Soon, many Danish hospitals will change from shared to single occupancy rooms. Based on the available literature, the aim of this review is to discuss advantages and disadvantages of both room types, as well as the upcoming changes in work-flow for the staff. There are multiple advantages of single occupancy rooms but also some of shared occupancy. Several hospital routines will have to change to benefit from the advantages from single occupancy in the new hospitals, and careful investigation of the amount of nursing staff required to staff the new hospital wards is needed.