Big group or small group? The Great Coliving Debate
At Chateau Coliving, we’ve welcomed over 500 people through our doors.
Introverts, extroverts, night owls, early birds, serial colivers, first-timers, lifelong digital nomads, sabbatical-takers, and even entire company teams. One question keeps coming up in our community and among fellow coliving operators: Are smaller or larger groups better for coliving?
We recently asked this on LinkedIn, and your answers were as thoughtful as they were diverse. Unsurprisingly, there’s no one-size-fits-all. But a few themes stood out, and we’re here to unpack them,along with how we approach the question at Chateau.
What you said: The case for small Groups
Many of you shared that smaller groups (between 6 and 15 people) made it easier to form meaningful bonds. As James, one of our returning colivers puts it:
“The smaller group naturally did everything together, from outings to evening hangouts, which created much deeper bonding.”
Others pointed out that smaller groups make it easier to feel seen, included, and less socially overwhelmed:
“It just feels more cozy, and it’s easier to feel like a ‘close-knit community.’ In big groups, it feels impossible to truly get to know everyone.”
Still, others made a strong case for the ease of logistics and the magic of spontaneity that small groups allow: quicker dinner plans, last-minute beach trips, and the kind of unstructured connection that’s hard to scale.
What you said: The benefits of bigger Groups
At the same time, many community lovers and coliving operators also praised the flexibility and energy that larger groups can bring:
“With 25, I’m sure there will always be about 10–13 people around. I like to have a constant number of people in motion—it gives more options and takes off the pressure to show up to every little thing.”
or again:
“Big groups are perfect for more complex group activities—like murder mysteries or game nights —and you’re more likely to find someone who matches your rhythm, whether that’s coworking hours or workout styles.”
Some pointed out that in bigger groups, it’s easier to “opt out” without disrupting the social flow. And for those working in multiple time zones or on intense projects, that can be essential.
Why context matters
There was also a clear difference in preferences based on coliving type.
In residential coliving, where people stay longer, a larger group (15–25) ensures there’s always a healthy social flow despite people coming and going.
In destination or digital nomad colivings, especially with shorter stays, most of the people answered that they prefer smaller groups (6–15), allowing for quicker bonding and a more manageable social environment.
In a town/city where one can meet people and do activities outside of the coliving easily, being in a cozier living environment would feel more homey and less overwhelming and therefore preferred by colivers. You can go on dates, easily eat out, join parties and compensate if there’s anything you’re missing in the coliving.
Rural colivings, however often require more effort and intentionality when it comes to activities and “entertainment”. In many cases what is happening within the coliving group or space is the major part of the experience. Sometimes, when the community manager knows when they’re doing and everyone clicks, it can unfold beautifully. But often there’s a risk that being in a rural place with 6 to 8 people, you might not find someone on the same vibe like you and even if the people are great, it will affect your experience. A bigger group easily diversifies that risk.
How it plays out at Château
Château Coliving is… well, a castle. With 1300m² of indoor space and over 20 hectares of parkland, group dynamics unfold a little differently here.
While many people associate “large group” with “crowded,” our guests are often surprised by how much breathing room they have—even with 20+ colivers around. With multiple spaces suitable for work and one very big dedicated coworking, countless outdoor nooks, and enough kitchens and bathrooms for everyone to co-exist peacefully, it’s not unusual for someone to remark, “I didn’t even realize we were 25 until we all sat down for a family dinner.”
That said, we also recognize that intimacy matters. That’s why we scale our group sizes intentionally:
- In summer, we host our signature coliving with bigger groups. People’s work schedules tend to be lighter, the days longer, and the social energy high. More people = more activity options = more chances to find your tribe.
- In autumn and winter, our themed months cater to smaller, more focused groups—great for deeper connections, meaningful conversations, and more introspective work.
In both cases, what we have found crucial is for everyone to arrive and leave together, so even if the group is larger, the bonding window is long enough to form real connections. We have mentioned this in previous posts – this same time arrival/departure has been a game-changer for us, because regardless of the group size, not having “turnover” of people during the stay has contributed greatly to the positive community vibes and sense of “togetherness.”
The business reality
A few of you said your favorite colivings had just 6 to 10 spots. We get it, and we love such experiences too. However, it’s worth noting that small groups in large, beautifully maintained spaces can be challenging to sustain financially.
Running a high-quality coliving property comes with significant costs: professional teams (both for running the community and managing the property, which in larger spaces can not be combined in one role), ongoing maintenance, high utility bills, real estate costs, inventory and equipment, just to name a few. It’s not always visible to guests, but behind the scenes, a lot is happening to make the magic feel effortless.
Whether 10 people or 20 are staying, many of those costs remain the same.
So naturally, when the same expenses are shared among more people, the price per person becomes more accessible. For small group coliving in large, fully serviced spaces to be viable long-term, the pricing would need to reflect that reality.
So here’s a (slightly cheeky) question:
Would those who prefer intentionally small groups in a large, beautiful space be willing to pay double the price to make it sustainable for such spaces to exist?
We’re not saying you should, but it’s a question worth asking as the coliving industry evolves.
So… What’s the ideal group size?
At the end of the day, it’s very personal, and everyone can decide for themselves, but here are a few points to take into consideration:
- Your personal season (Are you seeking deep work, fun, rest, romance?)
- The type of coliving (Destination? Residential? Themed?)
- How the experience is being run (A single unpaid volunteer struggling to manage a group of 15+ and being completely burned out, or a team of trained and paid community managers who are pouring their heart into the experience)
- The turnover (A group of 20 where everyone arrives and leaves together feels very different from 8 people rotating – coming and going every few days.-
- The space itself and how many guests it can handle comfortably (How many bathrooms, kitchens? How much outdoor space?)
- The time of year (A group of 15 can feel “full” in winter, but empty in summer)
At Chateau, we try to offer the best of both worlds—larger groups when energy is high, and smaller ones when depth is needed. Our goal is to make it easy for everyone to find someone they connect with, without feeling pressured to connect with everyone.
Because in the end, coliving isn’t about numbers,—it’s about experience.
Your Turn: What’s your ideal group size—and why?
Tell us in the comments or send us a message. We’d love to hear your perspective.