I am having a design dilemma: We have a very small (about 100sq ft.) room for our 2 children (boy and girl) to share and I cannot seem to coordinate the decor. What tips can you give me?
Lisa- Kitchener, Ontario
Having a shared bedroom look unified and attractive can definitely be tricky. Here are some tips for a harmonious decor, even for two!
Start by choosing the beds. For many families, bunk beds are a necessity in order to save floor space; however, if you can squeeze in individual beds, purchase identical ones in the same finish which will keep the room from looking too busy.
For wall colour there are two options: pale neutral shades of cream or khaki will work well with many different accent colors and will allow you to pick unique bedding for each child.
If your children agree on a wall color they both love, such as green, yellow, aqua or red - go for it and perhaps just try it on only one wall (or the ceiling)! To keep the space from becoming overwhelming, purchase the same bedding for each child.
Keep window dressing, overhead light fixtures and furniture pieces simple. While it's a great investment, it will also grow with your children.
Injecting privacy and personality into a space is also very important, even for little ones. For example, you can install a curtain to seperate the room into two disctinct areas. Give each child their own shelving to store and display their interest and hobbies. A magnetic board will also allow them to post drawings, homework reminders and photos.
The wall space over their bed can be another great area to display their personality with removable wall decals. Storage bins with wheels stowed under the bed can be lifesavers to store toys, clothes or certain items they don't want to share.
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