Living in New York City has many perks—in lieu of
a grassy backyard, families who call the Big Apple home live amidst museums,
restaurants, miles of public greenways and numerous playgrounds. With the
allure of nearby amenities, including top-ranked public and private schools,
it’s not surprising that despite the heavy costs of renting or homeownership,
“the percentage of families who choose to remain in the city has increased by
30 percent within the last 10 years,” according to Jennifer Lee, vice president
and associate broker at Charles Rutenberg Realty. Lee sees most families opting
for two-bedroom units, meaning city kids typically share a room, especially if they’re
the same gender. But when designing a shared
bedroom, how can parents recognize each child’s individual personality and
interests while respecting their privacy? Kirsten Rondal Clausen, an interior
architect, designer and mom of three, offers the following strategies.
Create a Sense of Personal Ownership. Even a small area on a
bookshelf, or their own area of the closet—plus baskets or containers for each
child’s belongings—can create a sense of personal ownership. Allow children to
display artwork or pictures on their own magnetic boards coated with lead-free
magnetic paint primer and topped with a color of their choice.
Save Floor Space. Bunk beds, Murphy beds and built-in bookcases save
floor space. Create a peaceful and uncluttered space by keeping furniture
pieces to a minimum.
Keep Rooms Changeable. To avoid the task and expense of repeatedly
redecorating the room as your children grow, Clausen cautions against painting
walls with gender-specific or kid-themed cars, flowers or princess motifs. She
recommends livening things up with colorful bean bags, or painting one wall
with contrasting colors, stripes or varying-sized dots. Let the children define
their room by choosing the colors or pattern of their bedding, area rugs and
chairs.
Use Furniture To Create Privacy. Create a sanctuary without
altering the room’s original architecture with folding screens, bookcases or
retractable hanging dividers made of half-transparent fabric.
Prevent And, When Necessary, Mediate
Conflict. Sooner or later, even the best bunkmates will have
differences. Kevin R. Kulic, Ph.D., a licensed New
York psychologist and father of three,
suggests teaching kids to respect other people’s belongings at an early age. He
recommends establishing hands-off “safe zones” in the form of small treasure
boxes wherein kids can tuck away their most precious things, knowing no one
will touch them. Train children to put things back where they got them, and
encourage them to own up when they break something. When it comes to mediating
disagreements, Dr. Kulic recommends teaching children to resolve some problems
on their own. “Parents should intervene when issues are sensitive in nature, or
when things get violent,” he notes. “Kids can’t feel unsafe in their own home.”
Ultimately,
learning to live together in close quarters can be a valuable experience for
kids. After all, whether siblings room together as youngsters, later with
college roommates, newbie renters or eventually with their own families,
sharing rooms is a part of life.
Where To Shop For
Children’s Home Décor In NYC
ABC Carpet and Home, 888 and
881 Broadway, 212-473-3000, abchome.com
Albee Baby, 715 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-662-8902, albeebaby.com
Baby Depot, 707 6th Avenue, 212-229-1300, babydepot.com
Babies R Us, 24-30 Union Square East, 212-798-9905, babiesrus.com
Bellini Baby and Teen
Furniture, 1305 Second Avenue, 212-517-9233, bellini.com
Buy Buy Baby, 270 Seventh Avenue, 917-344-1555,
buybuybaby.com
Company Kids,
thecompanystore.com
ducduc, 524
Broadway, Suite 206, 212-226-1868, ducducnyc.com
Dwell Studio, located
inside ABC Carpet and Home, 888 Broadway, 212-472-3000, dwellstudio.com
Ethan Allen, 1010 3rd Avenue, (212) 888-2384, ethanallen.com
giggle, 120 Wooster Street, 212-334-5817; 1033 Lexington Avenue, 212-249-4249; 352 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-362-8680;
giggle.com
Gracious Home, 1992
Broadway, 212-231-7800; 1217 Third Avenue, 212-517-6300; gracioushome.com
Home Depot, 40 West 23rd Street, 212-929-9571; 980 3rd Avenue, 212-888-1512,
homedepot.com
IKEA, One Beard Street, Brooklyn, 718-246-4532, ikea.com
Kids Supply Co Jr.
Homestore, 1343 Madison Avenue, 212-426-1200,
kidssupply.com
Maclaren, 150 Wooster Street, 212-677-2700, maclarenbaby.com
Planet Kids, 247 East
86th Street, 212-426-2040; 191 Amsterdam
Avenue, 212-362-3931; 2688
Broadway, 212-864-8705; planetkidsny.com
Pottery Barn Kids, 1311 2nd Avenue, 212-879-4746; 1451 Second Avenue 212-879-2513,
potterybarnkids.com
Pottery Barn Teen, 1451 Second Avenue (at 76th Street), 212-879-2513, pbteen.com
Restoration Hardware, 935
Broadway, 212-260-9479, restorationhardware.com
Schneider’s, 41 West 25th Street, 212-228-3540,
schneidersbaby.com
Yoya Mart, 15 Gansevoort Street, 212-242-5511, yoyashop.com
