3 Golden Rules for Decorating Bedrooms for Teens & Tweens

I’m on vacation here at Sunset Beach, NC. Yay! But I’m still thinking about bedrooms – especially bedrooms for teens and tweens. I’ve written about the subject before and thought this would be a good opportunity to focus on my interior design rules for teen bedrooms.

Rule #1: Your color scheme and sense of style should end at a teenager’s bedroom door.

Teenagers are busy finding themselves – a very important thing that is too often overlooked. They often express their ever-changing sense of who they are through decoration. ¬†One day, they’re in love with the Jonas Brothers and their images cover the walls. Just as you’re learning the difference between Kevin and Joe, your daughter is rolling your eyes at you. The Jonas Brothers are so last week! ¬†Taylor Swift has taken over.

The image, above, is a good example. It looks terrific. But what will you do when your daughter decided she hates lilac next year?

If you’re a house-proud parent (and who isn’t), the best thing to do is sit on your hands, grin and bear it. Let your teens’ imaginations and identity searching run wild in the bedroom decor and, most likely, they won’t be running wild in the street. (At least I hope not!)

Rule #2: Set some ground rules and create a budget together.

When I was a teen I repainted my bedroom five times. To keep yourself from going mental and broke, set some ground rules before the arguing starts. Are black walls out or in? Can they paint the furniture? Try to think of things they can’t do, but also things they can. Write up a list together. If there’s something that’s not on the list, have them ask before they paint.

It’s a good idea, depending on the age of your teen, to give them a budget and let them do the shopping. A lesson in budgeting and planning for future change is always in style. Goodwill, Craig’s List and Freecycle are great places to find furniture and accessories at rock bottom prices. Challenge your teens to think outside the Pottery Barn box.

Rule#3: Place color on things that can be changed out easily.

Painting the walls a new color is really inexpensive – as long as he’s doing the work himself.¬† However, new furniture every other week is probably out. Remind your kids that they might not want blood red walls next year (you know they’ll roll their eyes at your total stupidity and develop amnesia next year).

Put the color and the trends on the walls and the accessories. They’re less expensive to change.

Jennifer’s Tips

• Let your teen decorate their own environment
• Set ground rules
• Create a budget – add a little extra for each year
• Use walls and accessories for trends
• Shop thrift shops for cool stuff and things that can be painted.
• If you think your teen as gone a too wild, just close the door when company comes snooping.

Need some more ideas? Here are some of my previous posts on the topic.

• Teen Rooms
• Avoiding Themes
• Design Dilemma for a Pre-Teen

images: PBTeen, Momoy, Top Home Pic

Rule #3 Exp