The Living Room Has Vanished: More Renters Are Trading Communal Space for Affordability

While rent has become more affordable over the past few years, the national average cost of $1,672 per month is still a pretty penny for many—particularly for those who are trying to juggle debt with everyday living expenses.

That’s why some renters are thinking outside the box and intentionally forgoing traditional living rooms. Instead of actually using these shared communal spaces to hang out with roommates, they’re converting them into bedrooms to help reduce monthly rent.

In fact, a recent study by SpareRoom—a national roommate site—found that the number of shared rentals without living rooms is almost three times higher today than five years ago.

And the lack of communal space is particularly common in some U.S. metros. For example, in 2025, 32% of shared rentals in Miami had no living room, compared to 30% in Orlando, FL, and Denver and 29% in Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale, FL. 

“This is a natural response to steep housing costs, but it also comes with a psychological cost: the loss of the home’s social function,” explains Erik Larson, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and owner at Larson Mental Health in Denver.

If you’re a renter or looking to become one, it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of this setup and determine whether giving up the shared living space is worth the extra savings.

The trade-offs of forgoing a living room

Understandably, renters are looking for ways to keep costs down, especially in today’s day and age when rent is expensive. However, there are definite downsides to this strategy.

“One of the biggest advantages of a shared living space is having a community and a support network around you,” says Matt Hutchinson, director of roommate matching at SpareRoom.

Hutchinson explains that if there’s nowhere to spend time with roommates and build community, a house or apartment can feel like somewhere you just sleep and keep your stuff in, rather than a real home.

“In a time where loneliness is becoming a real issue and people seem to be craving real, in-person connection more than ever, losing the social heart of a home is a definite concern,” Hutchinson adds. 

Larson points out that the greatest challenge of this setup has to do with the boundary between personal and shared space.

“When the living room disappears, all interaction between residents shifts to the kitchen, hallways, or even private rooms. This can create a sense of intrusion, increasing tension between neighbors and pushing people to spend more time in isolation despite living together,” explains Larson.

Chloë Bean, therapist and owner of Chloe Bean Therapy in Los Angeles, adds that a living room isn’t just about extra square footage—it’s also the emotional breathing room of a home.

“Shared spaces such as living rooms give people a place to decompress, connect with others in the household, and transition out of work mode at the end of the day,” says Bean.

When those spaces are no longer available, the home can start to feel like a collection of bedrooms rather than a place that supports everyday social connection.

Who could benefit from this setup the most?

“If you live in a place where you have easy access to an existing social circle nearby, then maybe living with people you never hang out with is OK for you,” says Hutchinson.

Or, if you spend most of your day outside of the home or simply prefer to spend a lot of time alone, forgoing a living room to save on rent might make sense. 

However, if you’re new to an area—particularly a big city you don’t know very well—not spending time with your roommates means you could miss out on a real opportunity to start putting down your roots. 

Hutchinson explains that in many ways it’s like the rise in remote working. We don’t all need to be in the office every day to work well and form meaningful connections, but if we never see our colleagues, it becomes that much harder. 

“Contact creates connection, and shared spaces create those opportunities,” adds Hutchinson.

Is this arrangement sustainable?

At first, you might think skipping a living room in exchange for lower living expenses is no big deal. Over time, however, you might find yourself isolated in your room more and more.

Also, if you’re already feeling socially isolated and lonely, not having a shared living space can exacerbate the psychological impact.

“In the long term, this model only works when renters make up for the lack of social contact at home by staying socially active outside of it,” says Hutchinson.

Even then, going out to socialize is not cheap, especially if you live in an expensive city. Spending money on meals, drinks, and entertainment can quickly offset the rent savings you hoped to gain in the first place.