We are debating having the boys share a room.� It isn’t necessary, but The Mister always enjoyed sharing a room with his older brother and has this idea it will “be good for Mikey and Nico.”� I like the idea because it opens up a room in our house for guests, crafts, and other nice sounding things that will probably never happen.� The room, being in a mid-century home, is plenty big for two twin beds.� In fact, I’m sure its size reflects the assumption that siblings would be sharing the space.� Nicholas’s room is much smaller by comparison.
What are your thoughts on siblings sharing a bedroom?
{The above photo is from the talented Jenny of Little Green Notebook.� Her daughters share a room that she recently redecorated.}
First, I am still dying over Jenny’s room since the reveal. Good choice for a picture to use.
Second, I think it would be good for them. I personally had my own room because I was pretty much an only child (my brother is fourteen years older than me). I think if I had had a sister to share a room with, I could have learned a lot from it. I have had to share rooms with people in college now and, although it was pretty easy for me, I think many people who have never had to share may have a hard time with it. I’d say go for it. That’s how is always used to be back in the day and it could make a cool new space for you to enjoy!
-Sarah
I am so for it. I shared with my brother (who is five years younger) until I was 13 and we moved to a bigger house.
We have a three-bedroom and one baby, but I fully plan on putting our next one in the same room as him. I like keeping a room for an office/guest room/craft room and whatnot. A Creative Space, if you will.
We never wanted them to. We initially had a boy and a girl. They shared a room for a time when we transitioned to a smaller home. Then we moved, and moved, and so they had their own room. We had baby #3 five years later, and so she shares a room with older sister. Not working because baby still has some restless nights. The older two are having “sleepovers”. While the boy loves it, the girl would rather have her “my little pony” and barbie room back. Because we are in a rental, our option is limited.
As tweens, my sister and I shared a room while my dad was redoing my bedroom (for over a year!), and we nearly killed each other. My mom says she seriously worried we wouldn’t even speak to each other as we got older. That isn’t the case though-we’re best friends as adults.
But, I think it would be different with younger kids, and boys. Boys seem to require less personal space. I imagine there would be less “Don’t touch my stuff!” and “Stop wearing my clothes!” You could always try it and change it back if things start getting crazy.
I shared a room with my younger sister from the age of 5 to 14 and hated it most of that time, though it sure was fun when we were smaller. She snored and drooled and was messy and insisted that we sleep with the overhead light on – a nightlight wasn’t good enough.
However, since you have that extra bedroom that Nico could move back into eventually, try it! they might have the time of their lives. We had a brother in the only other bedroom, so we had to share, no choice.
oh, and a word for the wise – bunk beds = super dangerous.
A and Ri share a room and for the most part everyone loves it! Ri still wakes several times a night and it does not wake A up at all. I think when they’re older we’ll have to move so they can each have their own space but for now they love it and one won’t go to bed unless the other is. I’d give it a shot, give it time before you decide whether it is working or not, but don’t get too exited over the new guest room/craft space. It may not be there for too long. :)
My three kids share a room. A boy (7), and two girls (5 and 3). This means we have a spare room upstairs (and one in the basement). The three beds are in a row, and they each have a dresser at the foot of their beds. I call it our dormitory.
The kids are all sharing the boy’s room right now, and the girl’s room is decorated for girls and just waiting for the day that he is too old to share the room with his sisters. The girls and their ‘girly’ furniture will move to the other bedroom.
Eventually, we figure our son will want the bedroom in the basement and each girl can have their own bedroom upstairs. For now, they’re happy sharing a room and they feel secure and happy when they’re all in there together. It doesn’t hurt that they all share a bedtime and wake up around the same time every morning.
I shared a room (and bed) with my sister until we were around 8 and 6 years old. My older sister had her own room. When we moved, we each had our own rooms. Not much changed, except that we had more privacy, which worked, as we started to get older. I think either way is perfectly fine…kids will be kids, and bond with each other regardless of sharing or not. If yours are used to having their own space, however, it might be a tough transition to learn to share.
My three kids (a boy 9 and two girls 7,3) each have their own room. On non-school nights, when we give them the option, they usually choose to all sleep together in one room. My son has a bunk bed and both girls have queen sized beds in their rooms. We don’t have a dedicated guest room, so whenever company comes to stay one of the girls gives up her bed and sleeps with a sibling. We can have LOTS of people stay if we juggle things around. It’s nice to have lots of options for more flexibility…and helps to teach the kids to be flexible.
I am one of 4– two boys and two girls. We shared rooms until I went away to college. Then, my sister got her own room. I think it’s a great way for them to bond if they’re somewhat close in age. My brothers were twins, so it wasn’t a big deal… but I was 7 years older than my sister, so it was not enjoyable at all. Think about it… when I finally got my own room in college, my sister was only 11. When they get older, you can switch them back to their own rooms.
I think it depends if the boys get along. I had a love/hate relationship with my sister growing up and sharing a room with her was such torture. She was a neat freak to the core and I was a little pig-stye advocate during my teen years. It was like mixing oil with water.
Oh my goodness, I thought that was your boys’ room pictured! Lol! Where in the world are the toys?! My boys share a room, which I think is great, but it also means that two-boys worth of toys are in one room, which stinks. And I have one messy one and one clean one, so there are some fights about finding things. I do like that they are already learning to compromise and put the other one first in different cirmcumstances though. :)
Our boys BEGGED to start sharing a room about three years ago. It was a surprise to us, but a welcome one, what with the extra room we gained. They are now 9 & 6, and it has been very successful.
My sister and I (two years apart) shared rooms now and then as we were growing up, and I don’t remember how I felt about it – ha! Obviously, it didn’t scar me too badly…
Oh my gosh! I have been checking my email all morning, and nothing! I thought no one was interested in sharing rooms! Then I come on here and see 13 helpful (and hilarious) comments full of advice. Now I really want to do it. The thing is, we could do it on a budget (I think) because I can use the twin beds my mom had made for my brothers when they were kids. Yeah, they are kind of 80s ugly, but they are EXCELLENT quality. I’m pretty sure I can convince myself that they look fabulous.
I’m 4.5 years older than my sibling. Sharing space would have been hell. o_0
For other kids, I think it can be a really great idea, at least for as long as they are both happy with it. Since you have space for them to have separate rooms when they grow enough to need it, they’ll probably have a great time.
I say go for it! Our girls have shared a room since Della was 9 months or so. Whenever she started sleeping well. Now they don’t want to sleep without each other.
Then you’ll have the other room open for another baby! ;) That is just my plan. Seriously though, the third room open sounds delightful. A craft room or whatever room.
I shared a room with my brother, who is two years younger than me, until my sister, who is six years younger, graduated from a crib to a bed, and then I shared with her. I don’t remember minding at all, but then again it was clear to me there wasn’t another option. Our house had two bedrooms apart from the master, so my brother got his own room once Erica was born. I spent time in Mike’s room – our parents read to us every night, and we played together sometimes – but mostly he was such a jerk as a little kid that I would have slept outside rather than share a room with him! Erica and I shared a lovely large yellow room, and we each had our own space within it. We lived together until my family moved when I was 13 and we each got our own, much smaller, room.
I think living together as preteens was perfect, but I’m glad I had my privacy when I was older.
I was four when my lil bro, Nicholas, was born and my parents put his crib in my room til he was 2 or so. I didn’t mind it at all and I actually attribute those few years together as part of the reason we are BF’s today. When Nicholas was old enough for a big kid bed, he moved into my older brother Andy’s room and took the bottom bunk. I think it was a love/hate thing when they were in their pre-teens, but we moved to a bigger house then where we all had our own rooms. Funny enough, the week I got married and was packing my things to move out, Nicholas already started moving his things into my room because the view was better! I think it’s a good idea since your boys are still young, but eventually they’re going to want their own space.
I love hearing all these stories! As the only girl, I always had my own room. My brothers shared until we moved to a bigger house.
Anne–I love your shop!
I shared a room with my sister until I was 19 years old. I never had my own room. She was messy and I was neat. She liked to sleep and I liked to get up early. There were times when I hated it and wished so badly that I had my own room, but looking back on it, I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It made me learn to live with someone who was completely opposite from me, and it made me to learn to share. Some of my best childhood memories are of us staying up late, talking, laughing, and making so much noise that it would wake my parents and they would yell at us from down the hall. She’s now my best friend and knows me better than anyone else. I’m all for kids sharing rooms!
hey, beaver and wally did it successfully. why not give it a try?
My girls shared a room until they discovered the light switch. Then the 2am dance parties started.
They’ve been apart now going on a year and they love it. They spend *so* much time together that they need the space. I imagine as they get older though we’ll transition them back together at some point.
My boys share. It seem like most of the toys we have bought so far are meant to be shared – (legos, cars, trains) so that part isn’t a big deal (yet). They have shared a room since the youngest was 3 or 4 months old, so it’s all they have known. I do love listening at the door to hear what they are saying at night to each other – when they aren’t yelling at each other, anyway. I would say it’s 95% good and 5% so-so. The decor is still a work in progress though…
Good morning Jules, I love this idea, my 2 girls shared a room by choice, and my son of course he had his own, the girls asked if they could be together when they were about 5 or 6, until they got to be about 11 or so, b/c what happened than was that the younger one was taking things from the older one and she did not like.this.at.all. without her permission. So ,as long as you are ok to go into this with the possibilites of not being a very long term deal than it’s great. Otherwise be prepared for the screaming…… lol
My 2 youngest boys share and I love it. Bedtimes are easy (usually), they have the funniest conversations, and sing along to Blue Moo together. I have also found them snuggled up. My only advice is keep the toys out…we kept books & baseball cards in, but toys are messy and start fights.
My youngest two are boys; 7 and 9. I started them off sharing a room and then after moving one time gave them their own rooms. Guess what? Where back to sharing rooms. It’s such a sweet, precious time for them to be together. In do time they will be getting older and want and crave more private time, but now they have fun listening to books on tape at night or having a buddy in the room if they are frightened from a “scary” story. I made the extra bedroom into a playroom for them to keep all their toys and lego’s. We are lucky enough to have a dedicated guest room. I encourage you to follow your husbands lead on this one and have them share. There isn’t anything to regret from it, only fun, brotherly laughter drifting out and warming your heart. OK and occasionaly a cry because one hit the other one over the head too hard with the pillow but it’s gonna happen anyway right? Blessings, Adella
My guys, 7 and 4, have been sharing since the youngest was 6 months old and sleeping through the night. They looove it! They are getting bunk beds this spring and are psyched. There are only occasional space issues because they can’t remember a time without one another. We sometimes find them snuggled in one bed on the weekends after flashlight stories. This is a decision that we have never regretted. I get to keep my home office and all of their stuff stays in one area.
I also think this helps when you go to college and find yourself sharing a room for the very first time ever. My roommate and I had both shared with out sisters growing up and we swear that’s why we had no problems getting along with each other. If you take the plunge, good luck!
I shared a room with my two sisters. My brother had his own room. We’re all in our 40’s and 50’s now. When I talk to my mother about parenting and our childhood, her only regret was that she didn’t let my brother share the room with us three girls. She feels it was good for us and we were closer because of it.
My daughter is (and will remain) an only child. But if she had a sibling, they’d share a room regardless of the number of bedrooms available.
2 of my 3 share. They have bunk beds and each have a shelf on the wall next to their beds and their own reading light. They love it. We listen to them talk and giggle and it is hilarious.
Number 3 moved himself out of that room and opted for living in a glorified closet so he could be alone : )
Do it and take millions of pictures please.
i love the idea! my two boys have always shared a room. in our first home, it was a necessity. when we moved to our new home, they chose to stay together. (they are now 13 and 11) good luck!
My two kids are begging to share a room, even though they’ve had their own since they were babies. They’re a boy and a girl, age 8 and 9, and I’m still debating whether it’s a good idea. When they’re not trying to kill each other, they’re best friends.
I loved sharing a room with my sister for the first six years of her life. When I got my own room in the third grade, I missed her and we’d have spend the night parties in her room.
I shared a bedroom with all 3 of my sisters until I was 11 (we had two sets of bunk beds and our 2 brothers shared another room). I was the youngest and didn’t really mind but I used to annoy the heck out of one of my sisters by touching her stuff! Never on purpose of course….. We are still all really close even though we don’t live anywhere near each other. I often wish I had more kids so they could be sharing too!
I think there is so much to be gained from sharing a room with a sibling, as long as they’re each older than three (similar sleeping patterns) and younger than eleven or twelve (time to branch out then). We each had our own room growing up (I had three sisters), but always managed to end up sleeping in the same room. I felt such security there, slept so much better, learned how to get along with others and share, all the way up until the time when I was ready for my own space. For my own kids (assuming I have more than the one I have now), I’m planning on one room for sleeping (like an old fashioned nursery), and one room for playing.
My boys shared until about 3 months ago. The older one had been fussing about having his own room for a while. I loved how we had parts of the room separated for their ‘own’ space. *sigh* I was tired of them fighting all of the time, so I caved.
Now? They spend every waking moment together anyway!
I have two boys, ages 8 & 11. They have shared a room for a long time, but last year my oldest started complaining about it. I actually think they may get along better if I give them their own rooms. It worked well when they were younger though!
My two oldest, an 11-year old boy and a 9-year old girl, have their own rooms, but insist on sleeping in each other’s rooms every night. We only have one bed in each of their rooms, so one of them winds up sleeping on the floor. I have been trying to stop this arrangement, but feel much better about their bonding time now that I have read these comments. How does everybody feel about brothers and sisters sharing bedrooms?
Siblings sharing a room is wonderful! Just think of all of the lessons they’ll learn in having to grow up so closely together. Sharing, personal space, helping one another to clean, being responsible for something together, staying up secretly talking late at night…
I have such great memories sharing a room with my sister. I wouldn’t trade them for a giant celebrity home styled room, even today!
Jumping in several days late, but you may still find it interesting that we have put our THREE little boys in one room and they LOVE it! Bunk beds one side, matching twin other side (it has a top bunk unassembled in the attic). We use the other bedroom as a playroom/classroom (we homeschool), so the bedroom doesn’t ever get very cluttered, still has plenty of floor space for us all to gather to read stories, to have small dance parties, etc.
Sometimes they even pull all their covers on the floor and sleep even closer together! Ages: 7, 5, almost 3… I’m sure we’ll have to separate them as they get older, but right now it is an arrangement that everyone enjoys.
My 4 yr old daughter & 2 yr old son share a room (and are making room for baby sister in March! yeee Haw!)
and I have to say… i just love it for them. I’m an only child, and always dreamed of having my sister in my room with me. Only I didn’t have a sister, you see the dilemma.
It’s awesome to watch them go in between playing together and just .. you know, together but not together. It’s sweet.
Well first off you’ll have to see if both of the children will enjoy the idea. And eventually if one of them is a little kid and the other one becomes a teenager then the teenager will want their own room. They will get mad at their younger brother alot more and will fight more. Boys are alot like male animals in the same confined space and will fight for dominance. So it will be a good idea until one of them wants their own room. Plus when they have friends over. If one becomes a teenager and has a girlfriend they will not be able to have their girlfriend over because of their younger brother. So it is not really a good idea in the longrun.