Living in a home where each child has their own bedroom is an ideal setup for many families. But sometimes, that’s not an option. Whether it’s because you live in a smaller home or because you were surprised with a new addition to the family before you could move, you may need your kids to share a bedroom.

Though this can be challenging for parents and kids alike, a shared kids room also opens the door for lessons in responsibility and opportunities for sibling bonding. If you’re ready to set up a joint bedroom for your little ones, check out this guide for cute room ideas and ways to ensure your kids get a good night’s sleep while sharing a space!

Consider Bed Layout

Deciding where to position children’s beds is crucial when it comes to putting together a shared bedroom—especially if you have kids on different sleep schedules, like babies and toddlers. One way to ensure that everyone gets restful sleep is by placing the younger child closer to the door. This will help you get to a fussy baby or crying toddler quicker without waking up your other still-sleeping child.

Elevate Your Older Child’s Bed

An elevated bed is a fantastic kids furniture option if you’re working with a smaller bedroom and need to free up precious floor space. Not only does this vertical bedroom layout allow you to fit both beds in the room, but it also gives your older child a fun place to escape from their younger sibling!

Opt for a Smaller Crib

A big, beautiful crib can make for an excellent centerpiece in a nursery, but in a shared room, it can take up valuable playing space for your kids to enjoy. Going with a smaller crib in your kids bedroom will give you and your children a little more space to get around the room.

Find a Crib with High Sides

Children and mischief go hand-in-hand, and a toddler who wakes up in the middle of the night might not be able to control the impulse to climb into their baby sibling’s crib. A crib with high sides will prevent your baby from getting out and your toddler from getting in.

Get Creative with the Changing Table

Instead of trying to fit a brand new changing table into your shared kids room, try repurposing an old dresser or armoire! These multi-functional furniture pieces are great for cleaning up any messes and can be used for storing diapers, wipes, baby clothes, toys, and additional bedding.

Turn a Closet into a Changing Station

If your children’s bedroom has a closet, try transforming it into a changing station to save space for your kids’ beds! All you need is a small dresser or table that will fit in the closet. Then, you can add diapers, wipes, baby powder, and a small cushion for your baby to lay on. To make accessing this station even easier, remove the closet doors!

Create Privacy with Curtains

Not sure how to divide a shared kids room so your little ones have their own space? Installing a sheer curtain down the center of the room or putting up a canopy around each child’s bed is great way to give your kids some privacy to read a book and play with their toys.

Go Neutral with Wall Color

One of the best kids room ideas for siblings sharing a space is to paint the walls in muted tones like white, tan, or grey. Neutral colors not only allow the room to grow with your children, but it also gives each child the opportunity to express their own individuality in the details. A bright patterned bedspread, neon paper lanterns, or a poster of their favorite superhero are all awesome ways to add pops of color.

Pick a Theme Everyone Will Love

An important thing to remember when decorating a shared bedroom for an older sibling and a baby is to not impose an obvious baby room design. Stick to more general kids room decor that will last longer as they age. Need some design ideas for your kids bedroom? Try a jungle or rainforest theme, an underwater theme, or a black-and-white modern theme!

Decorate with Stick-On Decals

As your kids get older, so do their interests, hobbies, and styles. Stick-on decals are the perfect solution for designing a fun space without having to commit to any permanent paint colors. Not to mention, they’re easy to switch out if you want different designs tailored for each child.

Make a Changeable Art Gallery

Looking for shared kids room decorating ideas that won’t break the bank? Putting your children’s art on the wall is an excellent way to add some color and individuality! Hang some funky frames without the glass or fasten wire on the wall with clothes pins to easily switch out new masterpieces.

Add Totes for Toy Storage

Canvas totes, wicker baskets, and fabric bags are kids room storage ideas that are safe, easily accessible for your little ones, and can help manage clutter in a shared bedroom. Place small toys like blocks, puzzles, and dolls in totes on a low bookshelf or put large stuffed animals in a duffel bag in the corner of the room.

Stick to Soft Plush Toys

The last thing you want is hard plastic toys or musical toys that make a lot of noise in your children’s shared room, especially when establishing bedtime routines. Avoid having your baby or toddler waking up the other by only having plush toys in the shared bedroom.

Use Carpet & Rugs to Reduce Noise

Your children might have different schedules, which means there could be times in the evening or morning when one is awake while the other is still sleeping. Dampen the sound of a just-out-of-bed toddler and pad the sound of your own footsteps when checking on the baby with carpet or a thick rug.

Design a Sleep-Friendly Space

For the sake of both children’s sleep rhythms, you’ll want to create the perfect environment for naps and bedtime. Ditch the night light, as it might encourage your toddler to stay up and play during the night. And add a white noise machine. These are a great way to mask any background noises so that your baby or toddler won’t disrupt the other’s sleep.

Move Bedtime Routines to a Different Room

When children sharing a room have different bedtimes, you’ll need to be a little creative. The trick is to move the later bedtime routine to somewhere else in the house. For example, if you put your baby to bed at 6:00 p.m., you can then devote some time to reading to your toddler in the family room before their bedtime so you won’t wake the baby.

Looking for more design and organization ideas for your children’s bedroom? Check out these handy kids room organization tricks and these cute nursery design tips!

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