Design unique shared bedrooms with creative paint techniques and fun color combinations that make the kids say "wow!" If sharing is the only option ... clever planning mixed with a little creativity will ease the pain. The two key problems are: - how to provide privacy without cramping and - how to clarify whose space belongs to whom Children are taught to share at a young age, worthy a lesson as it may be, the average child still has difficulty when it comes to sharing with a brother or sister. When you put two or more personalities together in very close quarters, you must balance each child's need for space and privacy. Siblings tend to fluctuate between sweet harmony and guerrilla warfare, and at times need to be separated for a while. They also need occasional solitude, no matter how they feel about their brothers or sisters. Work to achieve most of the decorative effects in your childrens room through accessory details rather than through the main furnishings themselves. This is where a DIY talent comes in handy. Use fabric paints to create a striking lampshade design. Quilts and comforters make wonderfully practical and appealing bedcovers. Best of all, you can change bedcovers periodically giving the childrens room a whole new look. Talk to your children and think of ways to make them a part of the design process Dividing up the space List the needs of each child. Sleeping, study, clothes storage, toy storage, playspace, TV viewing, hobby area, computer equipment, wall decoration and involve the children in the planning process. Place headboards together, so the children are looking away from each other Use a different color to identify each childs personal space If both children like the same color ... compromise - get creative - eg: blue circles on white background, and for the other child, white circles on blue background. Separate space with tall bookcases Armoires and wardrobes placed back to back and staggered will create a room divider. Furniture Kids room collection may include beds, headboards, bedside tables, dressers, armories, bookcases, hutches, tables and chairs and framed mirrors. Make a bed more than a bed. One of the easiest ways to add a little privacy for each child - bed tents and canopies. Kids love places to hide, to pretend and daydream. Bunk beds are classic space savers when doubling up kids in a room, and the children love the adventure of using a ladder. Bunk beds are fun, and if kids fight for the top, add an extra opportunity to learn to share - have them take turns! Loft beds make optimum use of floor space. The sleeping area is on top, the storage and play or study area beneath. Trundle beds are another option for space saving. Be sure the trundle draws out smoothly, and that your child can handle it alone. Captains Beds with its built in units stand a little higher than standards beds because of the storage. If you use twin beds, place them lengthwise against walls. Create a right angle with the bunks in one corner, that way you create a little alcove retreat or nook where you can arrange desk and storage units. Or if you have a long wall, place bunks end to end. Each bed is quite separate this way and you gain special play, work or storage space under the elevated bed. Modular furniture offers great flexibility. Unfinished furniture offers good value. Fantasy Theme furniture offers unique style. Used furniture offers a bargain! Room Dividers A room divider that can open and close as desired helps to keep peace in a shared bedroom. Few ideas: suspend folding doors or shutters. Hang a curtain divider or beaded curtains or lengthy roller shades from the ceiling. Floor screens another option. Add curtains to the lower bunk, for a cozy private retreat or playing time. Corner tables and corner study area furnishings Storage Solutions Children are born pack rats. Every nook, cranny, bin or shelf soon fills up with their personal treasures, new and worn out toys, oceans of books, papers and puzzle pieces, not to mention clothing. A helpful extra in a room shared by siblings is lockable personal storage. Unique and clever storage ideas: bread box, good size mailbox, fishing tackle box, clear covered containers, shoe boxes, cutlery trays, underbed rolling drawers on casters. Other space savers include storage units that stack on the floor, attach to the wall or hang from hooks. A clothes tree looks nice and offers a resting place for sports equipment, toys and tools, as well as clothes. Children of all ages enjoy hanging things on pegs. Window seats that lift up. Clever closet storage. Create a Window seat reading nook: put bookshelves on either side of the window and add a storage seat or bed if the area is large enough, this makes a cozy inviting place to curl up and read or daydream and provides extra storage also. Back of door storage Turn the back of your childrens doors into storage areas for books, pencils, toys, hair accessories, with shelving or over the door shoe organizers If you have paneled doors, make each panel a functional part of the room - bulletin board, chalkboard and a magnetic board. Wall Storage Keeping lightweight toys, books, games and other supplies on the wall frees up floor space. For the very young child, place shelves within reach. Shelving with adjustable brackets allows flexibility as the child grows. Attach a toy hammock to the walls to store dolls, stuffed animals, toys and clothing that are not likely to get easily entangled in the mesh. Baskets Well constructed baskets are fairly indestructible, as well as versatile. Slide them under the bed for out of sight storage, sit them on a desk to keep art and school supplies in order. Hang a small basket on the back of the door for clothing storage, will help the little ones to pick up and put away. Wicker hamper for toy storage, spray painted to match the color of the room. Wall Decoration Mount large wooden alphabet letters spelling out each childs name and hang above their bed. Hang Prints and Posters, Bulletin boards, Memory Boards, Height charts, Kites, Maps. Also decorate the walls with photos of childrens special occasions. Another idea, hang a blown up photo of each child above their bed. Painting, decorating and designing with color is easy, fun and satisfying. Create a fun wall mural for your childrens room, or add a decorative or novelty wallpaper mural or life size stick ups. Accent furniture with fun designs using stencils and wall decal stickers. Bedding DIY fabric paint your Bedding or purchase bargain priced bedding, and decorate with stencils and stamps, personalise the bedding with your childrens names. Novelty Pillows Every bedroom needs at least one pillow. Your kids will hug them, stack them, toss them, cherish them ..... for quick and easy play pillows .... grab your needle and thread - DIY windsock pillows - fill them with shredded foam, stitch the opening, and walla ... quick and easy and beautiful bolster pillows or fun floor pillows.Or purchase bargain sale pillows, and embellish them with ribbons, bows, buttons, fringe, tassels, appliques, felt shapes .... the options are endless .... all that is needed is a little creativity. Window Treatments Curtains - Blinds - Shades - Shutters Create custom shades with paint and stencils. Lighting Wall fixtures - Clip on lights - Table Lamps - Floor Lamps - Night lights - copyright since 2001 Maries Manor Kids Theme Bedrooms. - All Rights Reserved - |
Shared Bedrooms Storage Solutions Bedroom decorating ideas for kids sharing their space |
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