Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To (in the future) give up our bedroom...

101 replies

Feminine · 06/02/2013 12:24

So the children get one each?

We have 3 children, and 3 bedrooms. No chance of getting more/adding more!

Children or bedrooms Wink

The boys share , they are 14 and 9. They don't get on at all. Our 14 yrs old is very mature for his age both in stature and mentally. Our 9 yrs old , is just 9 ...annoying to our other son. The room is not large, and is dominated by the bunk-beds and computer stuff (my son builds them)

I feel that our 9 yr old never gets any space for himself, a place to invite friends etc...he is a very sociable boy and I think he would really like a place of his own.

Our other child is a four yr old girl.

I'd like to buy a really decent sofa-bed and keep a wardrobe in our dd's room.
Its quite spacious.

I wouldn't miss a bedroom for a few years, in fact I think we would get more space as the 9 yr old would have a room to use/enjoy.

The boys are like chalk and cheese, and I think the age difference is very marked.

Has anyone done this? AIBU to think it would work? I'm hoping it just might? :)

OP posts:
forevergreek · 06/02/2013 13:40

The expedit until from okra don't even need anything doing to them really. Get a large one say 5x5 cubes. The canvas black/pink/green baskets they sell are £2.50 for 2, and completely fill each cube ( if that makes sense). I would get two colours ( one each- black for eldest, green for 9 year old. And just fill the bottom 3 rows facing 9 year old side and top two rows facing 14 year old side (9 year olds have more toys to store usually)

forevergreek · 06/02/2013 13:41

Not okra! Ikea!

Original poster
Feminine · 06/02/2013 13:41

Oh field that is a good idea too.

The youngest in the bigger room...

OP posts:
diddl · 06/02/2013 13:43

Is the main drive for this your 9yr old having friends over?

If so could the teenager have part of the living room for computer stuff so 9yr old can be in bedroom when a friend visits?

How many reception rooms do you have?

MrsTomHardy · 06/02/2013 13:44

I debated giving my 3 DS a bedroom each and me sleeping in the lounge.....it would've solved all arguments but I just know I would come home from work, pull out the sofa bed and not move!!! Grin

I kept youngest 2 sharing (11 and 13), it was DS 1, 15, and I that swapped rooms....he has the larger bedroom with double bed and wardrobes and I have the box room but I love it!
I totally redecorated it, new carpet, new single bed, new bedding etc...and it's my little sanctuary....

Original poster
Feminine · 06/02/2013 13:50

diddl we only have one living room.

There isn't really any space for his type of computer stuff here Grin

Its massive!

Yes, I want 9yr old to be able to have friends over ....more freely

OP posts:
AmberSocks · 06/02/2013 13:56

i would try it and see if you like it.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 06/02/2013 14:02

We did something like this as a compromise. We have four DCs still at home, DSs 18,8 and 6, and DD is 10.
DD has the smallest room for her own, and the back bedroom has bunks and a single (and a fridge!) No 2 son (18) sleeps in the bottom bunk but has a tv, Wii, and whatever other console thingies he's bought himself on a shelf unit at the end of the bed in my room, and keeps all his games and DVDs and things in there on a book case. He uses it as his space once the littler ones go to bed, and can play his games and what not in peace, then vacates when I go to bed.
DH sleeps on a sofa bed in the living room (and we even have a blanket box with his bedding in Grin)
DH and I haven't actually slept together for years, we are both big and both snore and he gets up very early for work, so it suits us to have separate beds.
It works out fine for us.

WilsonFrickett · 06/02/2013 14:02

Just thinking here I had friends from school where there was 7 children and 2 adults in 3 bedrooms...

Original poster
Feminine · 06/02/2013 14:08

pom its interesting to read about unconventional set-ups...

After our home fell apart (in the US) we had a really odd one.

I'm not going to explain it here Grin

OP posts:
diddl · 06/02/2013 14:18

If/when he has friends over-how long would it be for?

Couldn´t the teenager just stay out of the room??

Original poster
Feminine · 06/02/2013 14:26

I guess he could.

Its tricky.

9yr old would have a friend after school for a couple of hrs, just when 14yr old is coming home and wanting to do H/work etc...

There are ways round it though, I'll find some Grin this thread has really helped with ideas!

OP posts:
ChiefOwl · 06/02/2013 14:26

I actially would do it. But I would make it clear to your ds that after a certain time, the living room is your space and if he wants to watch tv etc he does so in his room.

The only time I ever use our bedroom is to go to bed, dh is the same...

ChallahBaloo · 06/02/2013 14:31

Along the same lines as Pombear's set up, how about putting a sofa bed in your room (decent sized every day use one to save the back) and then it could double up as a second living space/den. Your youngest could use it when he has friends round and the older one could use it later in the evening when the younger one is in bed.

diddl · 06/02/2013 14:34

I know it´s his room as well, of course.

The other thing is that is they share the bigger room, even it´s partitioned, he´s still going to hear them playing, so will be annoyed.

Perhaps it would be best if the oldest has his own room?

Then partition a room for the younger two?

Especially as the 4yr old might not feel so territorial as the teen!

Mim1990 · 01/03/2023 18:50

I would make the boys share and put a summer house in garden for space or when friends come around ect. The 19 year old might move out soon

Nicola727 · 23/06/2023 08:17

Hi. I'm in a similar situation. My 14 Yr old Daughter and 12 Yr old Daughter share a room and it's awful! Lol.
I had to get my bed out of my room etc because of having new Carpet fitted. So my Partner had to literally break bed to be able to get it out. Still got Mattress. But moved my 12 Yr old Daughters Bed into my room until I get new bed. I'm sleeping on the Sofa, but it's so lovely giving my kids their own room each! They both chat to their friends online and they get privacy. I still have all my clothes etc in the room.
The thing is my Mum, is fuming about me not going back into my room when I get new bed delivered!

Anyotherdude · 23/06/2023 08:30

How large are the bedrooms (all)?
If it were my house, I would split the main bedroom into two and make the current second (small double) into the main. Partition walls are a relatively simple diy job, too, and could be removed later.

Foodieasfuck · 23/06/2023 08:34

I’ve just read this thread and then realised it is 10 years old! I bet the kids have grown up (and away) by now. Hopefully the OP found a solution that worked 😊

PushmePull · 23/06/2023 08:34

Like @PomBearWithAnOFRS says, tech can really help here. If you're prepared to let the teen into your room in the evenings or when younger brother has friends over, using it as a second private space for him is really good. It doesn't need a sofa, it has a perfectly good bed to lounge on already. Then maybe when teen is doing his exams, he gets first dibs on their shared bedroom and the younger one uses your room or downstairs. It's important the older one gets to claim the space a bit and isn't always the one shifting to make space for his brother.

Also, noise cancelling headphones.

MorrisZapp · 23/06/2023 11:58

People who 'only sleep' in their bedroom, where do you get dressed, dry your hair etc?

Tinkerbyebye · 23/06/2023 12:00

ZOMBIE the threads 10;years old!

Inmydreams88 · 23/06/2023 12:01

No I wouldn't personally but you could consider giving the biggest room to the two boys to share so they have more space?

thecatsthecats · 23/06/2023 12:04

MorrisZapp · 23/06/2023 11:58

People who 'only sleep' in their bedroom, where do you get dressed, dry your hair etc?

Well, you can do those things in the bathroom.

In fact, my dream home set up has a laundry room, where all laundry is washed, dried, ironed etc, and stored in wardrobes. Family just take out what they need for the next couple of days at a time, and put it into a chute from the bathroom to the laundry room.

Had something close to this and it was blissfully easy to manage laundry and freed up bedroom spce.

MorrisZapp · 23/06/2023 12:05

Tinkerbyebye · 23/06/2023 12:00

ZOMBIE the threads 10;years old!

I've just realised I answered in 2013 😂😂