Tips on Making a Small Kids Room Bigger for Two

Set up bunk beds to save floor space. Utilizing vertical space will leave your kids more room for independent or cooperative tasks, as well as give them both a private area to enjoy individualized personal time.

Use the area underneath the bunk beds for storage. Purchase plastic or cloth bins that slide out easily; choose colors, prints and patterns that represent each child’s individual tastes. If possible, buy transparent bins so kids can see the contents without having to haul out the entire bin from underneath the bed.

Install wall storage to minimize clutter, such as shelves, hooks and cabinets. To avoid confusion, assign each child her own personal storage area, and create a community storage space for shared items.

Set up various lighting zones to illuminate different areas of activity throughout the room, and create a sense of space and separation. Examples of lighting include tall floor lamps, wall sconces and recessed ceiling lights. Also, use rug placement to create distinct areas. Paint the room in cool colors, such as light green, pale blue and violet, so that the walls appear to recede; choose a focal point wall and paint it a shade darker than the other walls to create a sense of depth.

Teach your children that neatness counts, especially in a small, shared room. Organize their belongings so that each item has a place. Enforce the rule, “If you move it, put it back.”

Fill the kids’ room only with items they use regularly. Store non-seasonal clothing in a spare closet, basement, attic or storage space; go through their books and toys often and toss out, store or give away items not currently in use. If possible, turn another room in your home into a “play room” for your kids to store their books, toys and crafts.