The Debate on Kids Sharing a Bedroom Continues
BY JUNE HATCH
I definitely struggle with this and it can unrealistically affect my thought process, but then I think of the Brady Bunch. On the TV show, they had six kids, three in one bedroom and three in the other, and they all turned out okay.
Growing up, I shared a room with my older sister — that was the norm back then and we just dealt with the situation. Sometimes, it was great and sometimes it was far from great. I distinctly remember placing a string that ran along the center of the room (which I am sure was not even) and then threatening to cross over to her side.
In today’s world, the thought of sharing a room with a sibling seems outrageous, un-heard of, and just plain silly, especially if you have extra bedrooms. We often see clients selling or buying new homes solely for the purpose of acquiring additional bedrooms so that each family member has their own space. But we also have clients that have plenty of bedrooms but choose to bunk their children together to teach them life lessons, or use the extra bedroom as a kids’ lounge, gym, man cave, or guestroom.
I am not sure where I stand and, luckily, I don’t have to make that decision. My children share a bedroom and sometimes I think it has taught them to compromise; other times the fighting gets so bad that I wish for the extra space. What I can confidently say as a realtor is that losing a bedroom (permanently) can hurt the re-sale value of your home. So, before you convert that extra bedroom into a laundry room or master closet think it through! Maybe even ask the kids.
