Three kids in a room
I think I will need to have all three of my kids share a room for a bit. The bedroom is 14 x 12, and has a decent closet. I only need to fit a pair of bunkbeds and a crib in there, plus their clothes/shoes and books. I don't even need all of their books in there, just a few for convenience at bedtime. Out-of-season clothing can be stored elsewhere, of course. The baby's stuff takes up a surprising amount of space, with blankets, bibs, burb cloths, and cloth diapers.
So, if you have/have had three kids in a room, how did you configure the space? Did you do anything special with the closet? Got pictures you want to share?
So, if you have/have had three kids in a room, how did you configure the space? Did you do anything special with the closet? Got pictures you want to share?
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
We have 3 in a small room, no closet.
DD and DS2 are in wooden bunk beds. DS1 is in a high bed (same type bunk bed as the others, but with only the top bunk. The bottom part has the frame around 3 sides but is open at the front, and there are shelves and a small play area in place of the bottom bed. They each have one drawer in a chest of drawers for their clothes, which is not ideal but that's all we can do at the moment. They used to have an armoire in place of the chest of drawers, but they would just throw their clothes on the shelves, and then the clothes would fall out when the doors were opened, or they would knock everything off the shelves when they were looking for a specific item of clothing, so that didn't work.
They each have a small chest of drawers for their treasures. One is one top of the big chest of drawers, the other two are in my bedroom.
The kids on the top bunks have shelves attached all around their beds. They each have one of those metal undershelf basket things kind of like this on the side of their bed, but vertical, as well.
DH attached a couple of wooden planks to the side and foot of the bottom bunk as well so ds2 has a place to put stuff.
Of course, there are also two underbed storage boxes.
It is quite crowded in there, but the kids have a LOT of stuff. They mostly play in the living room. I will try to post pics.
DD and DS2 are in wooden bunk beds. DS1 is in a high bed (same type bunk bed as the others, but with only the top bunk. The bottom part has the frame around 3 sides but is open at the front, and there are shelves and a small play area in place of the bottom bed. They each have one drawer in a chest of drawers for their clothes, which is not ideal but that's all we can do at the moment. They used to have an armoire in place of the chest of drawers, but they would just throw their clothes on the shelves, and then the clothes would fall out when the doors were opened, or they would knock everything off the shelves when they were looking for a specific item of clothing, so that didn't work.
They each have a small chest of drawers for their treasures. One is one top of the big chest of drawers, the other two are in my bedroom.
The kids on the top bunks have shelves attached all around their beds. They each have one of those metal undershelf basket things kind of like this on the side of their bed, but vertical, as well.
DH attached a couple of wooden planks to the side and foot of the bottom bunk as well so ds2 has a place to put stuff.
Of course, there are also two underbed storage boxes.
It is quite crowded in there, but the kids have a LOT of stuff. They mostly play in the living room. I will try to post pics.
we had three of our boys in one roomfor several years, with bunk beds and then a loft bed. For clothing storage (pajamas in one bin, and the youngest's clothes in another bin) we had underbed rubermaid bins under the bunkbed. It saved a surprising amount of space to do it that way. We also intalled a second rod in the closet, halfway down from the first (the frist was in normal rod height, at probably 5 feet?) THere is a shelf over the top rod, where we've got out of season sports equipment, and extra blankets for when their friends sleep over, etc. THe oldest's clothes went on the top rod (becuase he could reach it) and then the second guy's clothes went on the lower rod (third's clothes were in thebinsunder the bed) I also repurposed a hanging shoe cubby thing for socks and undies. There were 6 cubbies, so each boy got 2 of them - one for socks, one for undies. This hung from the top rod and reached almost down to the floor.
For your needs, with the crib I'd suggest having baskets (I've seen lots at Michaels, etc) that would fit under the crib for baby's bibs, burp cloths, socks, etc. Then, maybe have shelves mounted on the walls above the crib (well out of babe's reach!!) for more baskets with onesies, pants, etc. I have a friend who used one of those pop-up hamper things for her daughter's blankets, she'd roll each up and put them in the bin, which kept them all corraled nicely.
For your needs, with the crib I'd suggest having baskets (I've seen lots at Michaels, etc) that would fit under the crib for baby's bibs, burp cloths, socks, etc. Then, maybe have shelves mounted on the walls above the crib (well out of babe's reach!!) for more baskets with onesies, pants, etc. I have a friend who used one of those pop-up hamper things for her daughter's blankets, she'd roll each up and put them in the bin, which kept them all corraled nicely.
Good ideas. We had 3 in one room for over 2 years and will have to do so again in a couple of years when my youngest stops co-sleeping. We have bunks, but I'm about to build beds with storage underneath for their individual stuff. Lofts are great, too. On Pottery Barn Kids, under Shared Spaces, they have some good room configurations-one even for 3 beds in one room. A lot of it depends on your space and budget, though. My daughters' room is really oddly laid out with 3 doors for some insane reason, but it's the biggest room.
I don't have kids yet, but DH and I recently finished renovating the current office/one day kids room and my best purchase was a closer organizer. This room is only about 12x8, with a regular sized closet, but will definately need to house two children at one point.
We bought a rubbermaid configurations unit, plus two extra shelf kits for around $200, but I am absolutely amazed at the amount of stuff that fits in there. we took the shelves up to 7 feet, instead of the four or so that they tell you too, and we also left enough room in the bottom so I can fit four rubbermaid containers (i think they're the 70l ones). The plan once the room becomes a nursery is to get a whole bunch of the fabric boxes to sit on the shelves for things such as socks, diapers, onesies, etc.
Between a good closet organizer, and a few nicely placed shelves for books, you might not even need dressers. Especially if as someone mentioned, you can put drawrs or bins under the crib and bed. What I loved about the configurations set in particular, is that I can move them around as our needs for the room change, so it's never wasted space.
ETA: This was our inspiration, and while ours is wire shelves and not birch- it's just as functional. We also didn't get any sliding baskets as they were about 4 times the price of shelves, and we figured we'd just place our own baskets on top.
http://images.containerstore.com/ima...DcrClst_xl.jpg
We bought a rubbermaid configurations unit, plus two extra shelf kits for around $200, but I am absolutely amazed at the amount of stuff that fits in there. we took the shelves up to 7 feet, instead of the four or so that they tell you too, and we also left enough room in the bottom so I can fit four rubbermaid containers (i think they're the 70l ones). The plan once the room becomes a nursery is to get a whole bunch of the fabric boxes to sit on the shelves for things such as socks, diapers, onesies, etc.
Between a good closet organizer, and a few nicely placed shelves for books, you might not even need dressers. Especially if as someone mentioned, you can put drawrs or bins under the crib and bed. What I loved about the configurations set in particular, is that I can move them around as our needs for the room change, so it's never wasted space.
ETA: This was our inspiration, and while ours is wire shelves and not birch- it's just as functional. We also didn't get any sliding baskets as they were about 4 times the price of shelves, and we figured we'd just place our own baskets on top.
http://images.containerstore.com/ima...DcrClst_xl.jpg
Our three older boys share about 100 square feet. They have a bunk bed and a loft bed. Underneath the bunk bed are three drawers: one for our twins' pants, one for the twins' shirts, and one for our 3-year-old (shirts and pants). Under the loft bed is play space. There are some cubbies against the wall that store toys, pajamas and extra sheets. And there's a small bookshelf at the foot of the bunk bed for books. Hoodies and sweaters hang on a peg rack on the wall. The room actually feels nearly spacious! Our fourth son will share it with his big brothers eventually as well (he's currently exclusively sleeping in the family bed and we keep his changing table (with clothes and diapers) in the small office next to our bedroom).
Lex
Lex
Oh you can totally do it. My two kids share one bedroom and now we're expecting another one. I got to thinking that if they had to all 3 share a room it could be done, as long as DS would be willing to sleep in the top bunk. Here are photos of their room
http://azaleastudio.blogspot.com/200...kids-room.html
http://azaleastudio.blogspot.com/200...kids-room.html
organization is the key. i like the Elfa system which in the states you can get in the container store. also, ikea has good options. you can talk with them about your needs and they can help you configure it to those needs.
now, i think that 3 in a room is great and perfectly normal. i have been in homes where families have 4 in a room smaller than that. two sets of bunk beds, closet the normal size, and so they used the elfa system. a set of wire drawers for each, and then they could use the pole above for their hanging clothes, toys were kept in another space. books for night-time reading were kept in bags that hung on the wall next to their beds. it was a very cool room.
in scandinavia, friends of ours live in 400 sq ft with 4 children and 2 adults. there is only one bedroom in the home, btw. so the other "main room" functions as the parent's bedroom, living room and dining room. the children share the bedroom, which is much narrower than the room you describe--probably 10x12 or 10x10.
anyway, again, two sets of bunks. no closet because it's an old building. so, on either side of the bedroom door were two 'wardrobes.' each wardrobe was divided in half for each child's clothes, shoes, etc. then, under the bunks were two boxes each--this is where the children stored their toys. between the bunks and the wardrobe were two book cases--one on each wall, opposite each other. these contained the children's books.
the main room was the parents room as well as the main living space. That room was about 12 x 15 or so. when you walked through the doorway, you were facing a bay window. on either side of the bay window were books shelves and there was also a window seat with storage drawers beneath. on the far end of the room, there were more bookshelves with open and closed shelves. that would be the 'left side' of the room. there, you would find the sofa with hide away bed (where the parents slept), a small coffee table with storage beneath (drawers again), and a chair that also had a small hide away bed for guests.
on the right side of the room was a narrow dining table and two benches--one against the right-side wall, the other between the table and the 'living room' area. the sofa in that area touched the "back" wall where the door was. the book shelves on the 'dining room' side of the room had dishes and various things for dining. the shelves in the living room side had books, tv, baskets of small toys, dvds, etc. the wardrobes on the far left wall had the parent's clothes, linens, etc. and the storage under the window seat housed seasonal items and decorations.
for a tiny place, for six people, it was amazingly organized, neat and tidy.
so, it can be done!
now, i think that 3 in a room is great and perfectly normal. i have been in homes where families have 4 in a room smaller than that. two sets of bunk beds, closet the normal size, and so they used the elfa system. a set of wire drawers for each, and then they could use the pole above for their hanging clothes, toys were kept in another space. books for night-time reading were kept in bags that hung on the wall next to their beds. it was a very cool room.
in scandinavia, friends of ours live in 400 sq ft with 4 children and 2 adults. there is only one bedroom in the home, btw. so the other "main room" functions as the parent's bedroom, living room and dining room. the children share the bedroom, which is much narrower than the room you describe--probably 10x12 or 10x10.
anyway, again, two sets of bunks. no closet because it's an old building. so, on either side of the bedroom door were two 'wardrobes.' each wardrobe was divided in half for each child's clothes, shoes, etc. then, under the bunks were two boxes each--this is where the children stored their toys. between the bunks and the wardrobe were two book cases--one on each wall, opposite each other. these contained the children's books.
the main room was the parents room as well as the main living space. That room was about 12 x 15 or so. when you walked through the doorway, you were facing a bay window. on either side of the bay window were books shelves and there was also a window seat with storage drawers beneath. on the far end of the room, there were more bookshelves with open and closed shelves. that would be the 'left side' of the room. there, you would find the sofa with hide away bed (where the parents slept), a small coffee table with storage beneath (drawers again), and a chair that also had a small hide away bed for guests.
on the right side of the room was a narrow dining table and two benches--one against the right-side wall, the other between the table and the 'living room' area. the sofa in that area touched the "back" wall where the door was. the book shelves on the 'dining room' side of the room had dishes and various things for dining. the shelves in the living room side had books, tv, baskets of small toys, dvds, etc. the wardrobes on the far left wall had the parent's clothes, linens, etc. and the storage under the window seat housed seasonal items and decorations.
for a tiny place, for six people, it was amazingly organized, neat and tidy.
so, it can be done!
My 3 dds (8,6,2) share a room, at least in theory (the youngest prefers to sleep with dh and I quite often). It's about 12x12. There's a set of bunkbeds plus a twin bed. The oldest gets the top bunk, and we have some shelves up there for treasures she doesn't want to share and for her alarm clock/ipod speaker.
The closet takes up about 5' along one wall, and has an organizer with shelves on one side and high and low bars on the other side. The out of season/extra stuff goes on the top bar, the clothes they can wear go on the bottom where they can reach. Extra/out of season shoes and boots go on the lower shelves and extra clothes go on the upper shelves.
The older two share a six drawer dresser. Socks/tights/underwear/bathing suits go in the top drawer, tops in the second drawer, and pants and pjs in the bottom drawer. The baby has her clothes in plastic storage drawers on another wall.
They have shelves for toys and books, although most toys are kept in the basement playroom.
The closet takes up about 5' along one wall, and has an organizer with shelves on one side and high and low bars on the other side. The out of season/extra stuff goes on the top bar, the clothes they can wear go on the bottom where they can reach. Extra/out of season shoes and boots go on the lower shelves and extra clothes go on the upper shelves.
The older two share a six drawer dresser. Socks/tights/underwear/bathing suits go in the top drawer, tops in the second drawer, and pants and pjs in the bottom drawer. The baby has her clothes in plastic storage drawers on another wall.
They have shelves for toys and books, although most toys are kept in the basement playroom.
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