Today’s rental market offers so many different choices. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind sharing your space, then a shared bedroom apartment could be an excellent choice.
A shared bedroom apartment is basically an apartment where each bedroom has two beds for two people. They are best suited for friends in transit or students in college. Shared bedroom apartments are popular in college towns, expensive cities, and out of the way retreats.
Would you like to know more about the concept of shared bedroom apartments? Read on to understand better how such a living arrangement works.
What Does a Shared Bedroom Mean?
A shared bedroom apartment is defined as two or more people living in the same apartment and sleeping in the same bedroom, each person with their own bed. The apartment residents share rent and utility costs. They also share common spaces such as living rooms, kitchens, balconies, bathrooms, and even closets.
Shared bedroom apartments have been in existence for a very long time. Except that traditionally, shared bedroom apartments were for college students. Some workers in remote locations such as miners and hospitality industry employees also commonly live in shared bedroom apartments.
Nowadays, with the rise in rental prices and demand for temporary affordable living quarters, many more people are adapting to renting shared bedrooms. For example, if you’re new to a city and came with a friend, it would make sense to rent a one bedroom apartment and share costs with each other.
Shared bedroom apartments are not only for people who already know each other. It’s gaining popularity with travelers looking to make new friends without breaking the bank. It’s for when you want to meet new people fast and don’t mind sharing space.
How Do You Split A One Bedroom Apartment?
Living in a shared bedroom apartment can cause some tension and anxiety when you don’t enjoy any privacy. To take care of that, you can use different methods to split the bedroom and the apartment. Here are various ways to split a one bedroom apartment for privacy and comfort.
Create a Split Style Apartment
A split-style apartment is where the living room is used as a second bedroom. One person sleeps in the living room converted to a bedroom and the other sleeps in the bedroom. In this way, the residents don’t share a bedroom.
Split-style apartments are usually cheaper than a two-bedroom yet slightly more expensive than a one bedroom. The extra expense is because a split style is designed in such a way that the living room can be closed off completely. Other residents can use the common areas such as balconies, foyers, and alcoves without passing through the living room area.
Use A Bedroom Divider
When you’re sharing a bedroom with a roommate, you can use décor elements and layout adjustments to split the bedroom into two distinct spaces. A bedroom divider can be an affordable way to provide extra privacy, create a change of scenery, and optimize how you use your space. Here are some ways you can divide a shared bedroom.
Screens
There are wide varieties of screens you can use to split a bedroom. For instance, you can make use of simple folding screens which roll on casters. These are affordable, available in many different styles, and are easy to use.
You won’t need any special skills or tools to install one. Plus, they are thin and won’t take up much space in a small shared bedroom.
Divider Curtains
When you can’t build walls or put up screens, using fabric to separate spaces can make all the difference. Fabric curtains are easy to put up, come in different styles, and are a cheap option for splitting a bedroom.
Sliding Doors
If you’re more into Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects, then a sliding door can add more style and extra privacy to a shared bedroom. In most cases, a sliding door won’t require extra plumbing, wiring, or reinforcing pillars. You won’t necessarily need a contractor or permit.
Sliding doors don’t take up too much space. They can be opaque and soundproof, providing extra privacy compared to screens and curtains.
Half Wall
A temporary half wall can be a fantastic bedroom divider. It’s not permanent, so you won’t need permits. It doesn’t go all the way up, so works great where natural lighting comes from one side of the bedroom.
Transforming Furniture
Loft-style furniture can add a modernistic design to a shared bedroom. One resident can take up the upper section and the other takes the lower. A Murphy bed can also maximize space and act as a divider.
How Do You Visually Divide A Room?
Sometimes it’s more practical to visually divide a room rather than creating physical dividers. A visual divide can offer more design options, improve natural light penetration, and encourage togetherness. If you want to divide a shared bedroom without building a solid structure, consider these options:
Color Coding
Tonal separation could be creatively used to create a distinction between each person’s side of the bedroom. You can use contrasting colors to define each person’s space.
Floor Rugs
Area rugs are practical and beautiful. They add warmth to a room, provide some softness underfoot, and can define separate zones inside a room.
Wallpaper
Different wallpaper styles can visually divide a room. Each person can have their individual preferences for contrast.
Is Sharing An Apartment Worth It?
Sharing an apartment can help you afford to live in an otherwise expensive location. You can save quite a lot by sharing rent and other bills. Additionally, living with others can help you hone life skills that can be useful throughout your life. Here are some pros and cons of sharing an apartment:
Pros of Sharing an Apartment
- Cost savings. You spend less and save more when sharing living costs with others.
- Learn to take care of your belongings.
- Appreciate the value of personal space.
- Become self-sufficient and responsible by sharing chores and other responsibilities.
- Become better at working within teams.
- Prepares you to live alone. You gain experience in budgeting, shopping, picking furniture, cleaning, cooking, and much more.
- You learn better communication, conflict resolution, and problem solving.
- You learn how to compromise and how to negotiate for what you want.
Cons of Sharing an Apartment
- Lack of privacy: Some aspects of your life are going to be under the scrutiny of your roommates.
- Inconvenience: Maybe you want to pee but your roommate is taking too long in the shower. Or you want to study but your roommate’s guests are too noisy.
- Space: Most times you have very little physical space of your own as most spaces are shared. Say you want to buy a new sofa or computer. You may not have the space to set it up.
- Chores: You not only have to clean up after yourself or cook your food, but you also have to clean other people’s mess.
