What Does the Future of Coliving Look like?

Coliving has been referred to as “the future of living” for years now… but what does the future of coliving look like? Many business providers and companies that rent out spaces in coliving complexes are looking towards the ongoing trends and potential upcoming needs of their market to define what coliving may evolve into.

What is coliving?

Coliving has emerged as a lifestyle of living among young professionals because of the different advantages it provides, such as community building, networking, leisure spaces, flexibility in lease terms, and payment schedules. It is a habitation model where the tenant rents a well-furnished room, and gains access to many shared spaces whose primary purpose is to build communities and encourage interaction.

What are the trends of coliving?

As a booming lifestyle, coliving’s spread across the globe has created trends within the industry itself, which typically begin with and are inspired by the tenants. For coliving providers, keeping track of and catering to these trends can easily distinguish them from business competitors, and help them gain popularity both on a local and international scale.

Even simple coliving spaces that aren’t owned by a business, which are composed of a group of like-minded individuals who have chosen to live together intentionally, also contribute to these trends.

Sustainability

For adopters of the coliving lifestyle, the choice to share as many places as possible originally comes from hope for more sustainable living. A recent study conducted in Sweden found that coliving spaces have a reduced carbon footprint, increasing social-emotional connection, and pose as a solution to part of the housing crisis experienced in the country. The same study also found that minimalism, which is a lifestyle characterized by extreme simplicity and owning as little as possible, is widespread among many coliving communities, as well-integrated tenants are used to sharing and collaboration rather than individualistic ownership.

Because of coliving’s focus on sharing, sustainable behaviors are more likely to cultivate because residents are open to sharing spaces and belongings.

Design and Structure

All coliving spaces have community at the core of their design, but the exact details of each coliving apartment or complex vary greatly according to many factors. For coliving business providers as well as individuals, variables such as budget, legal requirements, construction constraints, and interest in specific types of leisure areas all play a role in what a coliving space will ultimately look like and include in terms of furniture and facilities.

For instance, a coliving space that specifically targets digital nomads looking to live somewhere for around a year is likely to include areas designated for work, such as coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and even private rooms where young professionals can take calls or video conferences. To complement this structure, the coliving space’s community calendar may feature tours or excursions to different sights and must-visit locations, allowing residents to get to know and engage with local culture.

In comparison, a coliving space whose residents are fans of farming and agriculture will probably include a garden for tenants to grow and harvest their own produce. Their social calendar may be filled with lectures on permaculture and classes for cooking recipes whose primary ingredients are grown in their garden.

Integration in Local Communities

Integration of coliving spaces within local communities can provide a sense of belonging, and connection for residents. It can also strengthen local communities by supporting local businesses and creating shared spaces for community use. Some of the ways coliving spaces and tenants have been interacting with their local neighborhoods include hosting events and gatherings such as game nights and potlucks, partnering with local businesses for promotions, volunteering and opening up some shared spaces to the public such as a community garden.

What does the future of coliving look like?

Rather than prioritizing scalability and global expansion, coliving providers are becoming more aware of the importance of building spaces that prioritize the needs of their residents, as well as environmental sustainability, and integration within larger communities. The future of coliving is therefore split into multiple elements:

Community

It should come as no surprise that a coliving space definitely prioritizes community. However, for some coliving providers, community building has taken a back seat to scalability and growth. Everyday operations, logistics and services tend to preoccupy providers and operators, which in turn hinders community facilitation. For those aiming to provide a true coliving experience, their approach must shift towards dedicating time and resources towards community management.

Individuality

Coliving spaces are primarily designed around well-equipped and designed shared areas, which means their stay may begin to feel like long-term living at a hotel or even at a student residence. Determining the extent to which residents can decorate their own rooms can help instill a sense of individuality, and encourage introverts and lovers of privacy to give coliving a chance.

Adaptability

While most coliving spaces are currently geared towards young professionals, this demographic is bound to outgrow the current model of coliving. As they mature and enter new phases of life, said young professionals will eventually couple up and begin having children, which in turn means a change in their living needs. Coliving providers should begin to account for familial complexities within their spaces, and consider the adaptations needed to continue serving their tenants.

Hybridization

Hybridization falls under adaptability, where coliving spaces begin offering hybrid models of their services to suit the needs of prospective tenants, such as providing specific spaces for short-term rental (as opposed to the typical long-term terms), hotel-style rooms and areas for those short stays, and coliving areas that are interconnected to accommodate families that want to live together yet remain separated from the remaining tenants.

Ownership

As communities settle into coliving, they may begin to wish for more ownership over the space. Coliving providers can begin giving their tenants a sense of ownership through introducing voting rights and collaborative tasks (such as budgeting and community event planning).

Technology

Technology plays a vital role in the management and organization of coliving spaces, making it easier for residents to connect, communicate, and access amenities. Some of the ways that technology is being used in coliving include: providing virtual tours of the property for incoming guests, enabling online payments, using smart home technology, and offering virtual concierge services.

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