Coliving is a modern form of shared living where residents are provided with private bedrooms in a furnished home with access to common areas. The concept is popular in major cities and provides an affordable solution for students, workers, digital nomads, and relocators. Unlike traditional housing, coliving spaces attract tenants due to their affordability, flexibility, included amenities, and sense of community.
With an urban housing crisis and a shortage of housing on the market, cohousing represents one of the most effective ways to achieve optimal density, affordable housing, and urban community in cities like New York and the Bay Area.
In today’s sharing economy, especially among young people, including millennials, the concept of sharing not only housing but also travel, experiences, workspaces, and new homes has been adopted. Coliving makes this more accessible and convenient in large cities.
Ultimately, co-living provides the best of both worlds to a new generation of workers and travelers. It combines the benefits of living with roommates – affordable rent, shared resources, and community – with the comfort and peace of your bedroom. It’s no surprise that co-living has become a popular phenomenon in all major cities around the world.
Given the above, it is worth noting that co-living is not a new fad. Despite modern technology and the ability to work remotely, the idea of living together is not new. People always live together in shared spaces and create communities.
There is something special about sharing food and exchanging stories with others. Modern co-living makes such opportunities always available. The same applies to having a personal space designed for relaxation and reflection. As said before, it’s the perfect combination of both worlds.
What types of coliving are there?
At first glance, the definition of coliving may seem simple: it is sharing a common space with other people. However, coliving can take different forms:
- Traditional shared housing. This is perhaps the most common type of co-living, where friends, acquaintances, or even strangers sign a lease and share living space together, informally distributing responsibilities for caring for the home.
- Cooperative housing construction. Co-ops provide a more formal approach where responsibilities for cooking, cleaning, and other housework are shared among residents. Such places often use a democratic style of decision-making and management.
- Shared housing. This type of co-living provides individual homes for individuals or families rather than just rooms like traditional co-living. It is more popular in suburban or rural areas with more extensive available space.
- Life in a hostel. Some co-living spaces offer not only housing but also a variety of “thematic” programs, for example, short-term stays in desired locations. These retreats bring people with common interests together to work together on projects or ideas, such as art, engineering, or activism.
What are the benefits of Coliving?
If you’ve ever lived with a roommate, then you certainly know that traditional room sharing has its pros and cons. However, with co-living, many of these disadvantages disappear, leaving you with the benefits of co-living. Here’s what’s so attractive about coliving:
- Availability: First of all, co-living provides a more affordable alternative to living in a big city. Rent payments are significantly lower compared to more traditional housing options. Plus, you get more bang for your buck, including extra-standard amenities like swimming pools and full-fledged gyms that might otherwise be out of reach.
- Flexibility: Co-living spaces are often more flexible than a typical apartment rental. You can rent short-term or stay long-term, which is ideal for digital nomads, temporary workers, or professionals on the go.
- Simplicity: The process of finding co-living accommodation is extremely simplified, and many apartments are already furnished and ready to move into.
- Entertainment: Whether you’re spending your evenings playing games with your neighbors or exploring the city, there’s always something going on in public spaces. Coliving certainly brings fun into your life, if that’s what you want, of course. And if you need a little privacy, you can always retreat to your room to relax and unwind.
