Decorating a teen bedroom
While transforming a teen’s bedroom into a stylish space may require some help on your side, with set guidelines and some collaboration you’re likely to overcome the 'eye roll' or an argument.
One thing is for certain, you can’t tell a teen how to design their room, but you can give them ideas and inspiration to do it nicely. Simply by working with your teenager to keep the lines of communication open you’ll end up with results you both like.
Most of the images on this page are supplied by PB Teen, a US-based company that specialises in all things teen. They have their finger on the pulse of what teen's want in their bedroom, from furniture and accessories, to colours and textures. While many of the items shown may not be available locally (in SA), there are companies that manufacture custom furniture - and you could always make your own! You will find plenty of inspiration on the Home-Dzine website, and other Internet decor sites.
Lime green and pink are the 'in' colours for a teen bedroom. You can easily upholster a plain headboard as the starting point for the rest of the room, or create a trendy headboard that won't cost very much.
Make an ottoman
Making an ottoman for a bedroom - or any room in the home - is one of our favourite projects to do.
The ottomans shown above are quick and easy:
You will need:
4 x 16mm PG BisonBord or plywood cut to 400 x 400mm - sides
4 x 16mm PG BisonBord or plywood cut to 416 x 416mm - top/bottom
Batting to wrap around
Fabric to cover
Here's how:
To make the box follow the instructions for our versatile cube.
The bottom and top are then screwed onto the sides.
Wrap the entire box in batting. A small amount of sprayable contact adhesive here and there will help to keep the batting in place.
Cut the fabric to the size of each panel, allowing 2cm on all sides for seams. When sewing the panels together, insert any piping or trim.
Keep it feminine
Young or old, girls love to have a feminine touch in their bedroom, but feminine doesn't have to be floral and frilly.
A modern four-poster bed and matching accessories - all painted white - can be hip and trendy when dressed and accessorised in the laters colours.
Plain white decor pieces can be transformed into funky accessories with a bit of ribbon or fabric and a hot glue gun.
We've got plenty of ideas and inspiration in our Kids section, as well as the Craft section, to design and decorating a teen bedroom.
By letting a teenager decorate his or her own room they will learn skills that will be valuable to them when they eventually leave home for a place of their own.
Set a budget for the entire room makeover, which will include all materials and supplies that will be required. In this way, your teen will learn the value of money by having to see for themselves what they can, or cannot, afford. Spending selectively now can also carry your teen through to their first apartment.
Here are a few suggestions
- Painting the existing furniture in a white, ivory or other colour as an alternative to buying new furniture. A new room doesn't have to mean tossing everything and buying all new.
- Using what is already in the room and re-modelling it for a new purpose: An old toybox can so easily become a padded storage seat. Dated furniture can be modernised with new handles. Bedside tables can be painted rather than thrown out, and even double as desks. A bedside lamp can be given a funky fabric shade.
- Update the bed by adding a new headboard, or upholstering an old one in mod fabrics.
- Arranging furniture in the room to make the most of the available space.
- Instead of buying curtains and bedding, visit your local fabric shop to choose fabrics to make your own soft furnishings. In addition to paint colours, fabrics can add a splash of colour and texture. Alternatively, curtains come funky and cheap these days, or buy inexpensive shades they
can paint.
- Every teen should know the basics of DIY - they will eventually move out into their own home. Having acquired the tips, tricks and techniques they will be well equipped to fix, make, restore and improve.
That cute, daisy wallpaper or whimsical furniture was great for your child's baby year, but a bedroom makeover for a teen is one of the most difficult tasks to take on.
Keep the room trendy with modern accents
Today's colourful paint palettes allow for such a wonderful combination of colours. I’m loving the turquoise blue, pink and lime green mix of colours that is popular at the moment. If you don't want to paint the wall in these bold colours - make us accessories that incorporate the colours.
A simple canvas or board decorated with a collage of colourful images adds a trendy touch to a teen bedroom.
Let your teen include accessories that he or she has made. This can include artwork, memo boards, and decorative accessories - it's a great way to show of talent and creativity.
[lauren jacobsen]
Decorating for a teen boy
I know I have said it before, buy boys definitely need more storage space than girls. Teen boys are untidy beasts and the only way to contain clutter on the bed and floor is to provide them with enough space for all their stuff.
A storage headboard is just one of the many ways to have a place for everything. Storage containers in colours that match the room control clutter and still allow for personal collections and allow kids show off their stuff!
And don't forget essential storage. Teen are just big kids with more stuff - more clothes, more shoes, more sports equipment. Renovating a closet to make it deeper or wider might be unavoidable. Adding storage cubbies and a second hanging rod can help if expansion isn't possible.
Boys of any age love 'camo' fabrics. If you can't find a duvet or bedding in a camouflage style - or in a particular colour - a visit to your local fabric store will have you kitted out and ready to make your own duvet cover. A quick and easy way to make a plain coloured duvet is to use flat sheets.
