4 Tips for Designing Shared Kids Bedrooms

Whether you have multiple kids in a two-bedroom house or need that extra bedroom for a home office, the need to navigate kids sharing bedrooms has become a hot topic among parents. While some little ones may be excited to get a neighbor (in the form of a little brother or sister), other kids may be hesitant or anxious about sharing their space. But with some easy space planning and creative decor, we’re confident that there’s always a way to make both kids feel equally comfy, cozy and special in a shared bedroom.

Read on for our top five tips for creating a shared bedroom that’s super functional, but of course, still fun!

1. Use complimentary furniture. Anchor the room with furniture that looks and feels cohesive. For example, if you are introducing a crib and additional nursery furniture into a toddler or big kid bedroom, go for designs that read as complementary to the rest of the room. This doesn’t mean matchy-match pieces but rather similar profiles and materials. Bringing in furniture that looks similar to current pieces will feel less jarring to kids because the new furniture will feel like an extension of their current bedroom.

2. Bunk beds are always a good idea. Space saving, functional and downright fun, bunk beds are a great solve for shared kids bedrooms. Benefits of bunk beds include allowing kids to have their own special space while still knowing their sibling is close enough for late night chats or post-bad dream snuggles. Plus, many modern bunk beds come in cool designs, such as loft-style bunk beds and treehouse bunk beds, that make bedtime feel more like adventure time.

3. Create a special zone for each child. While they might not have their own four walls, kids that share a bedroom can still have their own special space. Layer on bedding in a child’s favorite colors or themes, display their favorite toys, book and art around their bed, and make sure to create spaces for them to store their toys and treasures. These simple will do wonders for helping each child feel ownership of their shared bedroom.

4. Let their personalities shine. From the bookshelf to the closet, make sure that both little ones see their belongings displayed equally throughout the room so they feel seen and to avoid hurt feelings. There are lots of creative ways to store and display items from different age groups—such as giving each child specific shelves of a storage unit, equal areas of the closet or turn bedroom corners into special vignettes filled with each child’s treasured belongings.