WWYD: Boy and girl sharing same room- decor?

[Trivium Academy]

The kids will be sharing a bedroom, they have to. Boy 4 and Girl 8, so how do I decorate it for them? I want bright kid colors but not girly or too masculine. A beach theme would be great but pastels are out.

Should I just use a two color quilt like this and find sheets, etc.?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41g3kMR0IQL._SS260_.jpg

I'd like to find a bed set and I've tried JCPenney, Target, Walmart, and I don't know where else to look. Dh said I have $150 for the kids bedroom for decorating and it's small, so the bedding and maybe some wall art is all we're doing in there.

Where can I look?

[Trivium Academy]

How hard would it be to make our own with a sewing machine, for a first-timer?

[Andie]

Well, we did some juggling and dd moved in with ds, so he already had a blue patchwork/plaid quilt (Targhay). The plan was to get her the same one in pink, but my mom showed up with one that looks like it was made to go with ds's - but with hearts and altogether more feminine. So, that's what we have for now. She's moving up to a big bed though, and were they to share a room again, I'd be much less concerned about "matchy" stuff. She has her side and he has his, and as long as they each tie in with the wall color and don't clash, I'm good.

If you go with a theme, it won't be hard to tweak it to be a little girly for C and a little manlier for the little guy - throw pillows, bedside lamp, whatever. Target has a set right now (Search Crayola World) with an around the world/globe theme. Educational bedding! ;)

[Chris in VA]

Some ideas in random, brainstorming order:

First off, I found this website, which has tons of ideas:
Theme Bedrooms
(http://kidsthemebedrooms.com/)

Maybe knights and princess?
Jungle or woods--something green and outdoorsy? Since they are loving nature study!

You can make a cool entrance with one of those hanging net things like Hearthsong sells--only find one cheaply or make your own.

Farm theme? Or horses?
Garden? Doesn't have to be too flowery--can have tractor/farm stuff mixed with flower garden ("secret garden").
I've always wanted to take off dd's bedroom door and put a piece of pickett fencing as her door!

[NHDeb]

When my two shared a room we had an animal theme. The walls were green and we had prints of jungle animals, etc. They each had comforters that they liked - it didn't have to "match" or even go together really. They had bunk-beds.

Now that they're in their own rooms, DD has the green room and we've made it a horse theme (she's 10) and DS has a gold room w/ all the animal prints in his room. He's my budding zoologist.

I made curtains for DD's room - I found this wonderful horse fabric and just did straight panels - very simple. Straight seams! *S*

[ticklbee]

My personal preference would be to go with a more neutral color. I tend to lean toward the earth tones. A nice beige/brown bed covering would be nice. Then your dd can add little splashes of color on her bed with pillows and such and since you're going to do artwork on the walls, you can incorporate some color there as well. And curtains can also bring in more color if you wanted.

Do your dc's have a preference?

[tess in the burbs]

depending on where you live it's not legal to have boy/girls sharing rooms. so just don't invite any social workers to your home ok?

I think beach theme, camping theme, or some of the cottage/bright color themes you see in potterybarn. the company store kids section has cute themes....maybe they would have a good middle ground idea.

have fun decorating

[sadiegirl]

I think most kids would love the beach theme...check out TJ Maxx or Marshalls for sheets(it's hit or miss but when I do find something there, it is always good!)
We have always done artwork made by the kids for decor in their rooms. You could use seashells and sand on canvas boards and make beach-themed murals. Be sure and spray with an sealer to keep them shiny and the sand on the board.
I would go for solid comforters and pick sheets for your patterns/theme. My nieces love those furry, shag throw pillows. Another idea for wall decor...go thru old books and magazines and frame pages that they like! We bought simple glass document frames at Wal-Mart and I blew up vacation beach pics of kids and grandparents.
Hang beach balls and kites(all can be found at Dollar Stores...oh!! check out Big Lots---you have to dig but they have some good things there, too.
GOOD LUCK and have fun decorating! Let us see the end results when you finish!

[Pencil Pusher]

depending on where you live it's not legal to have boy/girls sharing rooms. so just don't invite any social workers to your home ok?

I think beach theme, camping theme, or some of the cottage/bright color themes you see in potterybarn. the company store kids section has cute themes....maybe they would have a good middle ground idea.

have fun decorating

You've got to be kidding! I mean, surely there are at least age limits. Wow.

[Danestress]

I would use white bedspreads and then have funky pillows in colors that suit each child.

I always used white in my boys' beds because I could wash the quilts with a little bleach and felt like it was a really clean look, but could be combined with other colors to be appropriately masculine (or feminine, in your case).

[abbeyej]

My kids share a room. The walls are blue, but the ceiling slopes down (attic room), so there's almost more white ceiling and window trim than blue walls. I made their duvets with this fabric (http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-98772218504876_1998_81407916) and a coordinating one with more chess-emphasis and a couple of others... I actually got the fabrics on eBay for the best price, but my point really is that yes, I was able to find something I liked (for both kids) and make simple duvets for both kids. I stretched the more expensive fabrics by using them as accents along with cheaper fabric I got on sale at my local Joann's.

Then I was able to find simple things to add to the room to pull it together. It has a knight/princess/chess theme and the colors are subtle shades of blue, red, gold/neutral. I found/bought/begged small "gold", relatively ornate frames and hung them all over one very small wall in their room, sort of jigsaw style. I filled the frames with illustrations from fairy tale books, etc (books that were falling apart, or when I was able to find a duplicate of a favorite at a library sale, etc -- some of the pictures may even have come from clearanced calendars). At one point, I had thought I would make it all a gallery of dragons, but it ended up being a mix -- some of the illustrations are easily recognizable and some are just interesting and beautiful...

There's a shield lightswitch cover and some cool shield pillows on ds' bed. Over ds' bed, there's a picture of Harry and Ron playing chess with their Isle of Lewis chess set, and over dd's bed, there's a large print of Snow White...

I think it's a lovely room... And while the colors are rather masculine, I suppose, it works well for both of them.

Now, sigh, if only it were clean.

[muffinmom]

[quote=Trivium Academy;257564]
Should I just use a two color quilt like this and find sheets, etc.?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41g3kMR0IQL._SS260_.jpg


I think those quilts are very cute--love the color block look. Looks fresh and contemporary. But you could accessorize so many different ways.

Here's a similar option from garnethill.com (they're on sale):

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/39706/6h/images.garnethill.com/garnetprod/images/us/local/products/detail/814_dt.jpg (javascript:openMe('http://www.garnethill.com/shopping/product/zoom.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=6850&iMainCat=5&iSubCat=9019&iSubSubCat=9987','Zoom'))


Good luck. This makes me want to redecorate.

[wagnfun]

depending on where you live it's not legal to have boy/girls sharing rooms. so just don't invite any social workers to your home ok?


have fun decorating

Just a sidenote.. it is my understanding it is legal if BOTH children are biologically yours but adopted & foster children must have seperate rooms that do not have an outside enterence.

and as far as rooms go- If I am correct,both your kids like animals. I'd go dog themed, animal themed, marine creatures themed..

[muffinmom]

How hard would it be to make our own with a sewing machine, for a first-timer?

Depends on how crafty you are. I just made my first shower curtain.:hurray:
I am not crafty at all, but I thought, How hard could sewing a rectangle be? Well, the sewing part isn't all that hard (though there are many little tricks to keeping the seams from puckering, etc.). It's the measuring and the cutting and the problem-solving that weren't exactly my area of expertise. But those crafty people, they know how to do that stuff instinctively.:)

If you're up for it and have a friend or family member who can coach you, go for it. But depending on the fabric you choose, once you buy it, the supplies, and factor in the time, it's often much cheaper to buy ready-made. I spent WAY more on the shower curtain than I would have spent buying something in the store. So why did I choose to sew? Because I couldn't find anything ready-made to go with the colors my heart was set on.

Wish you well.

P.S. A quilt or bedspread will no doubt be much more involved than my little shower curtain! But you seem to be woman who is not faint of heart!

[Mamagistra]

My kids share a room.

LOVE the fabric! You must post pictures of their room sometime. It sounds wonderful! :001_smile:

[Trivium Academy]

A nice beige/brown bed covering would be nice.

Then I can let them go wild with the sheets of their preference. What's hard is that ds4 isn't able to have a preference beyond a transportation theme and dd7 is sort of a tomboy but likes girly stuff.

I'll wait until we move into a more permanent residence before doing a wall mural with a tree for ds. He'd LOVE that with animals. All the animal prints I'm seeing are too cutesy.

[Brigitte]

I haven't seen all the responses, but I suggest looking at www.Companykids.com. They have some nice kids stuff that you could coordinate. Check their clearance section.

[Trivium Academy]

Oh my! I want this :( I can't afford it.

http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CW25X/

or this

http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CV52X/
and especially
this...
http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CR69X/

:drool:

[3lilreds in NC]

Don't they like astronomy? Why do I think that? A moon & stars room seems like it would be pretty easy. You could put those glow-in-the-dark constellations on the ceiling. When the girls first started sharing a room I had blue paint on the walls with glitter-glaze over the top, and they had stars & moons comforters, and a stars & moons border. White sheets all around. I like to do a fun quilt/comforter/bedspread and white sheets - saves lots of hassle IMO. :)

(Now they have bunk beds, chose their own quilts and we've repainted the walls to look like a pink castle. Heh.)

[Pencil Pusher]

Oh my! I want this :( I can't afford it.

http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CW25X/

or this

http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CV52X/
and especially
this...
http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent/For+Boys/5002/CR69X/

:drool:

Alright, that's half the battle. You know what you like. Do y'all have a Ross there? They have great prices on bedspread stuff, lots of odds & ends that they buy from other stores after they're clearanced out.

Also, check Craig's List. I was helping my sis look for something for her baby last yr & found the EXACT bedding set I'd wanted for baby #2. In the stores, the bedspread alone was over $100, but I bought almost the entire room from a girl for $20 for baby #3. I felt *so* spoiled!

[Kate CA]

My kids share a room. The walls are blue, but the ceiling slopes down (attic room), so there's almost more white ceiling and window trim than blue walls. I made their duvets with this fabric (http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-98772218504876_1998_81407916) and a coordinating one with more chess-emphasis and a couple of others... I actually got the fabrics on eBay for the best price, but my point really is that yes, I was able to find something I liked (for both kids) and make simple duvets for both kids. I stretched the more expensive fabrics by using them as accents along with cheaper fabric I got on sale at my local Joann's.

Then I was able to find simple things to add to the room to pull it together. It has a knight/princess/chess theme and the colors are subtle shades of blue, red, gold/neutral. I found/bought/begged small "gold", relatively ornate frames and hung them all over one very small wall in their room, sort of jigsaw style. I filled the frames with illustrations from fairy tale books, etc (books that were falling apart, or when I was able to find a duplicate of a favorite at a library sale, etc -- some of the pictures may even have come from clearanced calendars). At one point, I had thought I would make it all a gallery of dragons, but it ended up being a mix -- some of the illustrations are easily recognizable and some are just interesting and beautiful...

There's a shield lightswitch cover and some cool shield pillows on ds' bed. Over ds' bed, there's a picture of Harry and Ron playing chess with their Isle of Lewis chess set, and over dd's bed, there's a large print of Snow White...

I think it's a lovely room... And while the colors are rather masculine, I suppose, it works well for both of them.

Now, sigh, if only it were clean.

Oh please post pictures! This sounds so neat!!

[Trivium Academy]

I'm at a disadvantage here b/c my dd7 is on vacation and I want to get this ordered.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_096C3101000B

[Pencil Pusher]

I'm at a disadvantage here b/c my dd7 is on vacation and I want to get this ordered.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_096C3101000B

What a great price! Can you call & have her look at the pic over the phone?

I searched for you for a while last night & didn't have nearly such good luck!

[Carol in Cal.]

Decorate the ceiling and the bedding, and that is all. Seriously.

The walls get marred with fingerprints and then you spent all that time and money for nothing.

OTOH, if you put a blue sky with clouds or a night sky with stars on the ceiling, it is forever.

And, then as the children get older you can just update their bedding. Fiber is a lot easier to change and to wash than paint.

[Trivium Academy]

If I put anything on the walls I'm going to put up art boards like a friend linked for me, http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2008/05/artful-organization.html.

Another idea I have was to put up paper. Put a border of butcher paper up for the grass, we could even make it 3D and make animals ourselves and put them up. We're getting Ranger Rick and Zoobooks, so I'm sure we could use some pictures from them to put on the paper wall mural.

My dh said to go ahead and get the wild animals thing at Sears, we went there and also picked up new decor for the kids' bathroom. It has frogs, alligators, butterflies- and it was $15 for: the shower curtain, cute hooks, two hand towels and a frog soap dispenser. I'll get new colorful towels and a bathtub rug and their bathroom will be done. It looks so cute! I love clearance sales!!!

http://www.bobslinens.com/catalog/Latorgatorgatorshowercurtain500.jpg
http://www.bobslinens.com/catalog/Latorgatorlotionpump500.jpg

In the house we're living now, I made the bathroom styled for adults- but in our new place, I don't care as long as it's nice. Sometimes I don't know who the true kid really is, them or me. :P