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leboferr

would love help with a creative way to layout girls’ room

last month
last modified: last month

Hi everyone! I’m looking for help with a tricky shared bedroom layout for my 8-year-old twin daughters. We’d like to fit two full-size beds, a dresser, and an accent chair in the room. I also need an easy way to display books, picture frames, and decorative items.

The challenge is that the room has a lot of doors and windows, which makes furniture placement difficult. To add to that, one of my daughters really dislikes her current trundle bed—mainly because of the back and sides (don’t ask 😅).
We’re considering captain beds with drawer storage underneath, but I’m unsure if they’ll feel too “kiddie” as they get older—similar to how kids often outgrow bunk beds.
I’d love any creative layout or furniture ideas you might have!
Below are the measurements of the room (17' x 13'9"). Also below is the current setup. One full bed and one twin daybed are shown- would like to replace the twin with a full and possibly move both










Comments (58)

  • last month

    @JAN MOYER Thank you for all the great ideas and resources. We currently have one full bed and while I agree, I would love 2 twins, the girl with the twin bed is like a tornado and falls out of bed easily... She has been begging for a bigger bed only to have more sleep space. I mocked up this layout but know it goes again the rule of not blocking a window... This shows 2 full beds. I sure wish I could move windows!!



  • last month

    @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC Here is a labeled floorplan.


  • PRO
    last month

    Looks like there's a good amount of closet space so maybe you don't need freestanding storage pieces? You need to decide whether blocking windows is worth it to get 2 double beds. I'd prefer Jan's layout with the twin beds--in fact there are times in my vacation home that I would rather sleep in a twin bed in one of the guest rooms than share a queen bed. My guest rooms are smaller than yours as well, measuring about 11x11--two of them have twin beds and two have 1 queen. No way would I put 2 doubles in any of them.

    This one is long and narrow, 9x15, I used to have them lined up headboard to headboard, but recently changed them like this:




  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Sorry, but it looks awful, you're eating all the great storage space, and you can do lower PLATFORM BEDS. Even the fall wouldn't kill her lol

    Rolling out and thrashing gets outgrown , give her tuck in bed rails until she does!

    There is no way I'd put two full beds in that space: ) and no way on that wall, either.

    -------- sacrifice is too great.

  • last month

    Look for a 3/4 bed. 48" wide by 74" long. I just recently purchased a mattress for mine so I know they do exist

  • PRO
    last month

    Another idea but with twin beds.



  • PRO
  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Well

    we could begin with WHICH is the accurate drawing?



    Do you see a nook/hallway here? No........

    You do not



    So Mommy,: )

    Either do over as below, and fill in all the ? marks

    Or do it your way.

    Every single pro has said......two twins: )

    I'll try to find another way? But ONLY with an accurate measure, meaning every door width/door SIZE!!! and every single ? above with the feet and inches.

    Print it , Write it in neatly , get OFF the computer: )!



    The help is as free as air. Make it easier TO help?

  • last month

    I don't like seeing an open bathroom from bed., especially when sharing. That nixes the layout with the beds opposite the entrance.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    I agree an accurate floor plan would help, this section where the entrance to the room appears on the left isn't shown on your floorplan.



  • last month

    Another vote for twins.

    I have two twins in one of my guest bedrooms. My parents actually choose to sleep there, instead of the other guest bedroom with a queen. My mother says she likes the break from having my father snore right by her ear!

    As far as desks, don't bother. Kids these days don't do homework at a desk. It will either be on the family computer, breakfast table or kitchen/island counter.

  • PRO
    last month

    Just please print and fill in? Please?

    Don't make any computer attempt from it, just print .


    wah wah!!!!: (



  • last month

    @janmoore that is NOT my layout. That was another Pro’s attempt. I did not post that.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Which one is your good layout that reflects what your picture shows?

  • last month

    " the girl with the twin bed is like a tornado and falls out of bed easily... She has been begging for a bigger bed only to have more sleep space. " Have you tried putting her in the wider bed? How do you know that she will not take up as much space as is given her and soon a full bed will be too small........


    Have you seen bunk beds with full on the bottom but twin on top?

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    " Jan , that's not my layout"

    Yes!! We know that! There's a nook in the entry that doesn't even show in your drawing! We're all just asking for the exact inches of everything! : )

    The room actually looks like this, right? Entry at lower left corner of her layout




    Your computer drawing below...doesn't have the entry nook and there is no size on any window . We are just asking that. Every solid wall, window, and opening. Their inches.

    Very confusing down here....You are in the room, we are not. You want a "designer" in the room? In this case one with 33 years of design under her belt? This is how you get it : ) Accuracy.

    I don't want to give you something that doesn't work.......!




  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    OK..... Never mind!!

    If......YOU TRULY WANT a decent space, IF they both must have a full bed? Get the grown up full over full adult version. Put the 8 yr old on the bottom.

    They weigh little, doesn't matter, do the 800lb, sturdier!



    ADD lights for bed time reading





    Give them storage. BONUS for junk under the beds



    Two dressers each 47" wide under the double windows

    That's 8 ' of drawer storage. Want a mirror on the wall between windows? Art on the wall? That's between you and the girls.



    You will ask......there simply has to be another way?! Something that will look good? Something that will allow them storage, their "stuff" as they grow, that ISN'T twin beds?

    No..... very sorry, there really is not another decent way.

    More importantly? It's their "private" space in the house, not yours. You are simply the checkbook.: )!

    Your answer is right here below. With the items above. Just about anything else is wheel reinvention, OR!? and it IS your home, your kids?

    You get stuck on "your way", which gets you very little , let alone good looks or storage.

    Good luck!



    You can add low book cases, AFTER you install, figure out a perfect height.

    Float shelves or art.... rooms grow with kids, to tween, teen and out the door to a dorm.

    ____________________________________

    Links..........

    https://bunkbedsforadults.com/products/classic-full-over-full-bunk-bed-underbed-storage?variant=50878960730385&currency=USD&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22173979134&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pDBBhBMEiwAmY02Nq0bwFWRU5Ci4yjtMtHa-rTr3R6_gFRR8u0LjiwSMeIbH7gpRXEFIhoCZ0kQAvD_BwE

    __________________________________________________

    https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/wade-logan-aroob-6-drawer-dresser-4724-w-w008612248.html?refid=GX742214824993.~&position=&network=g&pcrid=742214824993&device=c&targetid=dsa-1553295752079&channel=GoogleIntent&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19844840631&gclid=CjwKCAjw_pDBBhBMEiwAmY02Ni1vL1qlyXh-LEeFuhYWeWk7CbXZV5tUL4yMTMENBrzv1uRkPSWoBRoCI1cQAvD_BwE

  • last month

    All- Thank you so much for all of your help thus far. I drew out the room, as requested, and added additional measurements. Please note, I tried to make every square a foot but it is not working out for me! So go by the measurements. I hope this helps and is not more confusing.

    I totally understand that twin beds would be best in this room and the layout would be great on the straight wall but for this request, I am trying to figure out how/if 2 FULLS can work.

    2 fulls do fit head to head and is a thought but don't love the layout.


  • last month

    @JAN MOYER Thank you! And thank you for the links.

  • last month

    @lisedv posted new layout


  • last month

    @Patricia Colwell Consulting to answer your questions, they don't primarily play in thier room. They use it for more quiet space. Sometimes a doll/bed/accessories is brought up and always stuffed animals but it's mainly for quiet time.

    They do have similar taste so that is easy to work with. Also, I attached a more detailed floorplan below. thanks

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    I do am struggling to understand your refusal to believe?

    Scroll back, and you see I already deduced your attempt and mistake drawing...

    Look, down here....and noted are your provided /corrected inches...( for half inches, it matters not.)

    You are jamming square pegs in round holes.

    Here's with nothing in the room.......right?



    You can do this successfully! But you don't want twins.....or believe an 8 yr old will die in a thrashing fall.



    You can do this VERY successfully!!! Full over full

    Meets all the wish list!





    OR ? You can keep doing what you are doing and I can not understand WHY, when you have no understanding of comfortable clearances to move around, when you are doing a space for a kid who rolls from bed, who hates her current bed.....? When we might all agree it doesn't look good in its current iteration?

    I can't understand for whom you are creating the room. You, or the girls. Because they will not remain little girls!

    None of us can help the window placement, or the FACT that you have but one really useful solid wall. The space is what it is....accept it or don't.

    This is how rooms fail. Refusal to accept that the room is often the dictator.: ) Not me, not you....the ROOM.

    I'd pick a poison- neither IS a poison!!

    Don't block openings, windows, light, and don't crowd.







    leboferr thanked JAN MOYER
  • last month

    @JAN MOYER Thank you for all your comments. I appreciate your efforts and will take everything into consideration. I am interested to hear from others as well, that is why I am leaving this open. Thank you for your time.

  • last month

    Have you considered how difficult it’s

    going to be to make a bed that’s head ro head against a wall???

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    As I said.......believe or don't.

    You can crowd source all you like. The thread can go on for two days, two weeks, two years.

    Your space for these girls will not have changed.

    Scroll back....?

    Anyone else here put it on paper to feet and inches?

    This happens all the time, here on this site. Screen grabs, guesses......!! Look how cuuuuute!

    Exactly TWO Pros took the time to put cute to actual reality to any degree.

    Both of those Pro's are treating you as a client........g.r.a.t.i.s. A real client would pay. There is good "free advice" and there is bad.

    Remember that paid or unpaid result? You will live with it.

    In real life, with real clients? The best word is sometimes the "No" word.

    I am giving you the good "NO" word :) on what you are bound and determined to attempt.

    Btw?

    ON either below? You have a 40" solid wall spot between bath and closet entry.....Tall book case if you want , 30" wide, 72 h 12" deep.: )

    More "treasure display"





  • last month
    last modified: last month

    The only person that is going to get injured is the adult trying to put sheets & blankets on full-over-full bunk beds. Hard enough to do it with twin bunk beds. Hope they have a good chiropractor for now and a back surgeon for down the road!

    In 9 or 10 years the kids will be in college. The dorm rooms might be so small that not only will they have to sleep on a twin bed ... but it will be elevated, so that there is a dresser under it for storage, because those dorm rooms can be really small. You don't want to be falling out of your elevated twin bed at 17 or 18 years old, in front of your roommate(s)!

    Go with twins and put pillows or an air mattress on the floor for now, to catch the falls while the kids gets trained not to fall.

  • PRO
    last month

    Is there another room in the house to put one of the girls? A guest room? Listen to Jan. She has done you a huge favor. She knows what she is talking about. What is behind the door in lower right corner? Closet?

  • last month

    You could have the twins take turns with the bigger bed. It could be every 6 months they swap. Every month, every week, whatever you choose. I might be a hard sell for the twin with the bigger bed to give it up at times, but it would be fair. You could get a set of bedding for each, so when the blue bedding is on the big bed it's Twin A's and when the green bedding is on it, it's Twin B's turn. That would make it visually easy for them to know.


    How much room is between the gray chair and the entry. You could look at putting the beds head to head or toe to toe along the long wall, you'd have very little room to get into the room, but it looks like that's already skimpy. It you did this, you'd probably need no headboard or footboard for the beds, just a metal frame.

  • last month

    Food for thought . . . bunk beds are for little kids and little kids don't stay little for very long. Your daughters will outgrow bunks in a few short years. They always look messy because they're impossible to make. I was thrilled the day the bunk beds left my house.


    Listen to the Pros. My youngest daughter slept in a twin bed until she left for college then, of course, continued on in a tiny dorm room, then other student housing. I don't think she got an "adult-sized" bed (Ikea) until grad school!


    Give up the idea of future desks. My kids (and their friends) never used the desks that were put in their rooms with great expectations. Homework happened on the bed or on the floor. The desks became dumping grounds for their junk.


    Since you have two closets, consider outfitting them with closet systems as an alternative to dressers. It will free up floor space and make the room feel less cramped. When your kids get a couple of years older they'll likely spend more time hanging out in the bedroom so a feeling of space will be a bonus.


    Good luck with your project. Signed, Been There, Done That.

    leboferr thanked einportlandor
  • last month

    Captain beds are for anybody who wants them you could get twin ones and put them on opposite of the windows and a nightstand between them you could get a bookcase to go between one of the windows if room allows and you could put the chair next to the bookcase

    leboferr thanked happyleg
  • PRO
    last month




    Acquiescence shall not equal my sanction.

    Not my house, not my room, not my girls.

    You may as well close the thread after this one....there ARE no others. You're going to have to trust me on that.

    It's on you mom, strict attention to sizes

    All noted




    If it works for you, it matters not what any of us think. You must use the noted dimensions,

    A wise cohort of mine said....." There's a REASON designers last about 20 years.......yeah: )

    You're done, there are ZER0 more options



  • PRO
    last month

    Jans layout is 100% what I as a designer would recommend.


    Your room isn't going to grow and if sharing is whats happening the only way to do a pleasing layout is with two twin beds.


    Having raised my own kids, 3 of them to be exact, if a child sleeps like a tazmanian devil getting a larger bed isn't going to help. Keep her low (no bunk beds) and if she falls out she falls out. Chances are her dislike of the trundle or smaller bed is solely because she wants what the other sibling has.


    If more floor space is needed then do a corner group. They sell them on Wayfair for a very reasonable price. You can add a rail to your restless sleepers bed until she trains herself to stay put.






  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    ONE, TWO THREE

    Is what the ROOM allows you. Period.

    The last on right? that is up to y.o.u. and how badly you want two full, with no bunk.

    Makes most sense? MIDDLE


    does anything else work? NO.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    Lol ….. :) if it were not for math, so darn unforgiving!.


  • last month

    Ya kids don't outgrow bunk beds, adults like to attribute their taste on kids and kids pick it up! Perhaps kids grow out of bunked beds so you need room for two twins to be on the floor. Think of it this way--assuming these girls go to college one day you are getting them ready for dorm life!!! If you are truly concerned with their growing out of the room calm down the decor a tad.

  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    These..........? In living color, two full beds





    TEST drive it with what you OWN.! Break an egg to make an omelette.......

    As below, with a little elbow grease.





    Take the canopies down, move the full bed to between the two windows Put the dresser as the floor plan, add the mirror above.

    Take the chair out of the room for now. It's just too bulky.

    You have two side tables, one on each side of the full, under the two windows, with the lamp pair.

    Take the X/O pics to over the book rack.

    Tape a line on the rug, to leave 30" to pass between beds....

    Go to Michaels and have some fun and make some BIG art for over the beds! Anybody can paint art for kids! Let them help!

    Bottom line?

    ALL the other ways are already above.

    There's simply no math magic in only three possible/usable walls of four, all three of those bearing either window/s, or a closet/opening.

    Or............? full circle to two t.w,i,n

    Iteration checks and butterflies left to others!

    No two kids anywhere , any home are as concerned about what is where, as you /their moms may be be. "Do I have my things and what about my colors?!"

    That's really all they care about..: )











    Try it......: )

  • PRO
    last month

    ^^


    Interim PUNCH with the test drive try, all Amazon -

    Bigger impact on wall over bed

    ( over the twin for now)

    Buy two sets, make a grid. Will equal 32h x 36 w!



    Add a chair! ( gray out )








  • PRO
    last month

    Well? Seems we lost the op..

    Either school let out and on a pre Memorial Day vacation, family emergencies, or is jiggling furniture in the suggested test run, or believes there it yet another way than all above and to now.

    Nope : ) Or just went two full in front of windows. ....and I wasted most of a pink colored pencil hahhahhahahaah - it happens.

  • last month

    She can be busy with them or shopping. BB

  • last month

    Two full sized beds where the two beds are now should work, but I have found that if possible to place them to be able to walk around the 3 sides of the bed to change the linens. The biggest problem with the room is the large dust-mop that is wall-to-wall. Wall-to-Wall carpet is one of the two worst inventions of mankind (forced air heat being the other). Install real wood - NOT plastic laminate (ugh!) flooring, and use washable cotton rugs. Looks for beautiful old antique bed frames that sit up high (even if they are not the same), and add boxes (old drawers) on wheels under. When you remove the carpet and see the dirt under it, you will wonder how you ever lived with it - even the cleanest of people have dirt under the carpet as it is literally impossible to clean completely. Have fun!

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    Avoid furniture made of particle board - be sure all the pieces you buy are solid wood - solid pieces of wood, not solid wood chips with lots of glue. The off-gassing of the glue in the particle board is toxic!

    Also, avoid synthetic bedding in any piece you buy - use 100% cotton and 100% cotton fill in quilts, or wool blankets. And avoid polyester foam synthetic pillows - use down or latex/rubber. Polyester is plastic and off-gasses, and adds micro-plastic to the rivers and therefore our water supply when washed. Or have custom bedspreads and quilts made - use cotton or linen.

    And if you want to avoid toxic off-gassing for your kids health - do not buy traditional mattresses - buy 100% natural foam rubber from rubber-trees in cotton & wool coverings. latexforless.com is a great place to get great beds for reasonable prices. Traditional beds have all kinds of fire-retardant material that actual burns very fast and is toxic for the first 20 years of use (all the time you own it!).

    And of course carpet off-gasses for the first 10-20 years, so you do not want that in a room that anyone sleeps in - it is important to not have toxins or allergens in sleeping rooms - for some reason it is worse there than in other non-sleeping rooms. And use Zero VOC paint and do not sleep in the room for a week or so.

    Hope this helps you create a healthy room for your kids - healthy non-toxic items are more important that layout or color, etc.

  • last month





  • last month

    There are plenty of room arranger apps/websites online. Play with them. 2 fulls seems to make sense but you'll have to measure and play with things to see if it works for you. No bunk beds. Lose the netting. I would place things against the window wall with dresser in middle. I don't know why people don't like placing things against window walls. If that works for the space then you have opened up the whole solid wall for shelving storage for books, knicknacks, desk space, dollhouse play, etc.

    leboferr thanked hollywaterfall
  • PRO
    last month

    ^^

    I don't think you read the entire thread? : )

  • last month

    I don't have any idea how to arrange it, but you have been given many good suggestions. I will say my daughter refused to sleep in a twin at age 6. She never slept in one again, except maybe a vacation. Her dorm was a full XL. She just moved into her first adult studio apartment. The arrangement would be so much easier if she was willing to give up her queen bed, but that is her priority (all 5'4", 100 lbs of her).


    In the end, it is their space and sometimes it doesn't look the way we would like or the way a designer would have arranged it.

    leboferr thanked Cori
  • PRO
    last month

    Well, again, I'm going to say "pencils down." There are SO many suggestions here, and now it's time to let the OP make her decision. Anything more is just going around in circles.

    We'd all love to see what you choose--so post photos when you are done!

    leboferr thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
  • PRO
    last month
    last modified: last month

    I'll echo that , ONLY because unless it shows exactly in feet and inches and drawing from all her posted dimensions/ windows/ doorways? It probably is just a guess....

    It's just an extremely chopped up space.......double extremely lol

  • last month

    The OP wanted ideas. She wanted ideas from more than one or two people. In fact, she made it VERY clear waaaaay up thread that she did not want any further input from Jan Moyer... But, as per usual, of course that did not stop the relentless posts and continued snarky/snide interjections from Moyer. Now, when a few other people finally post (maybe hoping the coast is clear) - Diana Bier says, ”Pencils down.”


    The OP is done with this forum, I am sure.

    leboferr thanked freedomplace1
  • last month
    last modified: last month

    @leboferr - If you happen to see this. And this would be my general idea - (which you may have figured out by now).

    You could put two full-sized beds, on the long, windowless wall. The beds would face the 2 windows. Then you could take the door off of the closet that is on the room entry side - and use a curtain or curtains on that closet. If you need to do the same on the other closet too, of course you can. Also consider putting the dresser, or a dresser, in one of the closets, if possible. That could free up room and floor space. If you have to (or just prefer to) use the dresser that you have in the bedroom itself, once you have the beds placed, you can arrange the rest of the room according to how you need it.


    Just to show general bed placement.









    Best wishes.

  • last month

    Thank you for the additional comments from the new commenters. I am taking a break, thinking things through and plan to complete by end of June. I will consider all the comments and layouts below and will post the final results, although I might have to turn off commenting! Thanks again, everyone!