When Siblings Share a Room: Strategies for Parents To Make Bunking Work

Siblings Share a Room siblings sharing bedroom shared space Privacy storage solutions versatile furniture bedtime routimes Susan Bartell established rules Siblings bunking

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Sep 08, 08:15 pm

In theory, parents may dream of giving every child their own bedroom, but that's not the reality for most families due to space constraints. However, when siblings share a room, they are also creating good and bad memories that shape who they are and their ability to resolve issues with another person.

Sharing a bedroom does not mean the children will have to sleep in cramped conditions that make sleeping uncomfortable or their alone time impossible. Parents can adapt easy strategies to make bunking among their kids work well and ensure that the siblings do not always end up at each other's throats.

Here are some ways to set up a harmonious space for when siblings share a room:

1. Consider their privacy.

The downside of sharing a room with siblings is the lack of privacy, but parents can play around with the furniture, such as the dresser or the bookshelf, to serve as dividers that will identify each child's area.

The use of curtains on rods is probably the most economical room divider. This design idea isn't as bulky as other room dividers that may take up so much space. If the children want to be "alone," they can simply pull up the curtain in their area.

For more suggestions on how to break a shared room with dividers, Apartment Therapy has 21 creative tips.

2. Plan out the storage solutions.

Room sharing means double or triple the amount of clothes, toys, books, and other things, which can easily create clutter. But there are plenty of workarounds and storage solutions to this problem, allowing the kids to maximize their bedroom.

In shared rooms, the use of idle verticle spaces is vital. Shelves are the most practical storage solutions. Just add baskets or other containers to organize the children's items.

Usually found in the workshop or garage, Pegboards can also work in small children's bedrooms to hang baskets, cardies of art and craft supplies, or even toys. Don't forget to maximize corner spaces as well.

3. Invest in versatile furniture.

According to Magical Nest, the furniture in a children's room should look pretty and versatile. These should grow with the children and remain functional no matter what age.

So, look for trundle beds that can double as a daybed when it's not used for sleeping, ladder chairs that can become foldable tables, or extra shelving and seating. Loft beds could be incorporated with a desk, while bunk beds may be added with drawers for storing smaller items like socks or underwear.

4. Work out their bedtime routines.

If the children's age is close, consolidating bedtimes will be easier to manage. They can start with their bedtime routines as early as 7:30 p.m. and be asleep by 9:00 p.m.

But older school-aged children might have to sleep later than their younger siblings. If this is the case, the parents must provide a reading light or book light for the older child who needs to stay up at least an hour late to study. It's important for the kids to have some independence, despite sharing a room with a younger sibling.

5. Have established rules.

Child psychologist Susan Bartell advised parents to establish rules for siblings sharing a room. For instance, they should still ask permission to use each other's things or be in the other sibling's area.

"Give them control over their own space," Bartell said, per Yahoo. "It's just like asking before entering a room."

While there is no specific age for when to separate the kids, parents will usually be able to tell when it's time based on their children's developmental milestones. By the time they hit puberty, new issues will arise if they still share a room with their siblings.