How to divide a shared kids’ room: 4 fun ideas - Coaster F

September 12, 2022

How to divide a shared kids’ room: 4 fun ideas

Learn how to divide a shared kids’ room to create privacy for two in a single bedroom. Plus, find furniture and decor ideas you (and the kids) will love.

Learn how to divide a shared kids’ room to create privacy for two in a single bedroom. Plus, find furniture and decor ideas you (and the kids) will love.

Many children living in shared rooms with siblings eagerly await the day they have their own bedroom. And while most parents would love to grant this wish, it’s not always possible — but this doesn’t mean that your young ones can’t have their own space.

This guide covers how to divide a shared kids’ room, offering our favorite ideas to create privacy for two in a single bedroom. We’ve also highlighted a few furniture recommendations to help you find the perfect pieces for your favorite room idea.

How to divide a shared kids’ room

Most siblings start to want their own rooms by nine years old, with some moving into separate small bedrooms as early as one year old. But even if moving into another room isn’t an option, it’s still pretty easy to fit two beds in one small room

Figuring out how to divide a shared kids’ room without remodeling your home can seem challenging, but it’s certainly not impossible. It’s all about creating separate spaces that add a little privacy and personal space within four walls. 

Let’s take a look at how to divide a shared kids’ room. And remember — whether you’re working with a large or small room, you can adjust most of these ideas to fit your kids’ shared space.

1. Create privacy between twin beds with a room divider

How to divide a shared kids room: 4-panel Folding Screen with Removable Shelves Tan and Cappuccino

If you already have separate beds in your kids’ bedroom, you can create instant privacy with a room divider. Depending on your space, you might want to use multiple partitions to create the sense of an actual wall between the beds. For example, one or two dividers are usually suitable for small bedrooms, while large rooms may work better with two or three.

Here are some ways to make this idea your own:

  • Back to back: Place one or more free-standing room dividers between two beds placed foot-to-foot or head-to-head against one wall
  • Side by side: Place one or more free-standing room dividers between two beds placed on opposite sides of the room
  • More storage space: Use one or more bookcases instead of room dividers and place them either back-to-back or side-to-side depending on your space
  • More privacy: Attach a curtain track to the ceiling so you can use hanging curtains instead of room dividers for the first two ideas on this list
  • Bonus points: Use one or more free-standing room dividers with removable shelves for the first two ideas on this list

Many room dividers easily collapse or move to the side, allowing kids to decide when they want shared space in their room. It’s worth noting that curtains make it easier to open up the room while bookcases make it more challenging.

Our picks:

2. Add canopies or curtains to the beds

How to divide a shared kids room: Betony Twin Canopy Bed White

Have you ever sat in a bed with a canopy closed around you? It’s a unique experience that brings out the child in you regardless of age. The same is true for a bunk bed with closed curtains. And for kids who want more privacy, spots like these are priceless.

This idea works with both bunk beds and separate beds, and you have a few options:

  • Private bottom bunk: Hang curtains around the bottom bunk only (usually for the older sibling) and leave the top bunk open
  • Ceiling-mounted mosquito nets: Hang mosquito net-style canopies from the ceiling over separate beds
  • Beds with built-in canopies: Use separate bed frames with built-in canopies
  • Ceiling-mounted curtains: Hang curtains from hooks or a curtain track on the ceiling around separate beds or around a bunk bed (this will offer privacy for both children with one curtain)

Curtains and canopies make everything better, including sibling life. These designs are also fun for sleepovers and indoor camping adventures!

Our picks:

3. Partition the room using a bunk bed

How to divide a shared kids room: Chapman Full over Full Bunk Bed Black

If you have the floor space, you can hang curtains around a bunk bed in the middle of the room so that the two beds open to opposite sides of the room. This arrangement gives each child the experience of waking up in their own private area.

Here are some ways to make this idea work in your space:

  • Away from the walls: Place the bunk bed in the center of the room, away from the walls, and hang curtains on opposite sides (good for large rooms)
  • Against a wall: Place the bunk bed against one wall, equally dividing the room in the middle, and hang curtains on opposite sides (good for smaller spaces)
  • Bonus points: Separate the room in half with curtains, bookshelves, or room dividers, creating the illusion of two rooms (good for siblings of different ages)

This idea works best with a two-bed bunk bed and a spacious floor plan. If you place the bunk bed against a wall, you can create separate spaces directly in front of each bed while leaving a shared space on the open side.

Our picks:

4. Use different colors to divide the space visually

Children's bedroom

Visually dividing the room with different colors can work well in a playroom-style bedroom for small children. This space-saving idea leaves more open areas for extra storage solutions, room decor, and interior design, and it’s an excellent opportunity to flex your DIY skills.

Here are some easy ways to approach a room design like this:

  • Accent walls: Paint two opposing walls in different colors, visually separating the space, while leaving the other two walls white
  • Half-and-half: Paint the room in two different colors, dividing it in half, and choose accents in different shades to complement each side
  • Colored furniture: Instead of painting the walls, use furniture in two different color palettes on either side of the room
  • Rugs: Divide the room’s floor space with two rugs that meet in the center of the room (good for hardwood floors)
  • Artistic splashes of color: Add splashes of color behind each bed while leaving the rest of the room the same — you can do this with paint or use mess-free stick-on decals that the kids can help you add to the walls

Using one or more of these ideas allows you to give each child unique decor on their side of the bedroom. For example, your kids might want a boy’s bedroom design on one side and a girl’s bedroom design on the other.

Pick a shared bedroom idea they’ll love

2 kids jumping on a bed

One of the best ways to decide how to divide a shared kids’ room is to ask the kids. Show your children the ideas you’d be willing to consider — or work with them to come up with some (practical) ideas — and let them decide how to split the space. If they can’t agree on one option, tap into your inner interior designer and work with them to combine both ideas into a bedroom design everyone will love.

Check out Coaster Furniture’s complete selection of kid’s bedroom furniture for inspiration and ideas, then be sure to use our store locator when you’re ready to buy.

coaster-room-dividers-accents-Iggy-4-panel-Folding-Screen-with-Removable-Shelves-Tan-and-Cappuccino coaster-room-dividers-accents-Iggy-4-panel-Folding-Screen-with-Removable-Shelves-Tan-and-Cappuccino-hover
CoasterEveryday

Iggy 4-panel Folding Screen with Removable Shelves Tan and Cappuccino

coaster-bunk-loft-beds-kids-bedroom-bedroom-Chapman-Full-Over-Full-Bunk-Bed-Black coaster-bunk-loft-beds-kids-bedroom-bedroom-Chapman-Full-Over-Full-Bunk-Bed-Black-hover
CoasterEveryday

Chapman Full Over Full Bunk Bed Black

Chapman Collection

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