Teenager Bedroom Decor

July's Expert - K. Stone of Adore Your Décor™

K. Stone, one of LoveToKnow's own interior design writers, continues as our expert this month. She's an experienced interior decorator, even running her own design business for the past three years, and is definitely up to any design challenge you can send her! Check out her website http://www.adoreyourdecor.com

SweetBsMommy's new question was moved to Ask An Expert - August

Question of the Month

My 14 year old daughter wants to give her bedroom a makeover, but, suffice it to say, we have different ideas about interior design. Can you suggest any teenager friendly design ideas, that moms might be able to live with, too?

Livable Teen Design

Balancing the trendy designs that teens want in their bedrooms with what works for mom and dad can seem like an impossible task. However, there are some ways to find common ground and make everyone happy:

• Color – If your teen has a particular color in mind, let’s say hot pink, consider leaving the walls neutral and use hot pink in the bedding and window treatments. That way, your teen gets the color they love, but it can be easily changed later (and it will be in smaller doses!).

• Function – Most importantly, a room must be functional for it to be useful. Teens need a study area, a comfortable place to crash at night, and plenty of storage options. Invest in some furniture that has an adult feel, so that your teen will not outgrow the room’s décor in a couple years. This furniture could even be something they take with them later to college or their first apartment.

• Storage – Try to include both open and closed storage options in your teen’s room. A bookcase unit, storage under the bed, floating shelves, and storage bins or baskets are a good solution for containing most teenage stuff. If there are posters your teen wants to hang up, edit the grouping down to a few that she really loves, then put them in low-cost poster frames. This looks so much better than a room plastered with posters and push pins. Also, add a framed corkboard or magnet board that will limit displays of photos to one area.

• Fun! – While you can keep the overall walls and floors neutral, add some pop in smaller ways like a whimsical light fixture or lamp. Or, try including a funky rug made of faux fur or flokati in a bright color. Insert trendy items that will be easy to change later, but will help showcase your teen’s personality.

Related Design Articles

• Common Themes for Teenage Bedrooms
• Decorating Girls Rooms
• Interior Design for Children
• Decorating Boys Rooms
• Princess Themes for Girls' Rooms

Links

• Ask An Expert - June