a shared children’s room
When we moved three months ago we never intended for the children to share a room. Like our old house, we have three bedrooms, so it seemed natural to replicate the sleeping arrangements. But within a few days of moving in we realised that an office would allow us to keep our living areas relatively free of technology; a projector, projector screen, trestle table and computers demand a lot of attention in a light, white space and we didn’t want to sacrifice the calm of our favourite room.
Yes, we were doubtful. There is close to four years between Che and Poet and their needs are very different. However, we don’t believe that young children need their own space; there’s a lot to be said for sharing and actually being together, especially when small, simple living is our priority; for now and the future.
Che wasn’t overly enthusiastic at first but we explained that we’d see how it went and discuss it a few weeks later. For the record, the discussion was never required. Just last week he admitted that he really loved sharing a room with Poet. “We get along better now,” he said.
In regards to sleeping habits, there has never been a problem. Poet falls asleep soon after her bedtime story and Che will read for an hour afterward (we got him a little clip-on LED lamp from ikea – attached to his bedhead – so Poet’s side of the room stays relatively dark – it’s the only “new” item we purchased for the room). Poet probably sleeps more contentedly with Che in the room as she doesn’t come into our bed nearly as often as she did in the old house (although come 6:30am every morning, she is snuggled between Daniel and I).
As I have explained in previous posts, we simplified a lot during our move. Subsequently, we only kept what we loved; including the children’s toys, books and games. Most of their toys and books are kept in the front room and board games and puzzles live in the ottoman. On one end of their bedroom is a floor-to-ceiling wardrobe that houses clothes, shoes, dress-ups, linen and plastic tubs of lego. It took me a good few weeks to find a place for everything (and yes, I continued to de-clutter along the way) but now it’s relatively easy to keep their room tidy (much easier than keeping two rooms tidy) – when there’s less stuff, there’s less to clean. To maintain as much visual space as possible, I’ve intentionally kept the colours quite soft and the decorations simple; white and blue (with hints of pink and floral) ensure the space is playful and unisex.
I didn’t have a table that fit the space between the beds and I wasn’t keen to buy another piece of furniture. But, I knew that somewhere to put books and Poet’s lamp was essential. These little chairs, that originally came from op-shops, are the perfect solution.
We bought Che’s bed off ebay about five years ago and it’s still in great condition. He has a passion for space so I added a few starry accessories to his side of the room: the Indian door-hanging (poking out from behind the curtain) promises sweet dreams / the giant world map pillow is from My Bearded Pigeon / blue star pillow from Fabrik / linen + gold star cushion from Hello Milky / oobee soft creature from Maze & Vale / pinstripe bedspread found at an op-shop / green “every boy is a superhero sometimes” print from Ashley G / moon watercolour from Lauren Merrick / “bear of few words” from Seventy Tree.
Poet’s bed was a hand-me-down from her auntie / I always use vintage floral sheets and pillowcases, found over many years of op-shopping / linen quilt cover + round, pink cushion from Hello Milky / patchwork quilt from Maggie & Sparrow / linen rabbit from Tiny Happy / Patsy Duck from Entropy / stars and moon mobile from Made by Mosey / bed + personalised Jodi + Poet print from Rebekka Seale (sadly, no longer available) / raindrops print by Sandra Juto / Apple Papple by Fine Little Day from The Greater Good.
and such a sweet little room for them to share as well. I think it's good for little people to share a room. We were actually talking about it last night, wondering when our small ones will likely want their own space. For now the giggles after lights out are far too enticing.
What a wonderful and delightful room thats so fun yet so calming. Just what a bedroom should be
I love having little kids sharing. My girls love sharing a room together and they have such fun in there. We will continue to keep them together for as long as we can manage it.
A beautiful room, the whites complemented by snippets of colour are lovely. My girls share a room and rarely a night goes by without my 7 yr old reading to my almost 3 yr old (even though their meant to be sleeping) 🙂
My two share a room and they're 3.5 years apart. They sometimes sleep together which is really cute but most often separately. They're in a bunk bed and we call the bottom the cubby house and the top the tree house – so it's fun.
i used to share a room with my brother till well into our teens. I really liked it. The idea that there was someone else in the room made me feel more secure and we had a great bond.
I love it! Our three big boys share the one room and have never complained.
Ronnie xo
It looks gorgeous – sharing used to be a lot more common with siblings than it is now, didn't it? I shared with my sister for most of our upbringing and then decided when I was twelve I'd take over our spare room (I just moved all my stuff in without even asking! Luckily mum and dad took it well – I think they realised I was the kind of kid who eventually did need her space in the end. But I learnt a lot from having to share with my sister from the start.)
I think many of us have this silly mindset that our children need their own space which is, honestly, ridiculous. I shared with my brother till I was about 10 – it was definitely the norm when I was little and it didn't do me any harm. There will come a day in the next few years when Che will need his own space but for now, it's working for us x
What a beautiful room – it teaches compromise too!
What a sweet room…it seems calm and restful…just what a bedroom should feel like.
I am thinking that my two will share a room…and for the same reason that I am not willing to sacrifice our office.
We never took C's crib down so it is ready and waiting for L. I will likely add some floral sheets, some prints that we were given when she was born, and that is about it…I figure the room will evolve as they do.
Hi Jodi – I was just wondering if you don't mind, why did you opt to go with two single beds in such a tiny room rather than bunk beds? Do you see your two sharing a room like this for a long while yet? I'm just wondering because I have a 4.5 year old son and 2.5 year old daughter who we are trying to transition into a room together before our new baby arrives in 6 or 7 weeks. Its a small room too and I think they are young enough to share for a few years yet…just thinking about things!
A few reasons: I love the children's beds and going out to buy a set of bunks seemed a little ridiculous. Also, whilst I understand the practical benefits of bunks, I don't really love them. I wouldn't call the room "tiny" – there's definitely enough floor space and it works for the kids. At the end of the day, they sleep, read and occasionally play in there but most of their time is spent elsewhere. Blessings for your upcoming birth x
This room is the cutest thing I've ever seen <3<3
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That is so good that Poet will generally falls asleep after her story. My two boys (aged 2 and 4) share a room and it definitely has its pros and cons. After stories they will usually wrestle on the floor or get into each others' beds and hit each other over the head or inflict some kind of pain onto the other person. This is despite a good bedtime routine prior and lots of exercise around the paddock during the day. Talk about too much energy!
You've done such a lovely job. It looks like a fun and yet restful space for them to hang out in. What are your thoughts about a toddler sharing with a baby? We've started wondering if we might have another baby, and if we stay here, they kids will need to share. I don't like the idea… well I like it more after your post!
we put my toddler in with our daughter when she was still a baby! even though my kids are horrific sleepers — it STILL wasn't that bad! i say go for it.
i think God made little ones to sleep in the same room 😉 that's the only explanation I have for my daughter screaming not waking my son up at 3 am!
Thanks Amanda!
I think it's a beautiful room and I love that it's not "matchy matchy" and that both beds/area have their own personality. I have two kids so they both have their own room and to be honest it's for sleeping and getting dressed and sometimes when I need a break (yes from them) I send them to their rooms for an hour of quiet play by themselves (the older one lego or magic and the younger one drawing or another activity). When we were kids we had 7 people in a tiny 3 bedroom house and it was tight and my sister had to have her bed in the lounge room which we used to sit on to watch TV. However I think sharing makes them learn how to be more tolerant even if they are annoying each other they have to learn that in this world you just have to get on with it. I think it makes a lot of sense to have all the stuff in the office which gets used and then the two kids in the one room. I love it. The funny thing is when I was a teenager at school and my friend had a bedroom all to her self I thought that family was rich. Well she had 4 brothers so that probably had something to do with it and their house was 4 times the size of ours but it was very special to have a room on your own and these days it's a given that every child has to have a room…….crazy really. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane
ps…. I love the two little chairs as tables……….just suits the space perfectly. Kathy A, Brisbane
In relation to the bunk bed comment above………personally I don't like them from a safety reason they have a lot of falls from bunk beds with bone breakages and try making both the top and bottom beds….extremely difficult. Just my opinion….Kathy
My little ones (5 & 2) share their room and I and they love this idea. As you they ave simple beds (I do not like bunk bed), and few things in their rooms. The little one is so proud to sleep with her brother, and her bif brither is not afraid anymore… I love your decoration, I recognize two of my choices (Sandra Juto & Fine Little Day) for my own's kids room 🙂
Love their rooms and that they share. Thanks for all the links. You have such sensible ideas. Blessings on your family and the new baby when it comes.
what a lovely shared room. Our two shared for a little while until it was obvious they had such different routines, my daughter needed to be asleep earlier and my son is always an early riser waking her up….but they did enjoy it for that short period. xx
It's a lovely space, Jodi. I am a huge fan of kids sharing a room and it always seems to work out. It's nice when they can share when they are younger and then get their own space when they are older. It enhances their relationship together, I really believe that. x
such a simple space, I am impressed the share it so well 🙂
My two youngest has shared a room since they were babies. It just seemed natural and easy. The only problem we'd come to this far is her urge to decorate with pink. Allthough her older brother thinks pink is fine, he'd rather not have the colour used everywhere!
i love this room, and i love your sentiment that kids do NOT need their own space. i shared a room (and a bed!) with my sister until i was 14. and i still remember some of our nighttime chats (and fights!) we're so much better for it, i say.
my two share a room — they're 3.5 and 20 months. they fight all the time, and since baby girl isn't the best sleeper ever, sometimes sleep is disturbed. BUT i love how it asserts to them (and us — their parents) that this isn't my house or your house, it's our family's house.
our current place is tiny, too and we're about to add #3 to the mix. even more reason to learn to get along.
What a great read, I Shared with my older sister growing up (also had 2 older brothers) sadly it didn't really work for us and instead grew quite a lot of resentment towards each other. But my siblings were much older by the time i was born, my sister already being 7 years old and with my eldest brother being 10.
Quite an age gap and things were a little different by the time i came along (thats a long story) It has taken 20 years for us to now have a civil relationship where we can usually have decent conversations, especially through email. It is nice for me, though, to read the comments here and your thoughts on room sharing, certainly opens my eyes and broadens my opinion on room sharing (and age limits!)
What will be the age cut off for you if you have one? Or will you wait until che says he is ready for his own space? What will happen to your office space then 🙂
Love how you have done this, and kept it so clean and simple. My hubby and I have talked about having our kids share, as we have more. (We only have the one at the moment). I once read that children who share a room with other family members (parents or siblings) they grow up more sharing, and caring of others. In a world of individualism, and self-glorfication, its a great way to keep them down to earth and considerate of others.
You are giving me ideas! I'm pregnant with my second, and have recently given up my studio outside of the home to save money for the new baby. Everything from my office is still in boxes while we try to figure out the best place to set me up. We currently have one child, and she has her own bedroom AND playroom. I'd planned to keep her in her current bedroom and turn the playroom into a nursery, but I wonder if it might make more sense to have them share (leaving me with a separate room for my very own office!!!).
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