Help your teen make the transition from little kid to teenager by tweaking and updating his or her room decor to make it age-appropriate and a better reflection of who they are today.
How to transition to teen-dom.
At the end of adolescence, some kids leap into their teenage years, ready to look and act “grown up.” If you have one of these kids, help them achieve a mature-yet-youthful look in their personal space. You don’t have to ditch the bright and happy colors or playful patterns of their childhood room. But you can give it an above-grade-level makeover. To advance a favorite color scheme, turn up the intensity of the hues: turn pale pink into fuchsia or mint green into chartreuse, for example. Rather than pick patterns that feel childish (polka dots), opt for classic plaids, damasks, stripes and florals in modern designs and punchy colors. And, limit the patterns to accent pillows or window treatments. When the bulk of the decorating scheme includes solid patterns, it feels less animated and more restful.
Make it personal and unique.
Most teens want their spaces to be different—either different from what they had before or different than anyone else’s. To encourage this search for self-identity, include music, art and collectibles in the room’s decoration. These pastimes allow your teen to show what she’s interested in. Movie and concert posters, framed prints, travel photos and sports trophies are standard fare. You can also hang some of the teen’s own artwork in frames, or turn it into a wall decal or mural. Another way to achieve a unique look is to hunt one-of-a-kind items at thrift stores. Look for vintage fabric to turn into bed linens or curtains, retro lamps or interesting furniture pieces your teen can paint and personalize.