How to Decorate a Preteens Room
The day each parent dreads will eventually come: The time when they must transform a child's room into a preteen's room. All of the cute cartoon characters and toys will have to make way for a more "grown up" type of décor. Spongebob and Dora the Explorer will have to make do with their new home in a box in the attic. A bit of planning and talking to your child can help make decorating a lot easier for both the parent and the child.
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Things You'll Need
- Magazines
- Paint swatches
- Bedding
- Lamps
- Curtains
- Decorative pillows
- Picture frames
Instructions
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Plan out the design with your preteen. Sit down with her and look at some magazines that feature decorating ideas for preteens' rooms. Study color schemes, as well as overall style. Does your preteen prefer wood or metal furniture? What's in the budget?
Find a happy medium with your preteen. Perhaps she would like her walls dark purple, but you'd prefer a lighter shade; maybe you can both agree on lavender. Perhaps you could create a sports theme, incorporating a favorite team.
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Paint the walls a color (or colors) you both agree upon.
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Replace the fabrics in the room. Coordinate the bedding with the wall color; solid color linens are usually a safe bet, since they come in countless colors. Find new curtains to match the color scheme in your preteen's room. Again, opt for solid colors that will easily transition with your preteen's taste.
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Let your preteen choose various frames in which to display photos of their friends, family or favorite movie stars or athletes. Either color coordinate the frames to match the room, or encourage him to choose metal or wood frames to add visual texture to the décor. Select a few poster frames so your preteen can display his favorite posters--and easily change them when the mood strikes--without poking holes in the walls with push pins or dealing with sticky tape.
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Choose comfortable furniture. Preteens spend a lot of time in their rooms doing homework, surfing the Internet, playing video games and watching television. Over-sized bean bags and gaming chairs provide a place for your preteen to relax without having to sit on the bed or in the desk chair. Papasan chairs add a retro yet relaxing appeal.
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Add throw pillows to soften up the space and add to your preteen's comfort. Toss some onto her bed or in a chair. Throw pillows come in various shapes, sizes and designs: Some feature embossed photos of celebrities and athletes; others are personalized with your preteen's initials. Solid-colored throw pillows will fit easily into the room's decor. Add some larger floor pillows for when friends come over to lounge around.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Modern master bedroom image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
