Finding the right place to live off campus is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a UVU student. One of the first questions to answer: do you want a private bedroom, or are you comfortable sharing a room to save some money? Both options exist in the Orem student housing market, but they lead to very different day-to-day experiences. Here’s what to know before you sign a lease — and why most students end up happier with a private room.
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What’s the Difference?
Shared Rooms
Shared rooms mean two (or more) students split one bedroom, each with their own bed, desk, and closet space crammed into a single room. It’s a setup borrowed from traditional dorm life, and it’s still common in some older student housing near campus.
Private Rooms
Private rooms give each resident their own bedroom with a door that closes. You might still share a bathroom or common living space with roommates, but your bedroom is yours alone. At Promenade Place, every floor plan — from the 4×2 to the 4×4 to the studio — is built around private bedrooms, because it’s the standard students actually want once they’re living off campus.
Cost Comparison: Is Sharing Really Cheaper?
Shared rooms are often marketed as the budget option, and on paper that can be true — splitting one bedroom between two people spreads the rent further. But the math looks different once you factor in what you’re giving up: personal space, sleep quality, and control over your own schedule. Many students who start in a shared room end up paying to move into a private one anyway.
| Factor | Shared Room | Private Room (Promenade Place) |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Split with 1+ roommates | Yours alone |
| Bathroom | Often shared with more people | Shared with just 1 (4×2) or fully private (4×4) |
| Furnishings | Fit two setups in one room | Fully furnished, room to spread out |
| Starting Rate | Varies by property | Starting at $499/month |
| Utilities | Varies | Bundled, predictable monthly cost |
With rates starting at $499 a month, private rooms at Promenade Place are priced to compete directly with shared-room options nearby — so you’re rarely paying a steep premium for your own space. It’s worth comparing the full monthly cost (not just the advertised rent) before assuming a shared room will actually save you money.
Why Privacy Matters More in College Than You’d Think
You control your own sleep schedule.
College schedules are unpredictable — late study sessions, early labs, weekend nights out. In a shared room, your sleep is at the mercy of your roommate’s schedule, and vice versa. A private room means you can turn the lights off (or leave them on) whenever you need to.
You have a real place to focus.
Group study spaces and lounges are great, but sometimes you just need a quiet room with a door. Private bedrooms give you a dedicated space to study, take a call, or decompress without negotiating around someone else’s routine.
Roommate friction stays roommate friction — not bedroom friction.
Every roommate situation has its adjustments, but those are far easier to manage when you each retreat to your own room at the end of the day. Shared bedrooms remove that reset button entirely.
You still get the social side.
Choosing a private room doesn’t mean choosing isolation. At Promenade Place, you’ll still have roommates in your unit and a full community around you — 24-hour fitness center, hot tub, study spaces, lounges, and BBQ areas — so you get community when you want it and privacy when you need it.
Private Rooms Vs. Shared Rooms
Pros of Private Rooms
- Your own space, guaranteed. No negotiating over desk space, closet space, or who gets which side of the room.
- Better sleep, better grades. Uninterrupted sleep on your own schedule supports better focus during the day.
- Room to actually live in. With 1,200+ square feet across 4-bedroom floor plans, private-room units give you more livable square footage per person than a crowded shared bedroom.
- Fully furnished, move-in ready. Every private bedroom at Promenade Place comes furnished, so you’re not trying to fit two full setups into one room.
- Still roommate-friendly. Ask about roommate matching if you’re not moving in with friends — you’ll still share a unit and build community, just not a bedroom.
Drawbacks of Shared Rooms
- Less personal space. Two desks, two closets, two people’s belongings — all in one room built for one.
- Mismatched schedules cause friction. Studying, sleeping, and downtime all happen on top of each other with no way to separate.
- Harder to find real privacy. Phone calls, video chats, and quiet time are all complicated when you’re sharing four walls.
- Wear and tear on the relationship. Roommate conflicts that would be minor in separate rooms can escalate faster in a shared bedroom, since there’s no space to cool off.
Explore Private Bedrooms at Promenade Place
Every apartment at Promenade Place is designed around private bedrooms first:
- 4×2 Floor Plan — Private bedroom for each resident, shared bathroom with just one other person. Starting at $499/month.
- 4×4 Floor Plan — Private bedroom and private bathroom for each resident — full independence within a shared unit.
- Studio — Fully private living for students who want their own space entirely.
All floor plans come fully furnished with in-unit washer/dryer, high-speed internet, granite countertops, and a balcony, and residents get access to a 24-hour fitness center, hot tub, study spaces, lounges, and BBQ areas. Utilities are bundled into one predictable monthly cost, so there aren’t any surprises on top of your rent.
Sharing a bedroom might look like the cheaper option at first glance, but for most UVU students, the trade-off in privacy, sleep, and sanity isn’t worth the small savings — especially when private rooms are available at a comparable starting price. A private bedroom gives you the independence to manage your own schedule while still living alongside roommates and a full community around you.
Private Rooms for UVU Students at Promenade Place
Sharing a bedroom might look like the cheaper option at first glance, but for most UVU students, the trade-off in privacy, sleep, and sanity isn’t worth the small savings — especially when private rooms are available at a comparable starting price. A private bedroom gives you the independence to manage your own schedule while still living alongside roommates and a full community around you.
Private Rooms for UVU Students at Promenade Place
If you’re looking for UVU off-campus housing that doesn’t force you to choose between community and privacy, Promenade Place has you covered. With private bedrooms in every floor plan, top-tier amenities, and quick access to campus, it’s built for how students actually want to live.
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FAQ: Private Rooms at Promenade Place
Do all floor plans at Promenade Place include a private bedroom?
Yes. The 4×2, 4×4, and studio floor plans are all built around private bedrooms — no shared bedrooms at any unit type.
Will I still have roommates if I choose a private room?
Likely, yes, unless you choose the studio. In the 4×2 and 4×4 floor plans, you’ll share common spaces (and a bathroom, in the 4×2) with roommates, but your bedroom is always your own.
What if I don't have roommates lined up yet?
Promenade Place offers roommate matching, so you can still get a private bedroom in a shared unit even if you’re moving in without friends already lined up.
How much more does a private room cost compared to a shared one?
Private rooms at Promenade Place start at $499/month, which is competitive with shared-room rates at other properties nearby — so you’re rarely paying a steep premium for your own space.
Are utilities included in the rent?
Yes. Utilities are bundled into one predictable monthly cost, so there aren’t extra bills to track down separately.
