Should freelancers use coworking spaces?

July 16, 2025

For many, the life of a freelancer sounds like a dream: flexible working hours, working from wherever you want – ideally, even from home, in a cozy pair of jogging pants. However, is working from home really the best situation for freelancers? Most of the company employees who were forced to stay out of their offices during the Corona pandemic were confronted with the reality that working from home didn’t only come with advantages. They experienced a deterioration of the boundaries between their professional and private lives, had hardly any social contact, and were lacking the routines which had added structure and efficiency to their work. These are the same challenges that freelancers face in their everyday working lives when they don’t have a workplace outside of their homes. With the rising popularity of coworking, many freelancers have traded in the pajama privileges of working at home for the professional and supportive environment of a workspace. Of course, that means budgeting in an additional cost as opposed to working at home for free. Does this move translate into money well spent for freelancers?

Clear boundaries between work and private life

One of the most difficult things for freelancers to do is separate their work from their private lives. Having no set working times, working on the weekends or even on vacations, as well as using the home as a workspace exacerbate the situation. The borders between work and private life quickly become almost unrecognizable, especially when a freelancer’s home doesn’t allow for a room designated only for work: the kitchen table becomes a desk to work at, the sofa a place to sit during meetings, the bed offers that last chance to quickly answer a few emails received late in the day. Can that really be healthy for freelancers in the long term? The short answer is no, because when our private lives and professional lives become indistinguishable we’re subjecting ourselves to continuous stress and end up with the feeling that we have no real time off for ourselves. By physically transferring work activities to a workspace, a clear boundary is created between working time and time off. The simple act of leaving the office at the end of the day is a clear reminder that it’s time to take your mind off of work.

Professional working environment without disruptions

Accepting packages for the neighbors, cooking a quick meal that takes longer than expected, or suddenly the WLAN goes down: working at home can mean dealing with a lot of unforeseeable interruptions during the day. Working from the coffee shop around the corner isn’t a great alternative, either: it can be loud and crowded, and working without an ergonomic setup will take a toll on your health in the long run.

The essential difference of a professional workspace is that it is an environment specifically designed for working productively. By providing ergonomic office chairs, large desks, high-speed internet, and a calm atmosphere, the workspace enables freelancers to focus on their work efficiently and comfortably. Moreover, many workspaces offer extras in the form of equipment and services which make everyday work easier. For example, Unicorn Workspaces feature acoustically treated phone booths which minimize background noise while on calls where privacy and confidentiality are important. Unicorn also offers a Barista-style coffee flat rate, featuring unlimited coffee drinks prepared by their Community Baristas, which is like having your favorite café right at your workplace.

Yet for many freelancers, there’s also the question of costs. Can freelancers afford to work at a workspace? Financially, a single desk in a workspace surpasses other alternatives in the long term, especially when the costs of regular coffee shop visits with several drink purchases per visit are considered, or entirely shouldering the high costs of a private office space. For freelancers, there’s more value for money at a workspace such as Unicorn Workspaces. Besides having your own workspace, there’s the benefit of equipment such as printers and phone booths, plus the Barista-style coffee flat rate already included in the price. It’s also easy to book meeting rooms within the workspace.

Connecting socially: networking and motivation within a community

Often, freelancers work independently by themselves. While this offers a sense of freedom, it can also become lonely at some point, especially for those working from home. Workspaces, however, can mitigate this isolation significantly. Firstly, people work more productively when they are surrounded by others who are also focused on their work, as studies have shown. Secondly, workspaces provide numerous opportunities to interact with others, from simply having coffee together to participating in networking events. This can be beneficial to freelancers both personally and professionally.

Networking can become even more interesting when not only freelancers but also teams and companies are present at the workspace. Freelancers then have the chance to gain useful insights into various industry fields and can make important new contacts as well. Communicating with teams and companies can also lead to participating in exciting projects or forming new partnerships, since many companies are particularly seeking support from freelancers. Making connections becomes even easier when the workspace regularly organizes networking events. Unicorn Workspaces offers events such as community breakfasts and afterwork drinks, providing freelancers a relaxed way to meet, mingle, and exchange ideas.

Workspaces: an all-round booster for freelancers

The workspace or working from home – which comes out on top in the end? Ultimately, a workspace is much more than simply a place to work – for freelancers, it can be a solid investment in their careers. Unlike working from home or in a coffee shop, a workspace provides freelancers with a professional and inspiring environment which they’ll consistently benefit from – both personally and professionally.