Perhaps you need to hear this today – the way you arrange your home can make you feel good about yourself and give you a greater sense of control. A home that’s a nicer place to live will ultimately make you happier and healthier. And you can make it happen over a weekend, wherever you’re staying. Take it from B-hive Living – a wellness coliving brand that does it for you on a daily basis at our Oxfordshire Hives.

Living well starts at home. After all, that’s where we tend to spend most of our free time, or most of all our time if you’re a remote worker. Whether you live alone or with others, your home is also an important part of your identity. Especially during the pandemic, our homes have become a workplace, school, and gym, and still have to be a place to relax and recover from everyday stress. It doesn’t have to be a challenge. Let’s pull up our sleeves and get you feeling much better in these days by taking control of your space.

Declutter and make it yours

At B-hive Living we believe that eliminating things that don’t serve a specific purpose or you don’t personally find beautiful and pleasant is a good start. Apply that rule to your space. A neat home works wonders for our mental clarity and overall health, so start with decluttering. If you haven’t used that candle holder or worn that coat in a long time, consider giving them a second life by donating them (try free stuff! Or Freegle). You will likely find the freed space more valuable than the things that have been occupying it. All the items you keep because they are useful or you love them will naturally find their own comfortable place.

And now, you go ahead and occupy the space. Surround yourself with personal items. Frame your favourite picture, throw that blanket you find cosy on the bed. Keep the books you love near your place of rest. Give your home your own personality. It may feel like you’ve just moved in when you’re done. Feels great, doesn’t it?

Provide for small pieces of comfort

When making changes to your home, we encourage you to consider how you’ll use your home throughout the day, and how you infuse comfort at every step. Pampering yourself is largely in the small things.

Keep comfy slippers next to your bed, and your favourite magazine at the breakfast station. Having pots of fresh herbs in the kitchen will change the way you experience meals, and remote-controlled lighting will contribute to undisturbed evening relaxation. Replace your old shower head with one with beads that makes showers more pleasant and healthier.

Look around and have fun making yourself feel a tiny bit better with every little change, until you get the feeling of ‘Hygge’ from early morning to when your head hits the pillow.

Balance work and relaxing space

Taking care of your mental hygiene is key to design for wellness living. Do it by making sure you accommodate space for relaxation alongside your designated working space. If your home is small, you can use furniture or large plants to create broken-plan zones to separate where you work, relax, cook and eat. If you love reading, organise yourself a nook just for that. A similar space just for crafts and hobbies might become your favourite spot in your home. Personalise, own, and love it.

Make the most of natural light and fresh air

You don’t need to remodel your home to optimise the amount of natural light you get. Try re-arranging the layout of the room instead. Move your desk in front or next to the window. Arrange your sofa to face the windows as well. Not only will you be exposed to more natural light throughout the day, but you’ll also benefit from connecting with the open space outside.

A clever way of bringing more natural light into your home is to install mirrors where the light comes in. It will be more equally balanced throughout your space, filling the room from more than just one source.

Make sure you open the windows frequently to ensure the flow of air through your rooms. Air quality at home is perhaps the most underrated feel-good factor that can keep you healthier and make you feel invigorated any time of the day.

Keep it natural

As humans we are deeply connected to nature. Natural textures, materials, shapes and colours provide for a calm and relaxed state of mind. At B-hive we believe that colour alone has the power to transform a room and create different moods. Seek to create harmony of  the walls, textiles and other items in your home. Aligning the shades to the activity and mood you desire in that space is paramount for comfort and creating a space that feels your own. As a rule of thumb, warm colours such as red, orange and yellow are considered to be stimulating, while cool tones of blue and green tend to be more restful and soothing. 

In your journey to wellbeing, also cut down on chemicals in your home. It’s not as hard as it seems, it can cut your living costs, and most importantly: a natural home is a nurturing home. Instead of chemical-heavy detergent and cleaning materials, opt for natural alternatives kinder to your skin, general health, and the environment. If you like to light candles in the evening, go for those made from soy or beeswax rather than paraffin-based alternatives (we like those from Oxford Candlemakers).

Love your greens

Houseplants look beautiful and can improve your health and wellbeing too. They can remove harmful chemicals from the air, absorb noise and reduce dust, lower blood pressure, help concentration, improve memory, promote relaxation and make rooms look cared-for and welcoming. For boosting wellbeing go for some of these: Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Nephrolepis (Boston Fern), Phlebodium Fern, Gerbera Daisy, Saint Paulia (African Violets), Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig), Sansevieria (Snake Plant), Chlorophytum (Spider Plant) and English Ivy.

Houseplants might easily become your new hobby, bringing a whole new benefit to your lifestyle. Caring for plants has been an increasing fun trend over the pandemic times, and you’ll find lots of influencers sharing their love for home greenery and tips on making it thrive in the social media (follow the Potted Jungle, Little North Plants or the Black Plant Man for a start).

B-Hive Living is a wellness-focused coliving brand operating properties in Oxford and Bicester, UK, and now expanding internationally. We drive social change by exploring and promoting the concept of living well. We place it at the heart of our coliving design for a more connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for our residents.

Francisco is a personal trainer and surf coach. He grew up in a small town just outside Lisbon where he enjoyed a beautiful childhood with lots of freedom to run wild in the outdoors in a close, neat community. When he is not looking after clients, surfing, climbing and skating are his go-to passions. He offers strength and mobility training to the residents of B-Hive Living, adding to the connected, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle they look for in the Hives.

What does living well mean to you? 

Living well for me is something very personal and ingrained in my nature. We all have our own definitions. For me it’s a way of living defined by an ongoing search to become healthier and happier. That’s how you get to lead an active and wholesome life. For that, it is crucial to make healthy choices every day – from sleeping well and being conscious and intentional about what you eat, to simple decisions like answering the phone standing up rather than sitting down, or taking the stairs instead of the lift. 

“Living well is defined by an ongoing search to become healthier and happier. That’s how you get to lead an active and wholesome life.”

How do you make the most of each day?

By pursuing various moments of mindfulness throughout the day. I seek to focus on my breath and become present in that moment.

Why did you choose the health/fitness coach career?

I was particularly influenced by fitness trainers at my school and their lifestyle. I admired their ability to work mostly outdoors, have their own business and be able to dedicate a proportion of their day to their families, health, and their passions – especially surfing. When playing skate hockey I had a tricky knee operation followed by a long treatment. This made me realise the huge impact of this profession on people’s lives so I decided to become a personal trainer myself in 2018.

What do you love most about your work? 

What I love the most about my craft is helping people create a better lifestyle for themselves. Witnessing my clients achieving their goals, shifting their mindset and habits, and ultimately becoming a better version of themselves is a huge source of satisfaction and motivation to do my work even better. Finally, working mainly outdoors is a privilege I am thankful for. 

“Witnessing my clients achieving their goals, shifting their mindset and habits, and ultimately becoming a better version of themselves is a huge source of satisfaction.”

Something you can’t go a day without is… 

Having time for myself and exercising. I love the sensation of stretching out and feeling the body recovery. 

What would be the one meal you could eat for the rest of your life? 

This is a tricky question since I am a food lover. But if I had to choose one meal for the rest of my life, it would be grilled fish with spinach spread and vegetables. It’s super yummy and healthy!

Can you talk us through how you work?

Everything starts with a conversion and understanding people’s goals and motivations. Their goals and body type need to be aligned with a specific work methodology. I also seek to propose new habits and make people aware of negative habits that may get in the way of them achieving their desired results. Mobility and strength training are a key focus of mine given their impact on people’s vitality and longevity. 

“Mobility and strength training are a key focus of mine given their impact on people’s vitality and longevity.”

Your top three tips on keeping health and wellbeing in check? 

1. Sleep well 

2. Eat well 

3. Boost happiness through a more active lifestyle 

What are your hopes and dreams for the future? 

To support a change in mindset through my work by helping to realise the potential of an active lifestyle and how that influences every aspect of people’s lives. It’s time we realise that we are all connected – that could eradicate many of our world problems.

Get to know Francisco better and follow his work on his Instagram account.

Get an insider glimpse of our Hive community and their lifestyles. Meet your actual potential Hivemate and let them show you around. Join in on the coliving adventure at one of our Hive Homes.

Your Hivemate Giuseppe

Hi, I’mGiuseppe, Italian, 33 years old. I moved to the UK last year to work in retail real close to my Hive home. My big passions are fashion, travel, and photography. You can get to know me better on my instagram account @santoguise.

What convinced you to go for coliving as a housing/lifestyle choice?

I’m excited to live in a shared home, because it means I’m never alone and I keep very active. The Hive offers meeting and bonding with new people from different countries, and I find it amazing!

Who would you recommend it to?

I would recommend B-Hive Living to young people from any place in the world, especially those who love shopping (Bicester Village is here), or work near Oxford. 

What are your impressions on moving in and staying in our Hives?

The Hive has a warm positive vibe with everyone sharing a large living room space and a seriously wonderful garden! 

What is your favourite part of your Hive home and why?

My favourite part is the dining area. I love listening to my favourite music there while looking out at the garden and the sky.

You’re passionate about fashion, aren’t you? What excites you the most about it?

Fashion is a big part of my life. I have been working for my company since 2010. Because of that, I could travel all over Europe, see many cultures, and feel part of them.

What are your top 5 brands to shop in Bicester Village?

Absolutely Versace! Then Versace, and again Versace, Versace, Versace! 

How would you describe the community of your Hive? What kind of experience is it to live together?

The community of the Hive is very friendly, encouraging, and sociable. We like to have dinners all together after a day at work!

How is the social life? What activities and places would you recommend in the area?

Bicester is famous for Bicester Village, really good for shopping. Then take your Hivemate, and in 15 minutes you can reach Oxford city with lots of restaurants and clubs. 

What’s your fondest memory of staying with us?

My fondest memory of my stay in the Hive so far is a special dinner we had all together that made all of us bond and unite! 

To live well is also to eat well. To tickle your post-pandemic foodie wanderlust a little, we bring you the most delicious bits that are brand new – crafted by exceptional brave people during the pandemic! With lifted restrictions of the lockdown, you can now add them to your Oxford foodie adventure.

Green Routes – the go-to vegan in town

Opened in December during the pandemic by six people with previous catering experience, Green Routes was a circumstantial necessity, and a big success. It’s a great addition to the East Oxford area that already has a great foodie reputation. It offers vegan and plant based food, with an absolutely legendary burger, amazing pancakes, and great specialty coffee!

They make great food whether you’re a vegan or not. It’s not a trend here, it’s passion.

Medley – riverside bar

Oxford’s brand new riverside bar Medley with a stunning location is a beautiful spot to watch the world go by. Easily accessible from Oxford on foot or by bike along the Thames, it is seasonally open from May to September. It is placed in the previously disused part of the Medley Manor Farm in Binsey.

Drinks from local breweries and distillers are offered at the bar. Top notch mobile street food vans keep your foodie adventure going.

Wilding – cafe, restaurant, bar and wine shop

Wilding is a massive and elegant refurbishment of the former Cafe Rouge into a relaxed, sophisticated space which includes a cafe, bar, restaurant and wine shop. On top of that, it features a courtyard garden outside.

The menu includes 50 wines by the glass, with any wine in the shop available at your table. The food menu is also versatile and impressive, catering to everything from a casual afternoon nibs to exquisite dining.

Tap Social Whitehouse – brewery and pub

The Tap Social White House offers its own craft beer and new affordable sharing plate style menu. With a top chef, fantastic team, social ethos, community slant and central location, it’s a place you cannot miss. The pub garden features colourful furniture made from recycled plastic, providing seating for 200 on top of 150 seats inside. A revelant huge cycle stand spans the length of the garden to encourage its customers to cycle or walk.

The White House will be partly staffed by day release and ex offenders, mainly from Springhill Prison near Aylesbury, as part of Tap’s rehabilitation programme, which is the ethos behind the whole company.

Taste Tibet – Himalayan soul food

Taste Tibet is a brand new cafe, takeaway and shop offering Himalayan soul food on Magdalen Road, adding to the well-known Oxford foodie area. After years of successful selling takeaways from their house and at markets, it’s finally a place of their own for this husband and wife team. They already have a crowd of fans for a good reason – their food is to die for.

With a new cookbook planned, and more Taste Tibet sites on the horizon, this is only the beginning for Julie and Yeshi, so watch this space!

Barefoot – coffee and cake shop

Barefoot now features a new site in North Parade, and already attracts queues of people waiting for their irresistible cakes, cookies, donuts, biscuits and more. Inside, the busy cafe is equally as popular. Barefoot stole the sweet tooth of the nation with its ‘brownie in a box’ concept during the pandemic.

The concept of Barefoot is simple: good cake, good frosting, no additives, preservatives or colouring. If they don’t make it they don’t sell it. And this ethos has proven very attractive.

The cakes on offer change daily and seasonally, new additions continuously brought to the offering, such as the popular cinnamon buns and new donut ranges.

For more ideas on what to see, eat and do in Oxford, check out Ox in a Box.

Moving to Oxford can be an exceptionally exciting experience if you opt for coliving as your housing choice. At B-Hive Living, you will enjoy a vibrant community of like-minded individuals from all over the world from day one. Sharing your passion for food is a beautiful way to bond with your roommates! Explore Oxford and share a foodie adventure with them, and you will be in for beautiful start of your stay in the city.

With a third of the population aged under 30, a large number of motor manufacturing, publishing, science and technology-based companies, and an exceptional cultural and entertainment scene, Oxford offers life with real cosmopolitan vibe. Here are our best local finds you will want to enjoy while living in Oxford.

A morning jog with a view

Living in Oxford allows for starting your day on one of the many fitness trails of South Park. Have a break at the hilltop to enjoy the absolutely best view of the city, including the famous ‘dreaming spires’. On another day you might want to catch a hot air balloon flight with Adventure Baloons (April and October).

Another good choice for a morning jog is Port Meadow. It’s one of the largest open spaces in the north of city. With the River Thames flowing through the heart of the meadow, it’s also a perfect place for a picnic bbq or weekend fishing.

If you’re still hungry for practicing sports, Oxford University Park offers multiple possibilities, including a game of quidditch!

Urban rooftop yoga

With unique views of Oxford’s dreaming spires, the Rooftop Terrace Westgate center is the ultimate destination in the city. It offers an eclectic mix of places to eat, drink and more. You will find high class world cuisines there, as well as some daytime entertainment such as a cinema or escape rooms. Our favourites are the Sunday rooftop yoga sessions and the amazing Sticks’n’Sushi restaurant.

Coworking and coliving

The quality of your daily life depends on where and who you live with, and how you work. Are you a social animal all about community living and working? Check out the relaxed modern community-centric Dodo Works coworking space and well-being oriented coliving opportunities with B-Hive Living. You will end up spending your days with like-minded professionals from around the world, just as excited about living in Oxford as you are.

Living in Oxford like a local

To experience the fantastic multi-cultural energy East Oxford is known for, Cowley Road is the place to be. It’s a colourful, quirky neighbourhood filled with students, ethnic food and second hand shops. Cowley has also become known for the many stunning murals. They reflect the area’s bold and dynamic spirit through paint.

To quench your thirst for reading, you cannot miss the Blackwell’s book shop. It features three miles of shelving in the shop’s Norrington Room alone. There are now nine branches of Blackwell’s in the city, but the original Broad Street shop is hands down the one to check out.

If you’re a lover of the vintage scene, the Unicorn is Oxford’s quirky staple. It’s an ideal shop for the adventurous and determined rummager, with stacks of frilled petticoats, structured waistcoats, 1950s tea dresses and sequined shirts.

Take advantage of the wonderful atmosphere of the local markets. The oldest Covered Market is compact and colourful, full of aromas of fresh fruit, coffee, and fresh baking. You’ll find everything there, from hats to custom-made cakes, skateboards, tea, shoes and more. The market is the place to discover small, independent businesses.

Bring plenty of shopping bags on your way to the Wolvercote Farmers’ Market. You will be excited to stock up on organic fruit and veg, locally-reared meat, artisan bread and cheese, cakes, chutneys and more.

Foodie’s lunch

If you love burritos more than anything, you will see eye to eye with Mission Burrito. It was born our of borderline obsession with the burritos of San Francisco. Mario’s is where you go for a truly genuine Italian experience… and where Italians are reminded of their grandmothers’ kitchens. For the possibly the best authentic Chinese-Malasian in the country, visit Zheng.

Afternoon tea with a theme

Right on top of the world’s oldest museum with terrific views of the picturesque spires of Oxford, afternoon tea is a specialty of the Rooftop Terrace Ashmolean Museum. It’s often themed to tie-in with whatever exhibition is showing. It’s one of the best ways to feel the exceptional atmosphere of living in Oxford.

Excellent dinner venues

The Giggling Squid Thai Restaurant offers staggeringly good Thai food and absolutely beautiful interior design. For a more local traditional treat, The Perch pub is an excellent choice. As an institution as old as the Oxford University, over at least 800 years it’s been a favourite of some of Britain’s best poets and authors, a frequent haunt of Inspector Morse, and even an influential venue on the British Jazz scene.

Evening entertainment

If it’s entertainment you’re looking for, then Oxford offers everything from student club nights to stand up comedy, classical concerts, plays and musicals, several cinemas and an abundance of live-music venues. Our personal recommendation would be the Raul’s Cocktail Bar. It is named as one of the Top 50 Bars in the World by The Sunday Times. It also offers cocktail classes!

However you’d like to enjoy living in Oxford, the independent Daily Info newsletter lists everything going on in the city and is a great way to find things to do.

Find a new home in Oxford