I’m an interior designer – five easy ways to transform any space into a shared bedroom for kids AND give them privacy
WE all enjoy our own space from time to time, but children may not have the option due to sharing rooms with their siblings.
Not having any privacy or their own space can lead to bickering, which is why Fabulous spoke to interior designer, Anne Davies.
Decorating
Anne, founder of , revealed the best ways to create a shared bedroom and give each child privacy no matter what size room you plan to turn into one.
First, Anne suggests letting your children have a say in how the room looks.
"You need to create a happy space, somewhere that’s theirs and they can be themselves whether playing or doing homework," she adds.
It can easily be done by painting two walls one colour for one child and the other two as the other child would like.
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However, if the prospect of decorating every few years as your children grow up seems daunting, Anne suggests sticking to neutral colours.
"You can accessorise the walls with what they choose, including bunting, pictures and fairy lights that can be switched as they get older."
Bunk beds
While bunk beds may be an obvious choice, they are the easiest way to create a shared bedroom, especially if the space is small.
Anne explained bunk beds were great as "they have the footprint of one bed but the benefit of two, and work great if you're tight on space.
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"To create privacy, you can easily stick on velcro curtains to the bottom of the top bunk."
The expert added the space in between the beds can be decorated to suit the child on the bottom bunk to create their own happy space.
Although, you may still get some bickering over who gets the top bunk.
High beds
If you have a larger room, then Anne says high beds are a great option as you're using the height of the room to create more space on the floor.
"You can have storage underneath and a desk and chair so they can study or relax.
"It creates their own space where they don't have to share everything."
Bunk beds, high beds and mid beds should only be used if your children are six years or older.
Room partitions
Partitioning a room is a great way to create a private space in a shared bedroom.
One way to do it says Anne, is by fixing a curtain pole along the room to create a divider that can still keep the room open.
"It gives them communal space in the middle which for kids is great fun, but they can shut the curtain whenever they want some privacy." She adds.
Another way is by using a bookcase or open storage unit in the middle of the room to create a boundary.
Storage
Clever storage solutions are vital in shared bedrooms, using one to create a partition means your children have plenty of floor space to play while also providing privacy.
Anne suggests using a chest of drawers for storage rather than wardrobes, "you can split the drawers in two so both children can use them for storage, plus you can use the top to store books and toys."
She also suggests looking for bunk beds with drawers underneath to maximise space even in a small room.
Shelves also work well as they use the height of the room rather than floor space, giving the children more space to enjoy.
Zones
Creating separate zones in a shared bedroom can stop bickering and let each child do their own thing while in the room together.
Making the most out of corners, Anne suggests making a 'study' zone with a desk and a 'chill out' zone for reading or gaming.
Anne suggests using bean bags as they can be moved around so kids have the option of sitting together or separately.
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When creating a shared bedroom, Anne said: "It's important to get your kids involved and give them a say, it's their space and they should get to contribute.
"It's all about giving them the space to grow, play, learn and let their personality shine through."