Bedroom Decorating Dilemmas

Growing Like A Weed Growth Chart

By Julia DeVillers

Early in your pregnancy, you might have started thinking about your baby's nursery. You might have lovingly designated a space or a room "the Baby's." And then you discovered the news: "It's twins!" Mothers of twins have unique bedroom dilemmas to consider. How you choose to resolve these depends on many factors: on your available space, finances, your twin's genders, their personalities, and your own viewpoint.

Many twins share rooms as infants, if not until they are old enough to leave home. Sharing a room can lead to a strengthening of that special "twin bond." Late-night chats and giggles and pillow fights can become fond memories as they grow up. Of course, sharing a room has its downsides. Disadvantages of sharing a room include the typical sibling "Space Wars" as they get older. Just because your kids are twins doesn't mean they have the same personality. One twin might be a neatnik, and resent the other twin's sloppiness. One twin might be into sports, while the other is Laura Ashley all the way. You can take each twin's own unique personality characteristics and respect their wishes while decorating their rooms. Consider:

• Dividing the room in half. A bookshelf, curtain, a screen or metal shelving can partition a room into two individual spaces.
• Having different color bedding (ideally that doesn't clash). For example, one twin might have a red plaid comforter and a blue pillow, and the other twin might have a blue plaid comforter with a green pillow.
• Decorating in different themes. For example a ship theme in one twin’s area, a car theme for the other's.
• Personalizing items in the room. Contribute to their sense of individuality by putting monograms on bedding, letters spelling their names hanging on the walls, and photos of the each twin near his or her space.
• Having share-friendly furniture. Some beds are designed for two children. Bunk beds (recommended for children over the age of six) can give your twins their own sense of space while saving space.

When there are two kids and one bedroom, storage can become an issue. Twins don't always want to share all of their belongings. And, they should have some designated space for privacy.

• If there is only one closet, designate separate sections for each twin.


• Have each twin maximize the storage space under their own bed for their own space.


• If space permits, have a separate dresser for each twin. Otherwise, assign them their own drawers.


• Let them have some designated storage space in another part of the house, such as the basement or a spare closet.

Sharing a Crib: Some infant twins share not only a room but also one crib. Many moms of twins find their babies not only are comfortable in one crib, but that they seem to prefer it. The babies cuddle up next to each other and take comfort from each other's close presence. Sharing a crib is certainly cost-effective, as cribs don't come cheap. However, moms who plan on this approach might be later surprised if their babies don't take well to the sleeping-together plan. Some sets of twins sleep better without their sibling's feet or fist in their face, so if you have just one crib, make sure you have a Plan B or none of you will be sleeping much.