Most people link coliving in Singapore with a close-knit community of fellow residents from all over the world who mix and share their lives. Admittedly, the chance to meet with people outside of your comfort zone is a significant lure for prospective tenants.
However, everyone appreciates their privacy, and there are ways to retain and safeguard one’s private while co living in Singapore. Read on to know some tips for striking a balance between privacy and openness.
Establish Privacy with A Room Divider
Add a divider, curtain, or bookcase to create your own bedroom space. If you share a bedroom with a sibling or a roommate, rearrange your furniture to create separate places.
Use a bookcase or dresser to mark off your half of the room, or place it next to your bed as a barrier so you may relax in solitude.
If you don’t have much area to reorganize, create a small boundary between your section of the room. Alternatively, hang a drape from the ceiling.
- Use a corner to create a barrier if space is limited. Create your own reading or vanity nook by adding a shelf or curtain to one of the corner walls.
- Switching your bed to a loft bed (or building your own) is an excellent method to conserve space while also creating a separate place for yourself.
Establishing Boundaries
One of the benefits of getting to know your neighbors better is that it makes it easier to set and communicate boundaries with them. Of course, you should always remain firm regardless of familiarity, but developing mutual respect is beneficial.
Finally, residing in co living in Singapore exposes you to people with diverse ideas and perceptions of what constitutes appropriate social behavior. Borrowing things or accessing one’s private space.
For example, may appear totally natural to some but not to others; if these activities make you uncomfortable, you have the right to inform your neighbors.
Set Aside Time for Yourself in Shared Spaces
Set aside time when the living or dining room is exclusively yours. Discuss with your family which shared areas you wish to use in your home and when. For example, you may utilize the terrace to work out on weekday mornings and the kitchen table before dinner to complete schoolwork.
Then, write down all of your schedules on a whiteboard or sync your electronic calendars so you know when and where someone is spending alone time.
Managing Guests and Shared Spaces
Having guests around is a normal part of life, but in a co living environment, it’s crucial to consider how it affects your flat mates. Guests should be aware of the house regulations, and their presence should not intrude on the privacy of others. Always discuss with your flat mates before inviting guests, especially if they will be staying for a long time.
Practical Tip: Limit the number of visitors you invite at once and notify your flat mates in advance. If a guest is staying overnight, make sure it does not disrupt your mates’ habits or space.
Quiet Hours
Some landlords might enforce quiet hours and residents are required to keep the noise down to be considerate of others’ rest and privacy.
A co-living community can be loving and caring, as long as everyone is respectful of one another. So, to make the co-living experience an inclusive one, do take note of the rules that your landlord enforces and ensure that you follow them.
Shared Responsibilities
While housekeeping is typically offered for co-living spaces, tenants are still responsible for having a reasonable level of cleanliness during their time there.
For instance, they should dispose of the trash on a daily basis and make sure to wash their kitchen items, plates and utensils after meals. They should not leave dirty dishes in the sink to inconvenience other residents.
Wear Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Use headphones to immerse yourself in your own little universe and eliminate interruptions. Headphones are an excellent way to enjoy a show, music, or podcast while communicating to your family or roommates that you do not wish to be disturbed. Simply opt for a pair that blocks out the ambient noise around you.
Then wear them when working, closing your eyes and meditating, or simply to filter out irritating noises from your household.
Important Thing to Keep in Mind
If you are going to lease your building to a co-living business, take the following into account:
- Check the Company’s Reputation: Review the co-living business’s performance and reputation before signing agreements.
- Ensure Property Compliance: Make sure that your property complies with Singapore’s co-living requirements.
- Define Contract Terms Clearly: Specify terms like rental charges, tenancy length, and conditions clearly in the agreement.
- Engage a Real Estate Agent: Work with a property agent to design a reasonable tenancy agreement that protects your rights.
- Work out Property Changes: If the co-living corporation makes changes, have a provision in the agreement for reinstatement to the original configuration.
Final Word
Finding your comfort zone in co-living entails learning to strike a balance between personal space and social engagement. So, be cautious of your boundaries while respecting others.
