| Any time your teen decides it's time to do a bedroom | | | | and add decorative hardware or accent lighting. |
| makeover, you'll want to use the experience to teach | | | | * You can update her bed by just buying a more |
| her decorating and budgeting skills. The time will come, | | | | grown-up style of headboard. |
| because all children eventually become interested in | | | | * Find new furniture pieces to add to the teen |
| having a more grown-up space instead of the little kid | | | | décor by looking through items you are no longer |
| space they've grown up in. Allowing your teen to help | | | | using in the rest of the house, or take a rummage |
| with the entire procedure will give her a chance to | | | | through Grandma's attic. |
| both express herself, and also to learn responsibility. | | | | * Rearrange the furniture. Sometimes that's all it takes |
| When you first sit down to discuss the room with your | | | | to give the room a more teen look plus a little paint, |
| teen, you're going to find that she wants more of | | | | new accessories, or funky lighting. |
| everything. For instance she'll want extra seating and | | | | * Go to garage sales, secondhand shops, and flea |
| sleeping space available for friends. Don't panic, though. | | | | markets looking for real finds that will look cool but |
| Providing her with what she wants doesn't have to be | | | | cost very little. |
| expensive. By using a bit of ingenuity you can help her | | | | 5. Emphasize organization and storage in your teen's |
| create a fantastic teen bedroom without breaking the | | | | room. When deciding on the things to include in the |
| bank. | | | | room include shelves, a bed with storage underneath, |
| 1. The first thing you and your teen need to do is come | | | | ways to maximize the space in her closet, and rolling |
| up with some ideas. You may want to have her invite | | | | storage bins that can go under her bed. Get everything |
| some of her friends to this session. Listen to what | | | | organized before starting to decorate. |
| they have to say, and don't just automatically say "no" | | | | 6. Most teens will have strange (to you) ideas for |
| to their ideas. This is a great time for you to share | | | | painting their rooms. Is what he wants something you |
| your thoughts, ideas, desires, and even concerns while | | | | can tolerate in your house? After all, colors can affect |
| both bonding and coming up with a great ideas for her | | | | moods, and teens already have plenty of those. Go |
| new room that you'll both love. | | | | with his preferences if you possibly can, because you |
| 2. Determine the things your teen would like to have in | | | | can always paint over them later. You might also |
| her new room. Then try to set up different areas in | | | | suggest only using his color on one wall. |
| the room for different functions. Maybe she'd like a | | | | 7. The best possible accessories for your teen's room |
| vanity where she could do her hair and make-up. How | | | | are things she herself has made. Include items like |
| about a study area, an exercise area, or a place to | | | | collages, bulletin boards, and hand-painted items. She |
| hang out with friends? Make the room as cozy as you | | | | will like having these items in evidence to show off her |
| can and as multi-functional as possible in the amount of | | | | talents and abilities. Also prominently display things like |
| space available. | | | | trophies she has won, sports medals, or anything else |
| 3. Your teen's ideas for her new room will undoubtedly | | | | that shows her accomplishments. |
| include a brand new set of bedroom furniture. You | | | | 8. For a teen who loves posters, you'll want to provide |
| need to explain the money situation with her and help | | | | bulletin boards, cork strips, or other things that he can |
| her understand that the responsibility of paying for a lot | | | | hang his posters from without putting tape on |
| of the things she wants will be up to her. Talk about | | | | newly-painted walls. Another suggestion might be |
| alternate, less costly ways to update her room, and | | | | hanging a clothesline or other cord across one end of |
| make sure she participates in everything being done. | | | | the room and giving him some clothespins to hang his |
| 4. You might suggest ways that she can redecorate | | | | posters with. |
| her room while still using the same furniture. Here are a | | | | When all is said and done, you'll find that all of your |
| few ideas you may want to give her: | | | | plans and negotiations have paid off well. And always |
| * Suggest painting her furniture either a light color of | | | | remember when your mind tells you to censor his |
| using creative painting techniques such as | | | | ideas, that his ideas are an important part of the |
| sponge-painting or using stencils. | | | | person he is becoming. He needs opportunities to |
| * Take the old storage pieces that were once used | | | | express his own tastes just like he needs a great |
| for her toys and books and stack them in a more | | | | room of his own to do his dreaming in. |
| adult way. Then paint the whole new piece one color | | | | |