When kids share a room, be sure to give them some space to call their own.
When space is an issue in your home and you have more than one child, it may be necessary to have two children share one bedroom. Depending on the ages and attitudes of the children, this may or may not be a major inconvenience in their lives. However, there are several ideas for putting together sibling roommate accommodations that will help give each child his own sense of personal space, or at least plenty of room to enjoy it.
Bunk Beds
For younger kids, bunk beds can be an exciting addition to a shared bedroom. This space-saving piece of furniture will reduce the need for floor area that must be occupied by the beds, giving the children more room for their belongings and extra space to play in or do homework.
Most likely the biggest problem will be settling the dispute between the kids as to who gets to claim the top bunk. If the children are very young, then a ladder leading to the top bunk could be a safety concern. Many models replace the need for a ladder with easy to climb steps that reduce the chances of falls. Safety rails are also a common option for the top bunk.
Trundle
Very small bedrooms that must be occupied by two children may benefit more from a trundle bed than any other type of sleeping arrangement. A trundle is typically a normal twin-sized bed with a solid base that often looks like a set of drawers. However, these drawers pull out to reveal a second mattress on rollers underneath. All you have to do is slide it out and pop it up and you have a set of twin beds that can be stored throughout the day until bedtime.
The trundle is easy to roll out and set up and simple to put away the next morning. Since they are not attached in most cases, the trundle can be rolled to any spot in the room for maximum distance from the snoozing sibling.
The use of a trundle bed may allow the children to spend more time in their room playing and enjoying their own spaces without feeling crowded.
A Room Divided
Every child is unique and has her own interests that are completely different from her brother or sister. Even twins tend to have different opinions about simple things like favorite activities, colors, themes and more. Use these preferences as a way to divide the room into two completely separate quarters for the children.
Sometimes defining "my side and your side" is important when two children are sharing a bedroom. Make this line clear by painting each side of the room a different coordinating color or wallpapering sides with different themes or designs that appeal to each child. A bookshelf that extends out from the wall between the beds may make for a good barrier to protect privacy as well. You may also want to position the beds head to head and facing away from one another.
Use a common space in the room for television viewing or video games, and consider purchasing two separate desks and computers for older kids.
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