Teenage Bedroom Design

There are many changes that occur when a tween becomes a teen. High school will bring a new level of homework and study. Friends will change and play dates will turn into sleepovers. Privacy and personal space will become vital and self-expression will become a rite of passage.

Updating your child’s room into a teenager’s room is a project that can be super exciting for all involved. For you, it offers a great opportunity to bond by including your child in the process and working with them on the end result, as a team. It’s an opportunity for you to learn more about what they like and how they feel. And it’s a great opportunity to introduce them into the principles of good design and making good choices.

For them, it can be one of the first steps in feeling like they are really growing up and entering a new age. It brings with it the empowering opportunity to be creative and express themselves within their own space, to think laterally and practically about their needs as well as their wants, to work with real-life limitations such as time and budget and to take ownership and responsibility for the end result.

PLANNING

Your teen’s room is not just going to be their bedroom. It’s going to be their sanctuary. It’s almost like a mini-home. So, just as an Interior Designer takes a brief from the client to determine the client’s spatial, aesthetic and lifestyle requirements before they commence any planning or creative work on a home, so should you when planning your teen’s room. Talk to them about how they would like their room to look and feel. Discuss their school needs and homework volume and how much space they feel they need to study effectively. Find out what’s important to them in order to make their room a space that they will be comfortable (and enjoy) spending long hours in and remember to consider all the activities that will take place here.. sleeping, studying, socialising, relaxing, playing and dressing.

COLOUR

Be considered with colour. Start with asking your teen what colours appeal to them, take into consideration any predominant colours in existing or planned feature items (eg bedlinen/rugs / prints / furniture) and use these as a basis to create a colour palette. You can also refer to current interior publications and websites if you want to create a room that uses existing colour trends.

I would avoid saturating the room with too much colour (the everything-in-the-same-colour-look) but rather start with a modern neutral palette such as black, white, grey and timber and work from there, adding your accent colours in linen, lighting, floor coverings or walls. Be aware of the effect colours have on moods, productivity and health, as this will be your teens working, playing and resting place. When painting walls, add another dimension by using more than one colour.

FURNITURE

Choosing furniture is an opportunity to help your teen understand what it means to make considered choices when it comes to purchasing. Avoid replica furniture – its quality is poor, often using cheap, non-eco friendly materials and has a short life span. Instead strive for original designs, locally produced, eco friendly furniture where you can – it will pay you back in the long run.

A good quality bed and mattress is a must for restful sleep that will help your teen function at their best. If you are transitioning a current bed, a bunk bed can be transformed into a lounging space on the bottom level, which also allows it to double as a sleepover option. A king single trundle or double bed also allows for guests. Creative options include suspended beds, or raised beds on platforms with storage underneath. A four-poster bed in a modern, sleek design won’t date and will make a great impact to the room. If you have high ceilings a loft bed allows for a study or chillout area underneath, increasing the floor space in the room.

Try not to have too many different styles going on in the room, particularly with the large furniture pieces.

Incy interiors Four Poster Black From $799.00 Single

From $2850.00 King Single from Mark Tuckey

Image via Pinterest

BED LINEN

One way to make a room feel immediately more grown up is to lose the kids character bed covers. On-trend, teen-appropriate bed linens are now available in all price ranges, from Target, Big W and Kmart to linenhouse.com.au, adairs.com.au and castleandthings.com.au.

Available at Castle and Things

Available at Linen House

The bed is always the focal point in the room so this is a great way to bring colour, texture and pattern into the space. If you are working with a very small room, steer clear of anything too heavily patterned unless you keep the rest of the room very simple. Otherwise, bold geometrics are great for both boys and girls and very on-trend. Cushions and throws will add additional colour and texture.

STUDY AREA

Next to sleeping, this is probably the most important element in the teen room. Create space to think. Create order. Essential items – a good sized desk (1200mmL x 600mmD x 750H will allow space for a desktop or laptop, lamp and room to look at notes and books), an ergonomic chair (given the amount of hours your child will most likely be studying, investing in an ergonomic chair will make a difference to their posture, productivity and desire to be there) and a study lamp, ideally LED. Ensure there are enough safe power outlets to accommodate phones, laptops, ipads, clocks, stereos and the like.

Image via Pinterest

STORAGE

Whilst the term ‘tidy teenagers room’ is most likely an oxymoron in most people’s minds, the key, as with all spaces, is well planned storage, and lots of it.

Head back to the planning stage and look at the functional requirements of the room – study, sleep, dressing, relaxing and so on. Then consider any sporting or extra-curricular activities. Think about items that relate to each that will require storage. Don’t forget things like sports equipment, cd’s, books, study materials, games, musical instruments, school bags and particularly if you have a girl – excess clothes, shoes, hats, makeup, jewellery. How can they be stored in a way that is easily accessible? Dumping-style storage (storage boxes or cavernous wardrobes with no planned sections) only hide the mess and make finding and using items increasingly stressful. Good storage can make the room feel calm and create a clear space for your teen’s creativity and rest.

SOCIALISING

Your teen’s room will become their social hub. Beanbags are an easy way to create a hangout area or if you have lots of room, get creative and design a space for chilling.

Most teens love a sleepover. An inflatable bed (such as aerobed) is a quick and easy solution and can be stored in a cupboard when not in use. Alternatively a bunk or trundle bed offers sleepover options and doesn’t have to look childish.

MIRRORS

Yes, the mirror is all-important in the teen room. At a time when appearance is taking on a new meaning for your child, it’s imperative to give them the ability to dress and assess their overall appearance in the comfort of their own space. Mirrored wardrobes or a mirrored wall (mirrored wall tiles are a simple solution) will also increase the sense of space in the room.

CLOCK

Time to get up, time to leave, time to sleep. Help them be responsible by ensuring they can keep track of time in their space. Try cool clocks from Top3.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

Essential for privacy, sleeping and study. Curtains add a softness to a room and can also make a room appear bigger if run from wall to wall rather than just over the window. Timber venetian blinds allow for adjustable light, which can be a good idea if the study area is near a window.

PERSONALITY

Don’t forget to make the room fun, stimulating and personal. Whilst you may not be able to control what posters, awards or other items appear on walls or shelves, you can suggest ways to display items that give the pieces a ‘gallery’ feel and keep the room looking styled. Decals can add a cool visual energy to the room. Photographs can act as art. A chalkboard wall can act as both a creative outlet and a surface for working out homework.