Teenage is the very harbinger of change. While a changing body can be confusing and difficult, school curriculums become more intensive, pressure from peers to fit in increases and chores and tasks around the home bring with them added responsibility. If there is one thing that can help plant a teen’s feet firm in the ground, it’s a safe and familiar space they can call their own. Their rooms are where they sleep, study, hang out with friends, imagine and dream. And for this very reason, they deserve a teen room that imitates their vibe, encourages creativity and provides them with a sense of safety.
As parents, this can pose, in equal parts, a challenge and a breeze. On one hand, you hope to create an area brimming with personality, but on the other, you want it to be cohesive with the décor of the rest of the home. Coupled with that is the necessity to include innovative storage solutions, functionality and the option for changing things up as your teen grows.
There’s no need to fret. Before that task overwhelms you, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you orchestrate the ultimate teen room makeover…
Expressive Elements
Teens’ rooms have to be extensions of their personalities. So put your décor dreams on the backbench, and have a heart-to-heart with your teen. While you may not be able to include everything they ask for, ideating with them will help establish a theme and colour scheme that they love. A sport-lover may choose to have a gallery wall with posters, while a compulsive scrap-booker may desire pops of colour and typographic art. A teen with a green thumb may ask for an indoor plant corner, and one with a simplistic aesthetic may want minimal furniture and clean colours.
Functional Workspace
Teens need to study, work on projects and do homework in a dedicated part of the room. Separating the workspace with a bookshelf or room divider will help them maintain focus and concentration. If the teen room is small, a vertical workspace is ideal – a spacious desk with a wire wall grid or a corkboard placed on the wall, where they can pin ideas and pictures and hang up stationery and crafting supplies. Cosy it up with some throw pillows or a faux sheepskin rug so your teen can relax while he or she solves math problems and writes essays.
Bold is Better
There is nothing quite as impressive as bold wall décor. A textured wall in a bright, sunny hue can liven it up, while on-theme wall decals and wallpaper bring an air of elegance to the space’s design. A custom chalkboard painted wall will allow teens to express and explore their creative sides.
Fabric Flair
A warm, snug space has a calming effect. And lush fabrics can help you achieve that in a jiffy in a teen room. Good quality bedding, paired with soft duvets and comforters, and decorative throw pillows can soften up a room and make it feel homey. Up the cosy quotient by draping throw blankets over chairs and lining the floors with fluffy area rugs.
Entertaining Matters
Spending time with friends is a big part of this phase of life, and teens’ room should allow for privacy along with quirky décor that will instantly put their friends at ease. Placing a day bed or bench to one side of the room, or dotting the space with colourful pouffes and bean bags will provide for ample seating. A dedicated cube on a bookshelf filled with board games is definitely a plus! Window seats are also a great seating alternative, which doubles as a reading nook.
Light Up
Lighting can be so much more than just functional. They are decorative accent pieces that can instantly enhance the look of the room. Neon lamp shades and pastel hued pendant lights bring whimsical sparkle, while gold-toned table lamps and wall sconces can polish a space. String some fairy lights on a wall and pin up photographs for a cute photo installation.
Storage Dilemma
A great way to instil a love for organisation in your teen is to have decorative storage solutions. Open wall shelving will help them take stock of their belongings. Stack books and game CDs neatly on the shelves, while old toys and knick-knacks can be tucked away in boxes and bins.
Personal Touch
A great way to breathe life into a space is to have personalised wall art. Paintings or comics drawn by your teen can be framed and mounted on the wall. Let hobbies dictate the wall décor – if your teen is into music, a cool musical note wall decal, or a guitar hung on the wall will work wonders. For a biking teen, a bicycle hoisted on the wall makes for a custom art piece, while also working as functional storage.
Room to Grow
It is necessary to keep in mind that as your teens grows, so will their décor aesthetics. Investing in simple, classic furniture pieces and built-ins will mean teens can revamp them when they want to change the vibe of their room. All they need to do is switch out the bedding and some art based on the colour scheme and they will have a whole new space of their own.