Sibling room: yes or no?
This decision must clearly be made individually. When considering whether a shared room is a good idea, the age or the age difference of the children is important. If the siblings are too far apart, they have different sleep needs, daily rhythms and interests. Conflicts are part of being together, but such a constellation could exacerbate that.
If a baby or toddler is to move in with a sibling, it is important to ensure that the younger one sleeps through the night and the older one does not constantly wake up. Here, too, one should carefully consider whether this is best for everyone. If the older child has to constantly leave his room because the baby is taking a nap or goes to bed much earlier in the evening, it can quickly feel left out. If there is no other spatial option, other solutions may be found, for example the baby sleeps in a cradle in the living room during the day.
In favor of a shared room, both learn early on to show consideration and to make compromises. And some siblings are happy to have a roommate! You can find ideas for setting up a sibling room in the gallery. More tips follow here!
9 tips for the sibling room
1. Beds
A loft bed is probably a sibling's dream! Another huge advantage is obvious: if the room is on the small side, such a model saves a lot of space. Other possibilities are to put the ends of the bed next to each other or, if the space allows, one on each wall. Each of the two children has their own sleeping area.
2. Separate areas
In order to avoid arguments in advance as much as possible, it makes sense to define a separate area for each child. So everyone has their own corner that they know is their own realm. Those who want can also optically separate these areas, e.g. B. by different wall colors.
3. Divide functional areas
Fixed functional areas, such as reading, playing or doing homework, are also helpful.
4. Use storage space
Two children, twice toys, twice clothes, twice hobbies! That takes a lot of storage space. Depending on how old the kids are, the storage options should be at eye level. So that the children can easily come and stow away their things later. Baskets, boxes and of course shelves help with this. Here it can also be useful to divide the areas if the storage space is not in the area of the respective child anyway. This can be a cupboard divided into two areas or colored boxes. This is how the kids learn to respect each other's things.
5. Common play area
It's nice for both of them when they can have a common play area. This can also simply be a play mat or a small table for handicrafts and painting in the middle of the room.
6. Desk for school children
If at least one of the two children is going to school, they definitely need a desk where they can work in peace. With two tables it can get tight in some children's rooms … Here you can try to place a (larger) table in the room so that a child can sit on it from either side and work or play.
7. Create retreats
Retreating to read or cuddle is a need that shouldn't be underestimated. Indoor tents, bed canopies or simply an armchair are suitable for this.
8. Separate the room
If the children are older and need more space for themselves, the sibling room can also be separated. If you cannot (or may not) move a wall straight away, you can make do with room dividers. Large shelves or curtains can work wonders there (more room divider ideas can be found here).
9. Visiting friends
Sooner or later, both friends want to invite friends over to play. Here it is important to make appointments that everyone can live with. If one of them is visiting, the other can play in the living room, visit grandparents or friends themselves.
Decoration of the sibling room
The decor is certainly a matter of taste. Some children really want to stand out and not always do the same thing as their sibling, while others find it difficult when the other has something different. Here you decide together with the children whether the beds, cupboards, etc. should be the same or whether they should each choose their own.
Textiles should not be missing to bring cosiness into the children's room! Carpets, blankets and pillows make a room look more homely. Just like different light sources: ceiling and desk lamps for doing homework, night light for sleeping, fairy lights while listening to stories – the right light for every situation.
With regard to the wall design, you can let your imagination run wild. Different colors for different areas, photos or framed works of art of your little ones, tapestries or self-designed wall motifs give the sibling room a personal touch.
You can find more furnishing ideas such as designing a children's room or setting up a reading corner here!
Tip: In the BRIGITTE community, you can exchange ideas with others about living space.