Room Ideas for Teenage Boys Sharing a Room

Beyond Bunk Beds

• If you don't have the space for beds and desks for your growing teenagers, use the more "grown-up" version of bunk beds by placing the beds at the top and using the bottom portion as a space for a desk. This allows each teen to have his own place to study and finish homework, with a treetop-like setting for the bed. Make the desk or bed area even more private by hanging curtains around the bunk area so that your boys have a quiet place to go to read or listen to music. Let each boy pick out bedding or curtains that have the colors or patterns that he prefers.

Wall of Books

• Perfect for storage while also functioning as room dividers, pairs of chest-high bookcases provide a way for your teens to share a room with the option of some privacy. Place the upright bookcases between the pair of beds, and let each teen stock his own bookcase with books, gadgets and other favorite items. Make the divider continue the length of the beds by putting four bookcases in, two on each side for each boy.

Sharing a Concept

• Sometimes a physical divider isn't needed to make a shared bedroom look coordinated but distinct for each teen. Talk with your boys and brainstorm a design concept that both agree on. Choose a broad theme such as sports, comics, a specific color scheme or different types of animals. From there, have each teen pick a specific item or two that he concentrates his style on. For instance, in a sports-themed room, one teen could choose a soccer theme, while the other might like baseball. Allow the teens to decorate using their chosen styles, but draw the theme together with color-coordinated accessories and furniture.

Opposite Beds

• Great for teens who have large bedrooms, positioning beds to face in opposite directions or angles allows each boy to feel like a portion of the room is separate from his sibling's. Angle the beds against a wall, and increase the sense of privacy by placing an opaque screen around each bed. This provides a distinct retreat for the teens while still sharing a room. Position the beds where each boy feels like he gets the same amount of space in the bedroom. Allow each boy to decorate his screen with decals of his favorite sports teams or bands.