So you’ve bought your first two-bedroom house, and it always seemed like a palace, but now another little bundle of joy has appeared, and suddenly space is at a high premium, what can you do to make sharing a room a joy rather than a resentment?

First, furniture is key. If your kids have to sleep in a bunk bed, make sure that it’s one that they will love, not a personality-free MDF monstrosity, but a solid timber-framed beauty, destined to live forever in their memories of a happy childhood.

If your children are very young, it can be fun to decorate the whole room in the style of their favourite characters – If you have two little girls, for example, why not make the room a Princess bedroom, with pink walls, rose detailing, and diaphanous, wafting four-poster style cloches over the head of each bed, or if you have two little boys who just can’t get enough football, why not kit their room out in their favourite team’s colours, making every bedtime a joy instead of a pain.

Kids love games, and they need to be active, so make sure you get some fun items to bring the room to life. Boys will love a table football game, while girls will love playing gymkhana on a rocking horse – it’s important to strike the right balance between imaginative play and physical exercise, so consider toys and games that get your kids on their feet and moving, and you’ll not go far wrong.

It’s very important, when children are sharing a room, to ensure that they have their own space too, and especially that the older sibling doesn’t come to resent their little brother or sister.

Pilot beds can be great for giving the illusion of private space, and what’s more, they also provide a comfortable place for kids to do their homework. You could even, if you’re feeling adventurous, have sliding partitions installed so that the kids can take control of their environment and get a little alone time when they need it.

So if your children are sharing a room, don’t forget, the furniture you choose can have a huge impact on how those little terrors live together, so pick carefully, and you will find your kids getting on like a house on fire.

Beds Illustrated:

• Barcelona Pine Bunk Bed – a well made quality solid pine bunk bed frame with integral ladder and safety rails. £207 frame only or £312 complete with mattresses.
• Nickleby Bunk Bed – a solid pine bunk with large solid format headboard for a traditional look. £161.10 bed only or £371.10 with mattresses.