Jan 8, 2009, 18:06 GMT
Munich - Big sisters could write a song about it, and little brothers could too: Sometimes siblings truly get on each others' nerves, especially when they share a bedroom.
But with a few tricks, the room can be arranged so that both children feel comfortable.
'These days when belts have to be tightened, not everyone has enough space to give every child his or her own room,' said author and style consultant Jana Jung of Munich. That does not have to be disadvantageous.
'Children who share a room learn a lot by doing so. They have to be considerate and accept compromise. That certainly doesn't do them any harm.'
However, it's important that each child has a place to withdraw to, a corner that belongs to him or to her alone, said Ursula Geismann of the association of German furniture makers in Bad Honnef. How these spaces are defined depends largely on the size and shape of the room.
'If there is only one window, it's impossible to put in a divider because then one child would be in the dark,' said Susanne Kohlmann, an expert in decorating children's rooms who works at a children's furnishings store in Munich.
'If the room is large enough, a shelf can serve as a divider. That's practical because it creates storage space at the same time,' said Kohlmann. A bunk bed positioned in the middle of the room can also be a solution. The children get out on opposite sides of the bed and the room automatically is divided into two areas.
And when several kids share a bedroom, a sensible storage system should be part of the furnishings, Geismann recommends. The more children, the more toys to be stored.
Saving space and creating more room for playing can be achieved when things that are not needed in the children's room can be stored elsewhere, Jung added.
'Children's closets and chests of drawers can be put in another room. Perhaps a corner of the hall or the study can be found for the eldest sibling's desk. That creates more space in the children's bedroom and makes for more peace and quiet while the kids are doing their homework,' Jung said.
When children share a bedroom there should be one or two other possibilities in the rest of the apartment for the child to get out of the way when necessary.
'As a rule this happens on its own,' said Jung. Most parents at some point experience their children's simultaneous occupation of all rooms in the house. If in doubt, notice how the Lego pieces are scattered all over the home and not just in the bedroom.
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