In the ideal world, every family would live in a big enough house to allow everyone to have their own separate room. But the reality is different. More often than not, people are forced to make do with their space. That also means that designing a shared kids’ room could be the only option to make everything work. Now, as no child is the same, creating a space that reflects everyone’s personality could prove to be, well, problematic. Nevertheless, despite the challenges you, as a parent, will face on your way to doing so, the result will be worth it. And to make everything a bit easier, we thought we would share some ideas to make the shared room happen.
Designing a Shared Kids’ Room – Tips and Tricks
Having more than one child is a blessing. However, it might not seem that way when trying to create a joint area for them. The task becomes even more complicated if the youngsters belong to different age groups, aren’t of the same gender, or have other interests. We aren’t going to lie; tough times are ahead of you. Put simply — you’ll be a part of the demanding decision-making process that includes choosing the color for the walls, picking the theme and the furniture for the room, etc. Still, you can come out of this endeavor as a winner. Allow us to show you how!
#1 Opt For Lasting Styles
It doesn’t matter what theme or kind of furniture you choose. What does matter, however, is that you choose something that won’t grow old as your children age. As you already know, your kids’ interests won’t stay the same throughout their childhood. Therefore, to avoid having to re-design the area a couple of years from now, go with the theme and pieces that suit their age group now, as much as they will in the future. In terms of color, neutrals are your best bet.
When designing a shared kids’ room, remember that the theme you choose won’t be something the little ones will outgrow quickly.
#2 Add a Dash of Color
Yes, neutrals are the best way to go about designing a shared kids’ room. However, that doesn’t mean you should stay clear of other hues, especially if the little ones are keen on a particular one. Should that be the case, you can always dedicate a part of the room to one child and the other to another. To make everyone happy, you can paint the walls on separate sides of the room differently or introduce colorful details. That is when you can consult the youngsters. If they have a favorite shade, pick that one, and if not, the gender-neutral yellow, orange, or green could also work well.
#3 Be Smart About the Storage
Since more than one person will be sharing the room, you’ll have twice the number of things to fit inside it. While there’s only so much, you can do about expanding the area. However, you can maximize the use of space you already have. The Internet contains clever home storage tricks, including hanging racks, storage bins, and many more.
We recommend investing in storage solutions that save space – aka hidden storage. Furthermore, instead of getting a separate bed for each child, how about you equip the room with a bunk bed instead? It’s recommended that you engage your kids in regular cleaning, as clutter prevention will make their room appear visually larger.
#4 Create Symmetry
For the sake of symmetry and to provide each child with an equal amount of space in the room, we recommend you split it into two parts. Of course, to be able to divide the area, you’ll first need to find the center and turn it into a focal point.
Once you’ve recognized the center, make the two halves look like two peas in a pod. You can accomplish this by putting the same furniture on both sides of the room. Of course, if there is not enough space for two individual beds, it’s lovely to include a bunk bed in the area, as previously mentioned. In that case, it can be the desks or shelves that are ”mirroring” each other.
Create a ”mirror” effect using the same furniture type in both room parts.
#5 Ensure Privacy — Despite the Lack of It
When you share the same space, privacy is rarely a thing. However, it doesn’t have to be that way for your kids. They can inhabit the room together and still have the much-needed ”alone” time. But how do you make that happen? By putting up a ”divider.” You can use the actual separator or a makeshift one. And if the ideas are lacking, take a deep dive into the Internet. The perfect solution for your children’s lack of privacy exists.
#6 Use Color-Coding to Your Advantage
One of the most frustrating aspects of having kids share a bedroom is the inevitable mix-up of personal belongings. Color-coding each child’s possessions is one approach to this problem. With that in mind, get the kids involved in picking out their hue to serve as the foundation for their furniture and bedding.
Toy bins, shelves, baskets, etc., in their color, allow children to quickly find what they need. Furthermore, with everyone’s belongings in their correct places, it’s easier to keep track of who owns what, which instills in kids a healthy regard for the property of others while also giving them a sense of security.
To prevent your children from mixing up their belongings, resort to color coding.
Are You Ready to Design the Room of Your Kids’ Dreams?
You should have realized by now that designing a shared kids’ room will be anything but easy. However, to simplify it further, we recommend you write up a strategy to give your full attention to each of their wants and requirements. Most crucial, be the voice of reason in the case of a conflict among the little ones. And finally, don’t panic; remember what you read and keep going. You will create the perfect room before you know it!
