Two Beds in One Room? How to Ensure a Smooth Transition for Siblings Sharing a Bedroom

Many children grow up sharing a bedroom with a sibling, which can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Whether it’s a brother and sister sharing a room or an elementary-aged child and a teenager combined in one space, careful consideration is essential to ensure a smooth transition.

Ready to put two beds in one room? Here are 10 shared bedroom ideas to keep in mind.

1. Take every factor into consideration.

If you have limited space or bedrooms, you likely don’t have the luxury of mulling over the various pros and cons of siblings sharing a room. However, if you’re on the fence about this decision, it can be helpful to consider factors that contribute to room-sharing success.

Placing kids into one room is a blissful, win-win situation for some, while others may have a long list of reasons for why siblings should not share a room. Before making your decision, carefully weigh these variables that may affect the transition for your family.

Age

Consider the age and developmental stages of the siblings. If the kids are young, are they both sleeping through the night? If they’re older, how much do they value privacy? Younger children may require more supervision and a structured routine, while older kids may value their privacy and personal space.

Gender

While different-gendered siblings often share a bedroom successfully, adolescent children may become increasingly aware of their need for privacy. For example, will your tween daughter feel uncomfortable sharing a bedroom with her younger male sibling? How about vice versa? Sharing a room with a sibling of the opposite gender can create unique challenges that you will definitely want to factor in.

Personalities

Take into account the personalities of the siblings. Do they get along well, or do they frequently clash? Is one child high energy while the other is on the quieter side? Understanding their dynamics will help you make informed decisions about sharing a bedroom.

Available Space

Assess the size of the room and determine if it can comfortably accommodate two beds, storage, and study areas. Sufficient space allocation is crucial for promoting harmony and independence.

2. Find the right timing.

Introduce the shared space concept during a period of stability and routine. Avoid initiating the change during times of major transitions, such as starting school or bringing home a new baby. Gradual adjustments will help the children adapt more smoothly.

Additionally, it’s best to combine the room when both children are consistently sleeping through the night to better minimize disturbances. And, as most parents could likely guess, it’s best to make the move when everyone is well-rested. If not, the transition may be a lot more frustrating. And no one wants that.

3. Give your children a heads-up.

There are many instances in parenthood where a “rip the bandaid” approach works best. This is likely not one of them. Instead, have discussions with your children about what is going to happen. Explain the reasoning behind the change and the benefits they’ll experience from it.
You might also allow your children to help brainstorm shared sibling bedroom ideas so that they feel like active participants in the process.

4. Discuss your rules and expectations.

Additionally, it’s important to discuss the ground rules and expectations for the new kids’ bedroom set-up. For some siblings, the excitement of suddenly having a nighttime playmate could keep them up all night. By clearly communicating rules regarding personal belongings, privacy, and noise levels, you can encourage open communication and conflict resolution to foster a positive shared living environment.

5. Consider splitting the room into two.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for how to divide a room for siblings. For some sibling duos, less is more when it comes to personal space. However, other kids may do best in a shared room when they still have their own separate space and a clear, delineated area that belongs only to them.

If space permits, dividing the room into two distinct areas can provide each child with a sense of ownership and privacy. This can be achieved through the use of pseudo walls using room dividers, privacy screens, curtains, tall bookshelves, or dressers. Visually, you could even divide the space using area rugs and different paint colors.

6. Stagger their bedtimes.

Bedtime may require a bit of strategy, especially in the early days of children sharing rooms. Two excited kids – or even just one – can make falling asleep a monumental task. One way to make the bedtime routine easier is by staggering bedtimes and allowing each kid to fall asleep independently.

A younger child still taking long daytime naps may not need to go to bed as early as a non-napper. An older child may get the older sibling privilege of staying up 30 minutes later. Whatever the order, it can make bedtime much easier on everyone.

7. Loft their beds to give them additional floor space.

When you put two kiddos into one room, space may be limited. By lofting their beds or putting them into a bunk bed, you open up much more real estate than if you were to put both beds on the floor. For younger kids, the space underneath the bed can be a perfect play area or story time nook. For others, it’s the perfect place to put a desk.

8. Minimize disturbances with white noise machines.

Room-sharing can be particularly difficult if you’ve got one sound sleeper and one restless sleeper. Minimize the chance they’ll wake each other up by placing twin beds on opposite sides of the room. Next to each bed, place white noise machines that mask the sounds of tossing, turning, fussing, or sleep-talking.

9. Stay the course.

With any transition, consistency is key. You may experience a rough couple of nights when first making the switch, but stick to your plan. Eventually, the excitement will wear off, new routines will be created, and everyone will be sleeping soundly again. Breathe, stay the course, and have patience with everyone!

10. Shop kids’ bedroom furniture and more at Rent-A-Center.

Will your kiddos become bunk buddies or enjoy separate sanctuaries while sharing a bedroom? With kids’ bedroom furniture at Rent-A-Center, you can do it all — from the Wrenalyn Twin Loft Bed that offers style, bedroom storage, and privacy to the Ashley Lettner Twin over Full Bunk Bed for sleek designs and a sense of camaraderie.

Plus, with free delivery and our flexible, rent-to-own payment plans, you can make upgrading and changing your furniture easy and affordable. Rent the items you need for the entire family by shopping online or stopping by your nearest Rent-A-Center today!