Whether your kids or guests are sharing a small bedroom out of desire or necessity, it’s important to give each person their own space. For kids, having areas of their own can help them to appreciate the joys of togetherness. From layout to color palettes to furniture choices and accessories, here are some simple ideas to create a cozy shared bedroom.
Use a Single Headboard
Make a shared bedroom feel more streamlined by using an extra-wide headboard for side-by-side twin beds. Christina Kim Interior Design upholstered the shared headboard in mint green velvet, and used matching bedding on each bed for a cohesive look.
Install Built-In Bunk Beds
In a narrow rectangular room, install a wall of built-in bunk beds to maximize floor space. Kate Marker Interiors decorated this shared cottage bedroom with an all-white palette to keep it feeling light and airy despite the small size.
Opt for a Bunk Bed
Choose bunk beds to take advantage of vertical space in a shared bedroom with high ceilings. Maison Ellie placed a modern bunk bed against the side wall of this blue-and-pink room, freeing up floor space beneath the bay windows for a pair of slouchy chairs.
Try a Trundle Bed
If you’re decorating a kid’s bedroom in a weekend house or want to create an easy option for sleepovers, consider a trundle bed. AHG Interiors chose a whimsical house-shaped frame with a trundle beneath that can be pulled out for sleeping and stowed away to create extra floor space for daytime play.
Divide Space With Paint
Paint is a cost-effective and space-saving way to create visual separation in a shared bedroom. Paris-based interior designer Vanessa Scoffier painted each side of this small room at the Hotel Henriette in a different pastel shade to visually define and virtually divide the space in two.
Hang a Shared Bed Canopy
Outfit an alcove in a shared bedroom with a an oversized canopy. Emily Henderson Design finished this space with a shared headboard that includes a ledge for displaying objects, and draped a modern canopy over the twin beds for a unified feel. A vintage trunk functions as a communal nightstand.
Try Bunk Houses
Create a playful feel in a shared bedroom by trading conventional bed frames for house-shaped raised beds. This rustic ski lodge bedroom from AHG Interiors has a pair of cozy matching house-shaped raised beds complete with roll-up shades on the windows that provide privacy for siblings while keeping them close.
Define Sides With Color
Use color to subtly define individual spaces in a shared bedroom. Eklektik Studio accessorized this shared bedroom with pink and blue accents on lighting, area rugs, and bedding to personalize the space. Wall-mounted sconces above each bed save space, while a shared dresser provides hidden storage.
Squeeze in a Third Bed
Squeeze three beds into a shared room by lining the beds with their sides against the walls. Kara Mann lined up two beds toe-to-toe on one wall, with a third bed on the left wall. Identical bedding and a blue-and-white palette creates a sense of cohesion.
Try a Loft Bed
Free up floor space for play with a loft bed. This Scandi-inspired space from Urbanology Designs has a light wood loft bed that is reached by a ladder, and a lower platform bed on wheels that can be moved around for a flexible layout.
Consider Scale
Save space in a small bedroom by using streamlined midcentury modern-style furniture. Cathie Hong Interiors chose a pair of small-scale rattan bed frames and a wooden nightstand with drawers that are low to the ground, making the ceilings feel taller.
Try Matching Canopy Beds
If you’ve got enough space, embrace symmetry with matching canopy beds. Heather Hilliard Design personalized each side of the room with color and added a shared window seat for hanging out together.
Pair Mismatched Bed Frames
If you are setting up twin beds next to one another on a wall with an off-center window, embrace the asymmetry with a pair of mismatched bed frames. This Scandinavian shared kid’s room from Fantastic Frank features a pair of mismatched antique bed frames and nightstands for a timeless feel.
Add a Double Dresser
Line one wall with a slim double dresser to save space and give each child dedicated storage for clothing in a shared room with a smaller closet. A Beautiful Mess hung a wall-mounted shelving unit to display favorite items in this shared brother and sister bedroom.
Use a Double Bed
If you are decorating a shared kids’ bedroom in a vacation home, consider saving space with a double bed that siblings, cousins, or friends can share. AHG Interiors decorated this minimalist space with mismatched lamps on the nightstands give each side its own personality.