Small Space Decorating: Shared Kids' Room and Storage Ideas

Thanks to small-space decorating and storage ideas, these twins can comfortably share a room. While it may be short on space, it's abundant with style.

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November 25, 2014

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Photo By: Photographer: Christina Wedge

Family-Friendly Design

Thanks to the gender-neutral, high-energy, mid-century modern design of their shared bedroom, Evander and Frankie's parents, Lili and Daryl, enjoy the space almost as much as their kids do.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Adorable Clutter Catch-Alls

Keeping kids' spaces free of clutter can be a herculean task, especially in one space shared by two children. By choosing bins which double as decoration, such as these from 3sprouts.com, kids will be more encouraged to keep their things organized and put away.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Curtain Drapery Trick

Had the toddler bunk bed been centered on the exterior wall, the oddly placed window would have thrown off the room's symmetry. By covering the entire wall with floor-to-ceiling draperies, then centering the bed on the wall, the space instantly became more balanced. In order to install the floor-to-ceiling draperies seamlessly, a hospital track was added to the ceiling with screws.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Double the Rods for Double the Clothes

To maximize the interior of the closet for housing Evander and Frankie's hanging clothes, two rods are installed on each side of the closet. The open space below the hanging clothes is dedicated to laundry.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

A Cosy Closet Nook

To free up square footage in Evander and Frankie's bedroom, their closet was outfitted both as a clothes-hanging space and as a concealed workstation for crafts and homework. The central column was made from MDF (medium density fiberboard) that provides open storage as well as a child-height desktop. To add a burst of high-energy flair to the closet and break up the dark charcoal color throughout the rest of the room, the closet's walls were painted red-orange.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Kitchen Cabinets as Concealed Storage

Adding a focal point was a main design element for Evander and Frankie's bedroom. By installing ready-made kitchen cabinets to the wall, then adding graphic interest with vinyl decals in the shape of a fawn and a buck in the forest, the twins have concealed storage that also doubles as an art installation.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Bedding x 2

Since Evander and Frankie's room has a tight color palette of charcoal, white and red-orange, use of the same bedding for both of their bunks are key in keeping the room from becoming too busy.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Doe, a Deer, a Decal Deer

Graphic decals from sissylittle.com instantly turn basic, ready-made cabinet door fronts into bold works of art. To install these, all that's needed is scissors to cut the shapes from the supplied sheeting, and a burnisher or a wallpaper smoothing tool to spread the vinyl out and remove any air bubbles.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Pillows with a Personal Touch

Iron-on varsity letters add a personal touch to their throw pillows, customizing their space with bedding that sports their names.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Graphic Art to Grow On

When choosing art for kids' rooms, it's wise to stick with subjects that have easily identifiable, graphic shapes. This 1970s graphic art of a family of partridges comes from an online purchase at artthatfits.com. To give it a high-end, unfussy look, it is framed with a brass-toned floating frame.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Get Hooked

In order to maximize every inch of space in Evander and Frankie's room, hooks were attached to the sides of the storage system to house bath robes.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Rock Out

Plastic, mid-century modern rockers are an excellent alternative to traditional styles for children's rooms. The plastic is lightweight and makes the furniture easy to move around. Additionally, the rounded edges are a safer choice than boxy, wooden chairs with sharp corners that could potentially harm active children.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Classic Chairs for Kids

Classic modern chairs are ideal for kids' rooms not only because the style is timeless, but because the rounded, biomorphic shapes of the chairs lack sharp corners which could be harmful for active children.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sitting Pretty

Upon entering their room, Evander and Frankie are greeted by a lightweight pair of wire mid-century modern chairs that instantly turn the open, airy center of the room into a welcoming reading space. When it's time for play, the chairs are simply moved to another room.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Weave In Some Storage

To properly contain all of Evander and Frankie's toys, woven baskets were used on the shelves inside the storage system.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Now You See It, Now You Don't

When closed, the storage system of Evander and Frankie's room simply looks like an art installation. Once open, the cabinets reveal ample storage space to house all of their toys.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Bunks Are a Must

Toddler-size bunk beds are an excellent space-saving furniture option for children under the age of seven. Thinner and less wide than twin-size beds, toddler-size beds use up less space, thus allowing extra chairs or tables to fit into the room.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Eye-Attracting Pattern

To take the focus off the room's lack of space, an 8-by-10-foot area rug in a zigzag pattern is placed on the floor. Upon entering the bedroom, the eye is drawn directly to the pattern of the floor rather than to the room's tight dimensions.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Small Space Decorating: Shared Kids' Room and Storage Ideas

Related To:

Shop This Look

Family-Friendly Design

Adorable Clutter Catch-Alls

Curtain Drapery Trick

Double the Rods for Double the Clothes

A Cosy Closet Nook

Kitchen Cabinets as Concealed Storage

Bedding x 2

Doe, a Deer, a Decal Deer

Pillows with a Personal Touch

Graphic Art to Grow On

Get Hooked

Rock Out

Classic Chairs for Kids

Sitting Pretty

Weave In Some Storage

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Bunks Are a Must

Eye-Attracting Pattern

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