If space allows, two cabinet beds can be placed in opposite corners of the room, giving each child their own "hide out" to sleep and play in. The interior of the bed cabinet can be painted to suit each child's taste in kid's decor. A door or drapery can be added for extra privacy, if needed, and the shelves add much needed storage space.

With the addition of a fold down, wall mounted desk, floating shelves, wall art or wall baskets, and each cabinet can be customized for study, play, or just hanging out. Shoji screens can also be used to define which space "belongs" to which child, without losing floor space or blocking light. Replace the paper backing on ready to assemble bookshelves with medium density fiberboard, position the shelves around the bed, and bolt the shelves together. Plans for cabinet beds are available online, but a simpler solution is to use tall bookshelves to create a "room" with the bed inside. Building cabinet beds is an excellent way to create privacy in a shared room while creating a unique kids decor.

Although traditional shoji screens can be difficult to find and expensive, any novice carpenter can.