To give up my room for dc

[DoNutsAreYummy]

I’m a single parent to 13 year old twins, we live in a fairly large two bedroom flat.
The issue is that they are almost at war with each other as they don’t have any privacy or space of their own.

Bedrooms are a fairly decent size, can fit a kingsize in mine with lots of floor space and two singles in theirs with a bit of floor, but very badly set out and designed and cannot really have much storage in them.

I have an L shape open plan living room, that I could likely fit a double bed in and put up a stud wall but would have zero space for myself in there, but enough space for a large sofa and dining table.

Would you do this?

I would personally. I'd rather have peaceful children that are not at war, lol.

Could you just give them the bigger bedroom and put a screen/partition wall up?? Or reorganize their bedroom with screens so they get some privacy??? Some pics might help.....

No, I wouldn't.

Particularly with teenagers who stay up late etc, I think you need your own personal space.

I would look at splitting one of the bedrooms with a stud wall instead

No way would I give up my bedroom for anyone. Put one of them in the living room.

Yes I did the same I have 2 front rooms though so easier

No I wouldn't.

Could the twins go into the largest room and you divide it, either with a stud wall or big kallax units, or similar in between them. They could then have midi/high sleepers if they wanted. I have 4 dc and at times 2 of mine have had to share. I shared with a sister who I clashed with and we had different nights when we'd use the bedroom, so from 4ish till 9ish one of us had the room and then swapped the next night.

Absolutely not. I think it's an awful example to set for children. You deserve your own space and privacy too. You are just as important as they are.

They will argue even if they have their own rooms.

Edited to add, I just realised you mentioned a stud wall- are you saying that you will create a new room ?

Need a floor plan with dimensions. I would partition the biggest bedroom rather than stick myself in a cupboard.

I think op is saying she will partition part of the living room into a third albeit small bedroom so se will still have privacy and her own space

Question if you would be better with a smaller bed in that case

Nope. I'd consider either splitting the biggest bedroom and moving myself into the smaller one or giving one of the teens the new smaller room off the lounge.

Could one the of the twins have the partitioned off space? A single bed and desk might fit better then a king sized bed.

Neither of the bedrooms would work with a partition due the shape of them, I’ve already tried.
It’s like the house that Jack built, floor to ceiling windows in one side, plugs only on one side radiators in the middle of the walls in awkward positions that make it almost impossible to split.

I didn’t consider putting one of them in the front once divided, that may actually work out better.

Put them in the bigger bedroom. Divide the space up somehow, shelving, curtains, etc.

also divide off the l shape of the living room, but not as a bedroom. Either turn it into a teen lounge or make it a quiet zone/study space. Whatever it is that they need, but give them a place to separate.

or maybe don’t give up your bedroom at all. Just give them the nook so that they can have separation during the day.

Give us a floor plan.

Could the living room be split into 2 rather than one of the existing bedrooms if it's the largest room? If it's self contained, obvs if it's part of the kitchen it won't work. Then you keep your room and their old bedroom becomes the living room.

If not, then your idea is worth at least considering if the alternative is another 5 years plus of arguments. If essentially you can use your living room as your living space to actually spend most of your time in, their rooms for storage and all you really need a room for is a bed to sleep in in some privacy then it's not so bad.

But I would do what you could to make it as roomy as possible - could you get a queen bed rather than a double? and do you actually need a dining table if there's just three of you? Could you just put a smaller/fold out table or one with a bench that tucks under in the kitchen? That way the 'new' room in the living room has a bit more space, with the understanding that whoever is in there gets to store their stuff in the other 2 rooms, although you could get a new lift up bed with under storage for stuff you need daily.

IF you were to do this, it would need to come with ground rules. Kids upstairs at a certain time every night to give you some privacy and space. Maybe one has a bunk bed and one bunk is your reserved spare bed, for any times they really do need to be in the living room past your chosen bedtime.

Also do look at Murphy beds.

Can you split one of the bedrooms instead?

No because tbh separate bedrooms or not they will still fight- they’re teen siblings! Id need a room to escape it.

Do Google images of divided bedrooms. There are loads of ways to do it that don't involve walls but are really effective. If a 'wall' of some sort is a must then a concertina screen that runs on track fixed to the ceiling could work - position it in front of the radiator so they get half each and then a floor to ceiling screen for the length of the room. And it's easily removable for the future.

A lot of people are using bunk beds as room dividers - see picture.

Could this work in your bedroom?

Re:electric sockets you can get them moved to access both sides of the room.

I don't know what you can afford but you can move sockets and radiators

Just to clarify, both rooms are the same size just different shapes.

I have already enquired about moving the radiators, however the only available wall it could go on backs onto the electric cupboard so have been advised not to move it incase of any burst pipes etc and then moving it onto the other wall in my room would then impact the wall space for bed.

Im trying to find floor plans, as I actually have the builders ones. So will update asap for any other suggestions

Yes but stud walls aren't very soundproof - so she would be able to hear everything in the sitting room, e.g TV - and similarly anything she did in her bedroom would be very audible from the sitting room. (I don't just mean sex or masturbation or whatever but even just having a private phone call)

Most houses I have ever lived in have only stud walls - it's probably the most normal