Tips for Designing a Shared Kids' Bedroom
Designing a shared kids’ room can be fun, but challenging, as it requires balancing different—and often conflicting—needs, preferences, and styles. There are many factors to consider to ensure the space is comfortable for each child, from choosing the right color scheme to finding multifunctional furniture. Whether you’re trying to coordinate kids’ differing styles or wondering how to divide the room fairly, we’re here to help. Our guide to designing a shared kids’ room offers our best tips and ideas for choosing bedding, furniture, and decor that makes everyone happy.
Start with Matching Bedding Pieces
Whether you prefer solid-color comforters, classic quilts, or fun printed duvet covers, pick the same top layer for each bed in the shared room. This approach creates a cohesive look that helps everything feel intentional. Keeping things simple and versatile lets your kids’ bedding grow with them—but even the most put-together space needs personality: Give your kids the freedom to personalize their space by letting them choose artwork, lighting, decorative accents, or other elements.
Let Little Ones Choose Sheets
A kid’s room should feel like their own, and the same is true if they share the space. Allowing kids into the decision-making process helps them feel ownership of their room. If you’ve chosen matching kids’ comforters or duvet covers, let each child pick layering pieces like sheets and blankets. Printed kids’ sheets are an easy way to show off their personalities. Florals, critters, stripes, or seasonal prints—let them choose whichever patterns speak to their hearts. They’ll see the design when they slip into bed each night, but mismatched prints are tucked beneath the coordinated top bedding layers—a win-win situation.
Balance Neutral Bedding with Kids' Favorite Colors
Neutral-hued kids’ bedding is best balanced by a pop of color—and in a shared room, it presents the perfect canvas for personalization. Fold a blanket or quilt in each kid’s favorite hue or a fun design at the foot of their bed and add a colorful sham at each headboard. For a playful look, our kids’ character pillows and blankets come in designs to reflect a range of interests. Then, choose throw pillows, accent rugs, and other decor to incorporate those colors throughout the room. Or, let each kid pick a different—but coordinated—top layer and pull it all together with matching accents in a coordinating color.
Coordinating Kids' Bedding by Color, Pattern, or Theme
The key to this coordinated bedding approach is to find common ground. Keep the color consistent when you choose a single hue that each kid can agree on, then let them pick patterns that incorporate that shade. If one picks pink stripes and the other opts for stars, a consistent color palette makes the design feel cohesive. You can also flip this strategy on its head and select a pattern—stripes, florals, or dots—and let the kids choose a matching color that speaks to them. Either way, follow general tips for mixing bedding prints and colors to create a look that feels intentional, not overwhelming.
Customize with Monogrammed Bedding
Add a timeless element to each kid’s bed with monogrammed bedding: A blanket, pillow cover, sham, or pillowcase embroidered with their name or initials adds a bit of personalization. Many of our bedding pieces can be monogrammed in your choice of fonts, styles, and colors, so it’s easy to add some flair that appeals to each child’s taste. Monogrammed bedding is also a practical choice, preventing confusion over belongings in a shared room or when the kids take their stuff to a sleepover.
Define Each Kid's Space Using Wallpaper or Paint
Create a visible division of a shared kids' room when you use wallpaper or paint to add accent walls on either side. Or, choose matching wallpaper patterns in contrasting hues so each half of the room is unique. If you take this approach, mirroring the furniture arrangement keeps things from looking too busy. Matching bed frames, dressers in the same stain or paint color, and similar picture frames (with artwork your children choose) all help pull contrasting wall decor together.
Use Multifunctional Furniture to Divide a Shared Kids' Room
If your kids are different ages, have separate interests, or are hesitant to share a room, give them each more ownership of their side of the space. Create a physical division with furniture that separates their spaces and maximizes storage, for instance, place a medium-sized dresser between the beds to serve as a nightstand for both children. Or, situate a bunk bed in the center of your longest wall and let each kid pick which side of the bed they’ll call their own. Cube shelves can create separation between their beds and provides added storage space.
Whether it’s in fun, playful sheets or the wallpaper behind their headboard, letting kids have a say in the design of a shared room fosters a sense of ownership and independence. The goal is to create a shared kids’ room that is unified and cohesive while reflecting each of their unique tastes. When you balance individuality with consistency, your kids can express their personalities in a coordinated way. For more tips on choosing bedding for kids, teens, guests, and adults, explore our other Guides.