The teenage years are full of changes. Kids grow and change and keep becoming who they are between the ages of 13 and 19. Because of the seemingly constant stream of developmental shifts we see in teenagers, it can be hard to design a room that they like (and that their parents can appreciate), that meets functional needs and that will not become passe in short order.
The design challenges when considering a bedroom redo for teenagers include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Understanding their design style preferences
- Aligning their design ideas with their parents’ perspectives
- Budgetary limits
- Understanding that they will continue to change and grow during these years, including their interests, preferences, and how the room needs to function
With these challenges in mind, we share some strategies and thoughts for designing successful teenage bedrooms.
Engage your kid to understand their thoughts
It may sound obvious, but let your teenager express ideas and give input into the plans for their room. It’s smart to provide some guidance around HOW to share and communicate ideas. For two recent teenage bedroom redesigns, we created Pinterest boards so that both the parents and the kids could pin inspirational images and ideas. Then, we talked through the images to understand what the teenagers liked about them – the vibe and style, specific items or colors, functional elements, etc. We made sure to have a good understanding of the kids’ design goals and made sure these helped drive the design plans.
Think through budget and materials needs
When planning the room redo, the functional needs can have wide variability and can impact the budget. Can the overall design be changed with just paint, bedding and creativity? Or do there need to be changes in flooring, window treatments, lighting, furniture, etc. If the current furniture is in good shape and the style works (as in, it’s not a child-themed piece from when they were a toddler), consider keeping it and using budget money in other areas.
It is amazing how affordable it can be to update the whole look of a room without a huge budget. If you can retain major furniture pieces, flooring, windows, and hardwired electric and lighting, you can still totally change the style and vibe of a room with elements like paint and color, bedding, accessories, and small furniture items.
Consider, but don’t be stuck on, how the room will design will age with them
Focus on ensuring the bigger ticket items – flooring, hardwired electric and lighting, and furniture – will last a long time from both a quality and timelessness perspective. If their design style and the design plan lead to a wilder paint color, go for it – it’s just paint and is relatively easy and affordable to change. And go ahead and put holes in the walls – they can be filled in later.
Make sure the space matches their functional interests
Are there specific activities that need to occur in the room? Let your teen be creative and have a space for the activities they enjoy in their rooms. If your kid is an artist, incorporate an art area with a table and chairs and supplies. If your kid is a musician, arrange the room to accommodate the guitars or keyboard or (even) drum set. Not only will this provide the function they want, but it can also go a long way in the décor itself and setting the tone for their design direction.
Make a plan and implement
With the information discussed above – design ideas and inspiration, functional needs and budget limits, timelessness of materials, and needed function – develop a design plan from which to work. The design plan should include your design concept/style, layout plans (and do measure before ordering furniture or other large items!!!), selected materials, budget and timing. And start working! Engage your child in the process and enjoy spending time with them in this way.
Engage a partner if needed
Having trouble getting input from your kid? Not sure how to make a plan or how to put everything together? Reach to Sarah Couture Design to partner with you to get a smart, cost-effective, functional bedroom your teen will actually love.
