Redoing Your Teen's Room? Tips for Making Them Happy and Keeping You Sane
(ARA) - Parents of teens know that kids need a place to call their own, a place they can have their privacy and entertain friends. And there comes a day when the carousel theme or the dinosaur wallpaper just has to go.
Grown-ups and kids don't always agree on what's cool, and decorating is no exception. "Since your child's bedroom is the one room in the house where they get to express themselves, personalization will help them create a sense of identity for themselves," says Kay Lee, Academic Director for Interior Design at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco. But there are ways to compromise to keep everyone happy.
* Talk to your child about their vision for the room, then select a color palette and theme together.
* Do they want overpowering or bright colors? "Compromise by using a neutral wall color in the room and adding punch and color with accessories and accents like bedding, lamps, wall art and other decorations," Lee suggests.
* Likewise, keep window shades neutral, but add a fun, colorful valance. The neutral base will make it easy for you to change the room when your teen's tastes change again in a year or two.
Both furniture manufacturers and home décor companies have discovered the teen market, so there is plenty to choose from. You'll notice color trends as you start to shop - most major retailers will stock similar colors in any given season, making it easy to mix and match products from different stores. Here's a look at some of the hottest trends in teen rooms, for girls and boys. Use these ideas to start thinking about what might work for your child's room.
For Girls
It's all about bright color for girls, from purple to lime green to the ever-popular pink. Retro patterns are making a comeback, and they may look familiar to moms who had something similar when they were teens. But make no mistake, these patterns are updated with a twist for today's teens.
For example, Montgomery Ward (wards.com), features a comforter in a pattern called "Disco Daisy," with bright colored '70s era flowers on a pink background. Matching sheets, pillow shams and other accessories are also available to complete the look. Retro table lamps from HomeVisions.com are the perfect accessory for this room: funky fabric shades find their spot to shine on top of a brushed metal base. Finish the look with Daisy Squares and Stripes art from Homevisions.com, for a splash of color. There are four different prints, so you can make a statement with all four or add a subtle touch of color with one.
Animal prints in bold colors are popular with teen girls as well. Montgomery Ward also offers this motif in purple or pink, complete with coordinating sheets, comforters, window treatments and other accessories for a total look. The Gatsby collection, found online at wards.com, showcases another hot trend -- a fresh take on shag. Coordinated bedding and window dressing feature a furry, three-dimensional shag-style fabric in bright, cheerful colors.
For Boys
From camouflage cool to sports style, boys have many options as well.
No matter what his sport or favorite team, you can incorporate that into the bedroom. Montgomery Ward Kids (wardskids.com) stocks bedding sets featuring the embroidered logos of NFL, MLB and NPB sports teams on blue or black denim comforters. You'll find matching sheets, shams and plush team pillows to help finish the room.
Make them feel like a sports super star with a painted custom sports canvas from HomeVisions.com. Choose from a personalized soccer, basketball or football watercolor highlighting a jersey with your child's name on it.
If your son loves to hunt, or just likes camouflage, Montgomery Wards has everything from comforters to curtains. There's even a matching beanbag chair for relaxing or playing video games.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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