Your Teenager's First Room
Congratulations! You have a teenager and he or she is dying for
a room all their own. The teenage years can be very difficult,
and it might be good if your teen could have a hideaway all
their own - a place where they can cope with all of their day to
day problems, from their exam stresses to their first heartbreak.
But how do you create this perfect haven for your teen?
Obviously, the room should be done differently for teenage boys
and girls. Masculine colors for a young man would include red,
yellow, blue, and green. For girls, bright and bold colors such
as tangerine, fuschia, and sunflower yellow are hot - and those
cool pastels are not.
Certain basics are the same in either room. A bed, a study-unit,
flooring and lights are a must. Beds for a teen's room could
range from regular single beds with storage space beneath, to
sofa-beds and even pull out daybeds. If your daughter's a bit of
a romantic, you could even put in a four-poster bed with a
canopy.
A study-unit along one wall that doubles as a workspace and a
computer station, and also provides storage just right for your
teenager. Also, there should be a soft board available for the
teen to be able to pin up memos, timetables, and schedules, and
a swivel chair with a good backrest.
The space beneath the workstation can be used to store books and
a long cabinet featured on the side can be used to stock
anything from sports gear or even hobby specific items such as
stamp collections or scrap books.
The fashion-conscious young adult definitely needs a separate
wardrobe, built according to his or her requirments. A mirror on
the inside or outside of the cabinet is necessary, but a young
lady will probably want a proper dressing table, with shelves
and drawers for trinkets and makeup.
The older your children, the less you have to worry about
flooring and window dressing being ruined. You could put in
wooden flooring or go with colorful tiles. For the windows,
colorful fabrics or classy neutral blinds are beautiful.
Color themes can be played up with a strategic combination for
soft focus and bright lighting. Minimalism can be achieved with
modern steel and chrome wall fixture lights. The study-unit
needs to be well-lit with fluorescent lights overhead. The bed
also needs a lamp on the side - as teens are sure to read in bed
late at night. Another necessity is a floor lamp with focus
lighting in the sitting or lounging area.
Teens need a corner in their room where they can hang out with
friends, pursue their favorite hobby, listen to music, or just
read a good book. Don't try to give this space a specific theme.
Instead, let it be rather bohemian - with a bean bag, bright
color floor-cushions, some throw rugs, and a small cabinet to
store books and house the child's music system and CDs.
Your teenager's room, above all, should reflect the teenager.
Don't create a room that your child would be unhappy with!