You need to figure out what storage is needed. The two things that leap out at me for those room is a lot of clothes on the floor and unmade beds. 12 and 9 are certainy old enough to make their beds and put their clothes away. So, the first question is, do you have adequate clothing storage? Is it reachable or do you have to hang things for the girls? Do you have a dirty laundry bin? If the answer is no, start with adequate clothing storage.

Often, clothing storage gets overwhelmed when outgrown clothing isn't culled or if out-of-season stuff is not placed elsewhere. Box up the stuff the summer stuff and stick it on a top shelf to swap out in the spring. Cull outgrown clothes, top shelf or attic for stuff the 12yo outgrew but doesn't yet fit the 9yo.

Get them to pick up clothes and make their beds. I found that praise is required. "Your room looks so neat and tidy!" is more motivating that "you're room is a pit, tidy it up now." So, offer praise when they tidy up.

Then, I'd tackle the toys.

First a huge declutter is in order . Then a really good discussion of how to look after your stuff.It does not work to just keep adding storage you need organizaation too. The beds need to be made , toys not played with anymore taken to good will or whatever .Huge cork boards are great for all the bits of paper taped to the walls or magnetic boards even better .. The other space could be awesome but still needs to have some type of organized things

Clothing is a big issue with girls so maybe each can have a closet so there is no mix up of what is what and you can more easily see who is more tidy also. Again a huge purge isin order for clothes not worn anymore .. Toys not played with too.. Best done where you remove everything then pnly put back the things they actaully play with and wear. . I know sounds like a lot of work but if they do the work then maybe they will be better at looking after the spaces . I love the idea of the other space for reading etc

I would move the bookshelves to the smaller room. and make separate desk areas for homework and reading.

and create closet space in the other room, like a dressing room.

Make the largest space a calm serene sleeping, space for the girls. Yes to Above ^ suggestions about taking pride in what you have.

Make the bed every day, and edit toys and things they do not need or use.

I would make one room solely for sleeping and clothes. Each child gets their own closet, hamper and chest at the end of the bed to keep their truly valuable possessions. The other room would be there their toys, books, board games, etc. Each child gets a unit of shelves for their own stuff after declutterring of stuff. A desk each for homework and crafts.

Thank you! They do usually make their beds and it's definitely something that is required wasn't done today. Totally agree with the clothes and taking pride and ownership of the things they have. I promise you that we just did that closet not too long ago and they did it all with me, but it's a struggle all the time. I do think they don't have enough storage for some things and/or the drawers are too small for anything. My oldest definitely has hoarder tendencies and that is something that also makes going through clothes/toys a long and emotional process for her.

Thank you for the encouragement to again support and purge .

I don't think that 9 and 11 year olds should declutter - chaos and lots of options are good for growing minds and testing abilities. Their minds are probably cluttered, and that's the way it should be at that age. I think young minds benefit from options and variety to develop into their best......Declutting is fine for adults who know the things they like and don't like, and the things they're good at and not good at. Don't make these young girls make those choices now, just for the presentation and so you like the way it looks. If you're fortunate enough to be able to provide them with options and room to explore those options, then let them. Don't force your choice of what it "should" look like onto them. Encourage them to help you come up with a working plan that doesn't include getting rid of their stuff. There's time enough for that.

I do like the idea of splitting the rooms into sleeping and playing - the bedroom with beds and clothes, and the "playroom" for books, toys, sports equipment, craft supplies, etc.

Draw and MEASURE the two spaces, please? Show the openings, the door passages, the closet , the windows.... and every wall. Each solid wall, every window, every doorway has a dimension. Note every dimension for everything. You can use graph paper, just make it neat, bold, legible, and upload that as a jpeg.IN A comment box below.

The best way? Place it on a printer scanner, save it to your photo library. The result is clearer than a screen shot from a phone.

You want help? That is how you get it.

I will disagree with the above comment. I think busy minds, an interest in everything, is fantastic. To some degree, all kids hold and "Hoard" treasure. But the inability to separate trash from treasure, to not learn the value in letting someone else enjoy that which is no longer necessary, no longer a favorite thing? That has much value.....as its opposite can lead to a torturous way of life that can last........a LIFETIME.

I love the idea of a bedroom suite! The day room can have a craft and homework table, a pair of comfy reading chaira and love the books!

I am looking forward to seeing the floorplan. I don’t like that a door hits the bed. I know we can come up with something better.

Where do they do their homework?

The room-sharing may be good for another year or so, then the teen may want her own space. Plan for furniture that can be easily moved, not built-ins.

i am admittedly old school - but I wouldn’t do a single thing in the rooms until they were culled: everything not put away goes in a trash bag, they can earn back what they want - everything else isn’t likely needed/wanted and gets donated. It will be easier to get the rooms organized if there is less stuff

I'm old school too....

There's a cure for over abundance. Nothing new comes in, unless something older, not needed, doesn't fit, no longer wanted or coveted.............goes OUT. Passing down is fine, when all parties agree, and does not mean the youngest shall have nothing but pass down : )

That said, planning the space for functional use, STILL means a drawing /measure,

We have three kids ages 13-18 and all can clean. Two will independently and one needs constant support. Everyone manages clutter and mess differently, in order to get what you want and need this really is a job for the three of you. Going through all the stuff first with keep, donate, toss in mind. Including the girls but knowing you will need to guide it. I love the idea of a cozy sleeping space ajd then pretty much all else being in the other room. But I would do the declutter and then post pics in this thread of what tue space now looks like and then we can help.

Downsizing and decluttering precede layout which precedes storage plans. Stop buying stuff until downsizing happens and you see what you have.

Downsizing/decluttering: Since stuff is all over the place anyway in the bedroom, begin the decluttering there with Keep/Donate/Dispose/Maybe bags or boxes. Mom has final say on the Maybe pile. Once a week, the three of you do a 15 minute blitz with a timer to keep hallway closet organized, bedroom and craft room tidy.

Layout: Beds and 1 very small dresser for each girl go in the smaller room. Connecting "hallway" is for open clothing hanging racks with cubbies below for tee shirts, sweatshirts/pants, shoes so everyone can see exactly what they have and what needs to be put away and where--something like this plus an open laundry hamper:

Bedroom dressers are strictly for underwear, socks, PJs. Everything else goes into hallway cubbies or above on hangers. STOP BUYING SO MUCH! Stay away from the stores.

Craft/activity room: Tall bookcases don't work for kids. Instead, get Ikea type bookcases, turned on their sides so surfaces are at waist level for accessibility. Homework/craft tables goe in the middle like this: Add a couple lounge-y fold out chairs for sleepovers and just hanging.

Cottesloe Hilltop Residence · More Info

Consider blackboard paint for one wall. Subtract TV in kids' space so that they'll read some of the books on the shelves or get going on craft and art projects. Art work goes on bulletin boards, not on walls.

Indoor Projects · More Info

Start an Ideabook for "Tween bedrooms" and "Tween hangout spece"

Thank you everyone for all the feedback! We're starting today on the decluttering.
Here is a picture of dimensions for those who asked. They share bedroom 4 and bedroom 2 is where the bookcases are. The floor plan is the same except in our house, rooms 4 and 2 share a closet. It's open on both ends with a door in each room.

For the budding hoarder, you want to insist on getting rid of any clothing that is too small or damaged. Be sympathetic, but ruthless. "Yes, this was great, but it's too small/stained/torn." For collections of things, having shelving to show it off is helpful. For toys and things she's outgrown, you can try putting them in a box and putting them in the attic --- she can access them when needed, but they're not in the room. If you do that, list all items in the box and take a picture, which you label the box with.

Taking picture of things she liked and having her keep a scrapbook of them might help with the emotions --- she has the memories, just not the item.

My Houzz: Toys and Art Make Merry in a Texas Home · More Info

Contemporary Family Room · More Info

First problem is CLOTHES. and the shared buddy closet is 100% inadequate, now and later...when they no longer want to share a room. From what I see? Only half of it is remotely useful. and it is a sty.

Build a 6' closet in the larger room............you will need it NO matter what. Dedicate, the walk through closet to ONE of the two girls.

Lose all the plastic hangers !! for skinny felt

The beds..........Twins are relative very inexpensive!!! Can be had with trundle storage. great for small stuff/treasure, under 500.00

...small book case EACH for current reading next to each bed... 21 1/2 wide.....Low

Low drawer chest between beds. DRAWERS. Wayfair 176.99

Dresser in the small room

Butt together two writing desks, chairs........

FRAME A 6' CLOSET...

IF You're curious as to what I just spent?

Add the trunk at the foot of one bed?

Answer......2,894.00 and 81 .00 add a trunk without the handy guy to frame a closet. When you FREAK on that?

Look at the abundance of $$$$$$$$$ in stuff they own: ) !!!!!!!!

You're obviously not going to buy all new everything. You have a dresser jammed in the walk though closet, But you also have too much "book case" type furniture in the larger of both too small spaces.

NEITHER of the rooms can be all of one concept. For one, they won't share forever. They won't play as much.....but there will be all the junk of later teen years.

This has to go :)