Teen Room Decorating
Ideas
by Michael Holland
Description: Fun, easy teen room decorating ideas for any budget.
Redecorating a teen room can be a challenge, but with these teen room
decorating ideas, you will both be able to work together to create a unique
haven for your teenager.
If your teenager's room hasn't been decorated since they were ten years old,
and they're hiding their stuffed animals under the bed, it's definitely time to
redecorate.
The very first thing you need to do is to sit down with your teenager and
discuss his or her likes and dislikes.
You are decorating your teenager's space, and he or she will never be happy
and comfortable unless you discuss teen room decorating ideas with them.
There are many teen room decorating ideas and styles to choose from that will
not become obsolete a year down the road. Be sure to take into account the size
of the room, your budget, and the practicality of the style.
Does your teenager love animals? Then the perfect teen room decorating idea
is the Tropical Style. This is an extremely popular style these days, and it
will be easy to find the materials, fabrics, and accessories you need.
This style uses comfort, warmth, and a strong sense of the exotic to create a
teen room decorating style that will keep your teenager confident and inspired
at the same time. Consider using different animal prints, palm trees, rattan
furniture, leather accents, and grasscloth on the walls.
Furniture should be comfortable - think of sinking down into the soft down
cushions of a zebra stripe couch - and generally on a large scale. However, the
furniture and accessories should also fulfill a purpose in the room.
For example, the couch is so comfortable, it becomes your teenager's favorite
reading spot. Or a tiger print trunk at the foot of the bed can double as
storage space for shoes, bedding, DVDs, or anything that your teenager usually
leaves strewn around his or her room.
Another teen room decorating idea is to use accent pieces made of wicker,
bamboo, iron, or rattan, and keep fabrics lush and soft. A fake fur cheetah
bedspread is a perfect choice.
You can mix animal print designs such as tiger stripes and leopard spots with
animal images, such as a whimsical monkey lamp, a lion poster on the wall, or an
elephant stool that can double as extra seating. Another great teen room
decorating idea that will never go out of style is Shabby Chic. This style is
characterized by a kind of tousled elegance.
Think of deep, comfortable upholstery that looks as if it's been acquired
from a Parisian salon where it was well used by the glitterati around a century
ago.
Keep in mind that "well-used" does not mean messy or ragged - it means it
looks like it has had a long a rich life, and still has a long way to go.
Shabby Chic uses architectural details to lend the room an air of
authenticity. Look for beveled glass doorknobs, intricate iron shelf brackets,
or a brass art deco alarm clock.
Try to find some accessories that aren't brand new. Scour flea markets for
large ornate painted candlestick holders with some of the paint chipped away to
reveal the old iron underneath.
Or pick-up a gold leaf cherub lamp, a chipped teapot that can become a
flowerpot, sconces with scrollwork, and worn, blurry mirrors in ornate frames.
Metal furniture goes perfectly with this style. For example, an old brass
headboard is perfect for this teen room decorating idea.
To pull it all together, and calm down the style, make sure to keep the
background color consistent and easy on the eyes, such as an eggshell white or a
matte ivory. Hang artwork to complete your masterpiece.
Another versatile teen room decorating idea is to decorate your teenager's
room in shades of denim blues. Almost all teenagers love jeans (not to mention
just about everyone else too), so this is a decorating style that can't fail.
Try a chair covered with a soft, washed denim fabric. Use denim accents in
the room, such as trimming a group of red pillows with fat denim cording.
You can even use a denim look to cover the walls. There are paint techniques
for chambray and denim-look walls, which will be a perfect accent to a room with
a cowboy theme or for a young lady who is crazy about horses.
Denim is a fabric that immediately imparts the feeling of comfort, so it is
perfect for bedrooms in particular. Use denim comforters and pillow shams. You
can even find chambray sheets and matching curtains.
Try using an old ragged pair of jeans to make valances for the windows, or
dress up your curtains with chintz covered cornices.
Keep your walls in the neutral family of colors. Try soft camel beige or a
subtle yellow. Pine furniture works well, or you can paint your old wooden
furniture in light golden tones.
Furniture that is more casual than formal works better for this particular
style. Other teen room decorating ideas to choose from are:
Garden styles. Use floral prints, upholstered furniture, floral area rugs,
and balance the look with plain walls, floors, and curtains.
Casual styles. These include rustic themes, sports, nautical, particular
hobbies, Americana . . . the possibilities are limitless. For example, a style
could be developed around a collection of autographed baseballs, teapots, wooden
duck decoys, trophies, art posters, etc.
Decorating with black and white. This style uses black as an anchor to set
off a dramatic decorating look.
This teen room decorating idea is for the drama queen or king teenager in
your household. Use a black and white floor, crisp white linens and comforters,
and upholstered chairs. Set off the black with accents in red or warm gold, but
be sure to pick up the black and white theme in lamps, pillows, picture frames,
and other elements of the room.
Contemporary styles. These dictate clean lines, sculptural furniture, high
ceilings, and geometric artwork.
Make use of brick walls and ceiling pipes. Avoid anything with floral
patterns, ruffles, carvings, or traditional details. You are aiming for the look
of an art or museum gallery, utilizing a bold, creative, and sculptural style.
Cottage style. This teen room decorating idea works especially well for
teenage girls' rooms. Plaid or country-style fabrics work well with white
furniture and rustic accent pieces. This style can transform a bedroom into a
mini-vacation spot!
European or Parisian style. This is a glamorous style that invokes old world
sophistication. It uses furniture and accent pieces from the rococo, baroque,
neoclassical to the more modern art deco and cabaret designs.
Your main colors are black, white, and gold, with jewel tones as accents.
Choose vintage-style furniture, such as a black or cream painted dresser with
gold accents. Fabrics include silks and brocades. For fun, add a few vintage
posters of old Parisian nightclubs, French train station signs, and black
wrought iron shelves and tables.
The list of possibilities is endless. Find a good time to sit down and go
over these teen room decorating ideas, and soon you will find yourself and your
teenager working together to reinvent their bedroom.
Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-
crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com.
His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your
home.
