Nate Berkus' Top Tip For Designing A Shared Kid's Bedroom That Feels Cohesive & Balanced

Creating a comfortable shared bedroom for kids can be challenging, especially when they are polar opposites and want different styles for their side of the room. Nate Berkus, who has two children with husband Jeremiah Brent — a daughter named Poppy and a son named Oskar — may not have the same predicament right now since the kids have separate rooms, but he has a very useful tip for parents preparing a common shared space for their offspring. Drawing from his personal experience as someone who grew up sharing a bedroom with a sibling, Berkus has found a way to make a shared bedroom feel cohesive and balanced regardless of the eclectic mix of items and personal belongings of the occupants.

"I shared a room with my brother growing up, so I know how important organization is. Matching pairs — like bedside tables or lamps — create balance, even if each child has different bedding. Let them express their individuality, but keep the main furniture uniform for a cohesive look," the HGTV star explained in an Instagram post, where he answered some questions about designing kids' bedrooms. Incorporating matching elements brings visual harmony or continuity to the room. While the rest of the furniture and accessories may be tailored to showcase each kid's individuality, the similar items prevent their shared bedroom from looking cluttered and feeling disjointed.

There is always a risk of shared kids' bedrooms becoming chaotic when too many colors, themes, and contrasting furniture styles are used in the available space. Nate Berkus' tip is an effective way to seamlessly merge both order and style into the room while ensuring that everything remains fully functional. It also highlights the importance of symmetry in interior design. Keeping the main pieces, such as furniture and lighting, the same will tie the space together, making the shared room look polished and promoting a sense of fairness between the sibling occupants. This should help to prevent conflicts over whose side is better.

Beyond balance, it's also important to design the space in a way that it will grow with the kids. In the same Instagram post, Berkus, who strongly believes that keeping things organized can give any home a designer look, suggested incorporating colors and patterns through beddings and wallpaper to make the space "fun and expressive." However, he recommended going for pastels or muted shades of primary colors so the room feels playful yet sophisticated. Lastly, the "Home Rules" author encouraged adding a timeless element, like a vintage chest of drawers, as a statement piece. "I love using vintage pieces in kids' rooms — timeless items that grow with them," he noted in his caption.