How to allocate bedrooms

[user246854]

Trying to figure out bedroom situation

In our house there is me, DD16,DD14,DD13 and DD5 currently I have the box room, DD16 & DD14 share biggest room and DD13 and DD5 share other double room, current plan isn't working

DD13 refuses to have any of DD5 toys up there or even allow her to play up there meaning all toys are downstairs cluttering our lounge/leaving area and frankly she's now old enough to play upstairs with out constant supervision

Thinking of doing the following

DD16 into box room she has left school on apprentice and pays house keep

DD14,DD13 to share double room

Divide biggest room to give DD5 a little very small place with bed and toys and I will go into other side

Does this sound fair? Everyone is pretty much on board except DD14 who has middle child syndrome and claims that everything is unfair as she's never had a room of her own

We have no other room to convert and no chance of extending... I have looked at exchanges but to be honest 4 beds don't seem to come up

Sounds like the best solution.

I would actually do:

16, 14, 13 - all in the biggest bedroom. They are closest in ages, and at their ages I presume no toys and can use downstairs tv etc also in evening.
5 year old - in double. Most toys, and a place to play when friends are over
you - box room still.

Make sure downstairs has space at the table, and some storage for school stuff if they want to study at table rather than in bedroom.

Sounds like a good idea. Also means when dd5 goes to bed the others can access their rooms if they want.

Explain to dd14 she may get a chance of box room at some point but for now no teenagers should have to share with 5 year old.

That sounds fair to me. It is so hard to please everyone. I shared medium room with my dd until she was 14 she had a high bed and I had a small single under it.
I now sleep on the sofa as no chance of moving. Occasionally she invites me in for a sleep over!

DD13 sounds like a right little madam. If she was under my roof she wouldn’t be dictating to me about what wasn’t allowed in her room. Your current setup is fine, you just need to discipline your children.

The 3 teens in biggest room isn't a option there are far all to big for bunk beds (all in adult ladies clothes)

I'm happy to share with DD5 it would be properly divided off and though would only give her a small space it would mean getting her toys upstairs to free up the room downstairs for everyone

Have you had a family meeting in which everyone discusses what should happen? Would the older two be happy to remain sharing?
Can you subdivide the room with DD13 and DD4, so DD4's mess is kept self contained and out of DD13's sight?

I once had a sofa bed in the dining room so dc could have the other rooms..

I think your idea could work.

Wouldn’t bother me sharing with a small child. Just get lots of storage boxes for her toys before bed. Gives you some peace downstairs as well

Your plan sounds fine. It was quite unfair the way it was, I think; tbh.
The 14 year old gets to share with the 16 year old, but the one just a year younger than her gets to share with a little kid?

Sounds most sensible option.

I think your plan sounds good. Tell the 14 yr old that her time will come to have the box room when she’s older (you could tell her she can have it when she’s 16?)

LA wouldn’t OK an exchange as you are adequately housed, 2 DC of same sex sharing a room is more than adequate. For these pp saying no teenager should be sharing with a younger child; yes in a perfect world 🙄🙄

your plan makes complete sense but both middle dds sound rather presumptuous, expecting a room of their own and to dictate what happens with siblings possessions.

I think that's fine, and the most practical solution. What is DD14's plan?

Well there’s clearly another option even in op’s less than perfect world, JKScot? She’s just told us that.

A bit left field but could you buy a cheap but watertight caravan and put it on your drive and have it as your bedroom? Then your daughters each could have a room, maybe the oldest the boxroom as unlike the older she can get out more to be with friends.

I meant unlike the younger.

Tell DD14 that she can have a room of her own when she is old enough to move out and rent a place. Until then you, as the parent, will be making the decisions. DD16 gets a room of her own as she is contributing to the household. Hold firm.

LA wouldn’t OK an exchange as you are adequately housed, 2 DC of same sex sharing a room is more than adequate. For these pp saying no teenager should be sharing with a younger child; yes in a perfect world

A 16 year old is entitled to their own room.

Dividing the room up isn't that easy, you will need permission from the council before doing any work.

What about using this to divide the rooms up whichever way you do it although the one you've mentioned sounds like the most suitable...

I don’t know the optimum solution but a caravan on the drive for the only adult and leaving a five-year old and three other children in the house is one of the most crazy mumsnet posts I’ve ever seen. Please don’t do this.

Your plan sounds largely fine to me - if the issue of the 13-year old not wanting to share with the little one, tell her she can choose between that option and the status quo.

It is unlikely your tenancy will allow a caravan to be parked on the front.

Or -
DD16 in box room.
DD5 in largest room.
DD14 and DD13 swap every 6 months between having remaining bedroom to themselves and sharing with DD5.
You sleep on sofabed in living room.
When DD16 leaves home all the DDs get there own room.

My 15 year old son ,6”2 had the top bunk while the 4 year old had the bottom bunk ..we bought solid pine bunk beds that were two proper individual single beds .
Personally I’d put 2 sets of bunk beds in the biggest room with their clothes,then the second biggest room ,could have a couple of desks and the little ones toys \ sofa tv.
You stay in smallest room