Teenage Bedroom Design

Molly's teenage daughters!

For this month's teenage bedroom top-ten list, I write from both a designer's and mother's perspective. I have designed teenage bedrooms for my clients, and I have lived with three teenagers of my own. I'm almost out of the woods as my oldest daughter turned twenty, my eighteen-year-old daughter is legally an adult, and the baby of the family is fifteen going on sixteen. (I couldn't resist that Sound of Music reference!)

As with any client relationship, it's not about my style, it's about their style. I listened to my daughters' requests for their rooms honoring their favorite colors, interests, and inspiration photos. My middle daughter even put a slide show together to present her ideas! I get to decorate every other room in my house, so it's only fair they get to decorate their own space.

The list below are requests I get over and over again for teenage bedrooms. If you have a pre-teen who is ready for a room upgrade or you want to surprise your teenager with something new for their room, give this list a try.

1. Special seating-a gaming chair that can double as a desk chair, a novelty lounge chair, a hanging chair or a bed pillow that supports your back for studying time.

2. A small refrigerator for drinks and/or acne medicine that requires refrigeration.

3. Plants on the floor, dresser, shelves, or wall, hanging from macramé or wall-mounted ceramic pots. Some examples that have worked well in my girls' rooms and have been easy to grow in low light with watering once per week are: philodendron, pathos, prayer plant, and ponytail palm.

4. A bulletin board for tacking photos, mementoes, and reminders.

5. A vanity with a stool or a lighted makeup mirror placed on a desk.

6. A music corner for a record player, stand for a guitar, or other instrumental equipment.

7. Posters! My girls love them unframed and hung with mounting putty or fun tack.

8. Inexpensive rugs or rug tiles that can be replaced when ketchup or nail polish strikes.

9. Beds with built-in trundles for sleepovers or built-in drawers for extra storage.

10. Strip lights and fairy lights. Every teen wants a bedroom that looks like a nightclub or a secret hideout!

Decorating a teenage bedroom is one thing; keeping it looking good is another. A tidy teenage room is an elusive concept. I have one daughter that basically lives out of her laundry baskets. To her, that is organization. I pick my battles. Another daughter brings dishes down to the kitchen about once a week. Maybe I should add a serving tray to that top-ten list.

My husband's aunt was a high school principal and her advice was to let the teens have autonomy over their rooms. It's the one spot they can retreat to after the hard work of growing up. Don't fret over the messiness. Let it go and love them. Since I'm almost out of the woods, I can tell you the tornado doesn't last forever.