId].push("im.vector.fake.direct");
-                    s.lists["im.vector.fake.direct"].push(room);
+                    lists["im.vector.fake.direct"].push(room);
                 }
                 else {
                     self.listsForRoomId[room.roomId].push("im.vector.fake.recent");
-                    s.lists["im.vector.fake.recent"].push(room);
+                    lists["im.vector.fake.recent"].push(room);
                 }
             }
             else if (me.membership === "leave") {
                 self.listsForRoomId[room.roomId].push("im.vector.fake.archived");
-                s.lists["im.vector.fake.archived"].push(room);
+                lists["im.vector.fake.archived"].push(room);
             }
             else {
                 console.error("unrecognised membership: " + me.membership + " - this should never happen");
@@ -408,7 +425,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         ];
 */
 
-        return s;
+        return lists;
     },
 
     _getScrollNode: function() {
@@ -438,6 +455,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         var incomingCallBox = document.getElementById("incomingCallBox");
         if (incomingCallBox && incomingCallBox.parentElement) {
             var scrollArea = this._getScrollNode();
+            if (!scrollArea) return;
             // Use the offset of the top of the scroll area from the window
             // as this is used to calculate the CSS fixed top position for the stickies
             var scrollAreaOffset = scrollArea.getBoundingClientRect().top + window.pageYOffset;
@@ -461,6 +479,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
     // properly through React
     _initAndPositionStickyHeaders: function(initialise, scrollToPosition) {
         var scrollArea = this._getScrollNode();
+        if (!scrollArea) return;
         // Use the offset of the top of the scroll area from the window
         // as this is used to calculate the CSS fixed top position for the stickies
         var scrollAreaOffset = scrollArea.getBoundingClientRect().top + window.pageYOffset;
@@ -558,6 +577,58 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
         this.refs.gemscroll.forceUpdate();
     },
 
+    _getEmptyContent: function(section) {
+        const RoomDropTarget = sdk.getComponent('rooms.RoomDropTarget');
+
+        if (this.props.collapsed) {
+            return <RoomDropTarget label="" />;
+        }
+
+        const StartChatButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.StartChatButton');
+        const RoomDirectoryButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.RoomDirectoryButton');
+        const CreateRoomButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.CreateRoomButton');
+        if (this.state.totalRoomCount === 0) {
+            const TintableSvg = sdk.getComponent('elements.TintableSvg');
+            switch (section) {
+                case 'im.vector.fake.direct':
+                    return <div className="mx_RoomList_emptySubListTip">
+                        Press
+                        <StartChatButton size="16" />
+                        to start a chat with someone
+                    </div>;
+                case 'im.vector.fake.recent':
+                    return <div className="mx_RoomList_emptySubListTip">
+                        You're not in any rooms yet! Press
+                        <CreateRoomButton size="16" />
+                        to make a room or
+                        <RoomDirectoryButton size="16" />
+                        to browse the directory
+                    </div>;
+            }
+        }
+
+        const labelText = 'Drop here to ' + (VERBS[section] || 'tag ' + section);
+
+        return <RoomDropTarget label={labelText} />;
+    },
+
+    _getHeaderItems: function(section) {
+        const StartChatButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.StartChatButton');
+        const RoomDirectoryButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.RoomDirectoryButton');
+        const CreateRoomButton = sdk.getComponent('elements.CreateRoomButton');
+        switch (section) {
+            case 'im.vector.fake.direct':
+                return <span className="mx_RoomList_headerButtons">
+                    <StartChatButton size="16" />
+                </span>;
+            case 'im.vector.fake.recent':
+                return <span className="mx_RoomList_headerButtons">
+                    <RoomDirectoryButton size="16" />
+                    <CreateRoomButton size="16" />
+                </span>;
+        }
+    },
+
     render: function() {
         var RoomSubList = sdk.getComponent('structures.RoomSubList');
         var self = this;
@@ -581,7 +652,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 <RoomSubList list={ self.state.lists['m.favourite'] }
                              label="Favourites"
                              tagName="m.favourite"
-                             verb="favourite"
+                             emptyContent={this._getEmptyContent('m.favourite')}
                              editable={ true }
                              order="manual"
                              incomingCall={ self.state.incomingCall }
@@ -594,7 +665,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 <RoomSubList list={ self.state.lists['im.vector.fake.direct'] }
                              label="People"
                              tagName="im.vector.fake.direct"
-                             verb="tag direct chat"
+                             emptyContent={this._getEmptyContent('im.vector.fake.direct')}
+                             headerItems={this._getHeaderItems('im.vector.fake.direct')}
                              editable={ true }
                              order="recent"
                              incomingCall={ self.state.incomingCall }
@@ -609,7 +681,8 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                              label="Rooms"
                              tagName="im.vector.fake.recent"
                              editable={ true }
-                             verb="restore"
+                             emptyContent={this._getEmptyContent('im.vector.fake.recent')}
+                             headerItems={this._getHeaderItems('im.vector.fake.recent')}
                              order="recent"
                              incomingCall={ self.state.incomingCall }
                              collapsed={ self.props.collapsed }
@@ -624,7 +697,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                              key={ tagName }
                              label={ tagName }
                              tagName={ tagName }
-                             verb={ "tag as " + tagName }
+                             emptyContent={this._getEmptyContent(tagName)}
                              editable={ true }
                              order="manual"
                              incomingCall={ self.state.incomingCall }
@@ -640,7 +713,7 @@ module.exports = React.createClass({
                 <RoomSubList list={ self.state.lists['m.lowpriority'] }
                              label="Low priority"
                              tagName="m.lowpriority"
-                             verb="demote"
+                             emptyContent={this._getEmptyContent('m.lowpriority')}
                              editable={ true }
                              order="recent"
                              incomingCall={ self.state.incomingCall }