Whether your children are so many and there are not enough bedrooms or they maybe prefer bunking together, having a shared bedroom can be one of the happiness or joys of childhood. Here’s how to become creative to display their individual style

How to decorate your kids’ bedroom to make it more fun to share

In terms of decorating a shared bedroom, the key factor is to be able to create a room which is both fun and very functional, and also gives both occupants the chance to express their individualities.

1. Bunk together 

If your shared bedroom is very small, bunk beds are the best way to go as they utilise vertical space while still leaving room on the floor for storage essentials and playtime.

2. Wonderful white

A black and white space never seems to date and is a color combo that will last for years. The key with this scheme is to include some texture and pattern so it doesn’t seem too stark and uninteresting. This room has white walls, white tongue-and-groove flooring and a white set of drawers. If your room is small, painting everything white and using white furniture will instantly make the space feel bigger (but choose a soft or low-sheen white so it won’t feel glaring). If you have enough room, a nice big rug is great for playtime.

3. Dressing bunks

To create a neat, uniform look, keep the bedding on both bunks the same or similar. Here we have used the same spotty duvet cover (one with black dots, the other with grey) and swapped the matching pillowcases over. On the bottom bunk we have added some extra-large pillows so the bed can be used for reading and playing on during the day. For visual interest, mix up patterns such as spots, crosses, grid lines and even some text.

4. Super storage

Storage is key in any child’s room, doubly so here. Even if you have a built-in wardrobe you will probably still need a set of drawers for storing small items such as socks, underwear, T-shirts and so on. This white four-drawer option isn’t too tall and allows for two drawers per child. Small storage boxes are great for storing toys and games, and having a few of these around will always be handy. Look for storage that can be hung on the wall, too. This cute three-pocket hanging organiser creates storage for small books, hair accessories, small soft toys and any other little bits of clutter. An ottoman with storage inside is another great option, as are under-bed storage boxes on wheels.

5. Paint design 

To avoid disputes over colours, it can be simplest to just split the room in half. Get your children to pick out some colours they like and select two that could work together. In our example, we have teamed a sage green and duck-egg blue, which are both picked up in the cat and dog prints above the beds. In fact, taking some colour cues from a print or piece of art is a great starting point if you can’t quite decide.

6. Linen layers 

As with our previous look, keeping both bedding styles similar goes a long way towards making a shared room feel cohesive. Here we have used the same linen quilts in similar dusty shades of blue and green, which also tone in with our wall colours. Each bed is layered with throws and cushions that pick up the colours in the artworks.

7. Fab furniture 

Most successful shared rooms tend to have matching beds and furniture. The black beds in this scheme are unisex and also tie in with the black, locker-style cabinet. Each child has their own cupboard (within the cabinet) for storing small toys and books and they both have enough space on top for a book and a drink. Ensure both kids have their own lamps so they can control the light in their space – these plug-in cage lights are ideal.