How many of you recall sharing a bedroom with a sibling at least for a period of time? I know I can. In fact 2/3 of kids in families with more than one child share rooms! The reality of having your kids share a bedroom is that they probably don’t want to; in most cases, they want a bedroom of their own. But sometimes, the circumstances don’t allow for it. Even though sharing a room may ultimately cause conflicts between your kids, it can also be a great bonding and learning experience for them!

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Putting your kids in the same room can either be a good transition, or a dreadful one. Sharing a room can lead to continuous fighting, but also endless bonding memories. Even though there will be challenges, it should be rewarding as well. 

You might wonder if it’s good for kids to share a room. Of course! Sharing a bedroom can teach kids to share and be responsible. But how do you make it work while keeping the peace? There are ways to make the process exciting and functional for them, and I have outlined some of those for you!

Involve Your Kids in the Layout Process

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It’s important to first pick a room layout, so plan accordingly. This should be the fun part, so make sure you allow your kids to be a part of it! Not only will it help get them excited for their transition, but it will also allow them to customize it to their personalities and make them happier in the long run.

Another good idea is to give everyone their personal space. Maybe you decide on a room divider or dresser to separate the room in half and give each kid more privacy. Or perhaps you can allow them to paint their side of the wall (or add wallpaper for less mess). Bunk beds can be another fun idea, so long as they don’t both want top bunk! Ask for their input and come up with a solution that everyone is on board with.

Create a Kid’s Closet

Creating a seperate kid’s closet allows for more available space for beds and play areas. In other words, more room for activities!

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Alison has some great tips on creating a kid’s closet. Apart from clothes, you can also store books and toys in that area. The idea of a separate ‘kid’s closet’ is to provide a bedroom that’s free of clutter. Alison says that only pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals are allowed in the bedroom at night. Simple enough right?

Also, if you need additional ideas on how to organize your kid’s closet, check out my other blog: How to Organize Your Closet: 3 Simple Tips. 

Set Up Rules and Guidelines

Now that you have a plan in place for the room layout, you may still wonder how you’ll be able to keep the peace among them. There’s only one way: set up rules and guidelines. This can look different across the board depending on age differences, and style preferences.
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Maybe you want to assign specific cleaning tasks so “clean your room” is not so vague. Or perhaps you want to ensure you give both children the same bedtime, as long as their age difference allows it. If one is significantly younger, you want to make sure they are being respectful of their earlier bedtime. On that note, teach them to ask nicely for things before borrowing them. Respect goes a long way when sharing a bedroom, and can avoid unnecessary arguments. Don’t forget to set up consequences as well. Doing so will encourage them against breaking the rules and guidelines set. They can be part of this decision-making process too!