Q. My twin 6-year-old daughters share a room. As they get older and want their own space, how can I create a room plan that works? I want to avoid the fights my sister and I had growing up in the same room!
-- Diane

A. I can't make any guarantees about the fighting, because sibs(兄弟姐妹) will be sibs, but here's a clever idea for creating separate spaces in a shared room: Hang one of the new ready-made sturdy but sheer roller shades on the ceiling(在天花板上挂个新做的带卷轴的帘子，帘子要薄而结实), creating a pull-down "wall" when private time is needed. Depending on the size of the girls' room, you may need more than one roller. Just hang them end to end. Another option: Place two low bookcases side-by-side, jutting out from one wall. Each girl has her own side of the room, and the back of each bookcase can be painted with chalkboard paint for a personal doodling area. Don't try this with tall bookshelves, which would need to be anchored to a wall to avoid a dangerous topple situation.

Color is another way to make each child feel that her space is uniquely her own. Pull a color palette that you like with 3 or 5 hues. Then, let each child pick her favorite color from the bunch. That becomes her signature color, and you can help her saturate her side of the room in it with paint, accessories, throw rugs(小地毯), and bedding. Because one girl's signature color is the other girl's accent, the room will still look pulled together.