Many people won’t get to buy their dream home. Unfortunately, that means the home you do buy may not suit your needs 100 percent. Even if you consider all your house needs, you may have to make sacrifices in certain areas. But, it doesn’t have to be all bad.
One of the most common problems I’ve seen many families deal with is room sharing. Whether you live with your grandparents or just have a lot of siblings, it’s probably something you’ve done before. It’s not so bad in the short term (e.g. if the house is being renovated), but if it lasts for years and years it can be quite tricky to manage.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make things easier. If you’re a family expecting a new child, you may suddenly find you have more kids than rooms. Sleeping arrangements will be forced to change, and fast.
Will room sharing work?
It’s important to remember one vital thing. Those two kids sharing that room are family, and will behave like so. It can be quite a panic to wonder if your kids will get sleep, and if they’ll get along. But if they’re well-behaved together outside the bedroom, why would that suddenly change?! This is true no matter their age. And who knows, they may even bond further!
Tips for kids room sharing
1. Give them an area of the room each
Just because you’re lumping them together, doesn’t mean they can’t have personal space. When I was younger, I room shared with my brother, and we both had a side of the room each. I could decorate my side, make it a mini-gym and put up a desk, and make it my own.
This way, I still felt like I had my own little bubble. Your kids will want to feel the same too, so divide the room accordingly and let them loose!
2. Effective use of space
When you put two people in one room, you may find that room shrinks. However, there are a few tricks you can use to curb this effect. Investing in unique bunk beds can allow you to save space while letting your kids give the room some style and character.
Additionally, you can take some of the load. If there are items or furniture that no longer fit in the shared room, put them in yours. Make the room feel bigger and your kids will have an easier time adjusting to the arrangement.
3. Have a plan B
The reality of the situation is, it will not always work. And you need to be ready if it doesn’t. Don’t be caught off guard, be prepared. One of your kids could suddenly fall ill, and may need to be separated from the other. One of them could have an early start in the morning, and sharing would mean they can’t get a perfect sleep.
A good idea would be to have a camping bed or cot in another room in the house, that you can move one of the kids to quickly. This allows both of them to get the sleep they need, and is a nice solution to unforeseen circumstances.
It can be a stressful situation, but room sharing works! Just remain calm, and focus on the things you can do to help. After all, it’s your house and your kids, and you know them better than anyone.
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