2 bed flat with 2 children- could it work longterm?

[Helenc19]

DS is nearly 2, I would love a 2nd but DP is worried about space. We have a 2 bed flat which has big bedrooms but its unlikely we would ever be able to afford a bigger place ( we got a very good deal) especially in the same area and I like the location.
I would be happy to put 2 kids in bigger room which is ours at the moment and divide it when they are older for more privacy but DP isnt so sure.
would it work for us to stay here with 2 especially if DC2 was a girl? would it be ok to divide a room for teenagers? How can I talk DP into it?

It could work, it probably wouldn't be ideal, but then not many people are able to provide an ideal environment for their children.

I would get a builder round to give a quote on turning the bigger bedroom into two smaller rooms to see if that is doable.

I would look into other cheaper areas and be willing to compromise on location if necessary. It doesn't have to be now, or in the next five years, but long term it may be best to move to a cheaper area so that you can provide better living arrangements for your children.

If you have options on how to deal with the space issue then your DP should come round (if that's his only concern).

Look at the Houzz app or site for ideas. Honestly could be better than fine.

Uh, as of this autumn we will have 3 kids in a 2 bed flat (expensive area of London, don't want to leave the location with such good schools and amenities!), so I'd say 2 is fine. If you're worried about space, could you look into bunk cots for when the kids are little? I honestly think it's not a big deal to live in a smaller place (probably better for the environment in terms of footprint!) as long as you have plenty of scope for getting the children out of the house to run around. Also, you may feel differently about where you live or you may be able to afford something a tad bigger sometime in the next few years. I'd say go for it!

I shared a room with my brother right up until when I left home at 18. He was 2 years younger than me and it really wasn't very nice once I'd started puberty . My parents divided our room by hanging a curtain but it's not really enough privacy for a teenage girl, and I could never hang out with my friends in my room. I'd say you could have 2 dc sharing while they're younger, but if they turn out to be different sexes it's pretty horrible for them once they're a bit older.

I think it's basically fine too - my two shared a room until DS was ten, even now occasionally he and DD "camp" in each other's rooms

Having one room per child is a relatively recent thing - think of how many people used to live in a two up, two down

We live in a one bed flat, London, with x2 children

We do this but plan to add a bedroom by building an extension soon so the children can have separate rooms eventually. They are 8 and 3 and prefer sharing for now.

We have bunks at the moment but there are so many good space saving ways of doing things and DD is going to have a bed that folds down into a desk when we get round to it.
I also love the dynamic we have in a small flat, feels very lively and fun and we do have a garden but don't find it's essential as don't use it all winter

We have a 2 and a 4 year old in a two bedroom flat and its cramped as hell, toys everywhere, no room for the things we need. We're moving this year, I think you need to be flexible, could you rent your flat out and rent somewhere bigger?

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely prepared to compromise location for a bigger place but just want to be prepared incase its not possible to move. Im not to bothered about the general space in the flat for toys ect and we live next door to a big park so can get out easily. My main worry is how teenagers sharing a room would be, raincalling thanks for your view, I know I wouldnt have wanted to share with my brother. But I know it was the norm for siblings to share in times gone by which makes me think we could make it work, if I knew no 2 would also be a boy it would be so much less worrying.
maybe a post in the larger families section might help.

It's doesn't need to be cramped with toys and stuff though if you choose not to. We haven't the luxury of loads of space so toys have to fit in the storage we have which is cupboard with doors and lidded baskets in bedroom. If they don't fit, they they don't stay. Our one bed flat feel spacious and open despite four people living here as we have kept all belongings to a minimum. For space we use outdoor spaces.

I think if your living space is big enough then bedrooms are by-the-by. You can get bunks, split a room up with a divider or a wall, etc etc.

We too live in a 2-bed flat in London in an area we love and I'm expecting DC2. However, our living space is tiny and bedrooms are up a precarious set of stairs so DC1 can't roam freely. So, we think we'll probably have to move by the time DC2 is on the move. But, if we had a bigger living space I'd be totally up for staying in this flat. I love it and the area and will be said if/when we leave.

Until we became adults my DB and I were v close. We shared a room until I was 13 but after we had our own room and my mum adopted the living room. Even if we cared for each other if we had used the same room it would have been hell. No way to cut a fight short, no privacy, no place to go and be alone. It does not need to be big, but they will need their own space, even if you end up with two boys.