These Four Harmonious Homes Are a Lesson in How to Design With Roommates

While the notion of living with roommates traditionally brings to mind college students and recent graduates, shared spaces are becoming increasingly popular with those beyond early adulthood. Writer Emily Hutchinson is just one example of this new demographic, having lived in shared houses in New York, Sydney, and Melbourne. Her experience with roommates and her interest in affordable interior design prompted her to write her book Shared Living (Thames & Hudson) to reshape how shared spaces are perceived. 

Seeing a gap in design resources for those less transient than the stereotypical renter, Hutchinson’s book is filled with expert tips for living and designing with others. Below, we showcase four striking examples from the book that shed some light on how contrasting styles can be merged and how four sets of roommates navigated that collaborative process.

John and Ricky in Melbourne 

John, a midcentury furniture dealer, and Ricky, a drag queen and cafe manager, reconcile their stylistic differences through a shared love of Madonna, whose presence can be felt throughout their home. John, the  long-time resident of the house, chiefly populates the interior with his vintage finds, but the Madonna-themed art, music collection, and bathroom wallpaper are where John and Ricky collaborate. 

Five Roomates New York City 

Compromise is hard enough to reach with two people, let alone five. In a New York City loft, five roommates juggle their individual styles by focusing on what they all agree on, rather than each trying to push their own agenda. In common spaces, decor is kept relatively simple and mutually accepted pieces populate the rooms. It’s only in the bedrooms that the striking contrast in personal styles becomes apparent. While some rooms are adorned with posters and knickknacks, others remain much more austere.  

Rose, Steven, and Eva in London

This British trio opted to trust one designer over a team effort when decorating their Hackney home. Rose, the landlord and third roommate, felt a responsibility to furnish the space for her tenants and took the lead on design. She opted for a pared-back aesthetic, which allowed for natural light to play a large role in adding warmth to the home. While that choice was partially influenced by a limited budget, it also left room for the other roommates to make small design choices in their own spaces.   

Cord and Felix in Berlin  

This pair of co-founders and roommates established their joint style during the refurbishing process in their Berlin apartment. The decor is intentional and meaningful—the pair built most of their furniture together, and each added pieces of sentimental value to the space. The combination of their styles resulted in an eclectic setup that references both 19th-century and midcentury modern design. 

 
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