How to Make a Teenager's Room That Is Thematic
Inspiration for a teen's bedroom theme can come from anything your teen values -- a favorite book or movie, a goal or a hobby -- and thematic decor need not be expensive. In fact, if the theme reflects your teen's interests, he probably already possesses a large number of suitable pieces you can use to flesh out the space.
While your teen may be tempted to fill the entire room with themed items, as the one in charge, you should exert control over cost, taste level and excess. Remember, the teen will still need to be able to clean and maintain his room and have a study area that's free from a large number of distractions.
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Instructions
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Consult with the teen to brainstorm potential themes, exploring her interests, her wishes for the layout and use of the room and her ideas about the overall design. Ask the teen to gather together some items representing her choice of theme, including color samples, photos, small decorative items and any other sources of inspiration that inform her opinions. These do not have to be professional samples, but could be gathered from magazines, the Internet or personal photograph collections.
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Encourage your teen to adopt a general theme, rather than basing her decor on a very specific idea. For example, if she is inspired by a favorite movie, suggest a genre of movies as a compromise. The more general the theme, the more evergreen and the longer it will remain fresh.
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Adapt the theme and the decor to keep it slightly ahead of your child's true age. This will allow the decor to age along with your child, so the whole room will not fall out of date and out of favor in a year's time. For example, a boy in his early teens may have starkly different interests a few months or a year later. Start with a base color or color palette that can act as a good general backdrop, allowing you to make smaller updates without having to undertake a major redecorating project.
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Obtain functional and durable furnishings to act as a foundation for the decor of the room. These pieces should be designed to age into young adulthood with your teen. You can adorn the furnishings with accessories to fit the theme. Items such as throw rugs and bedding sets are more easily replaced than furnishings when your teen's interest in the subject matter fades.
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Utilize your teen's personal possessions as decorative pieces where they fit the theme. Select new items based on their ability to carry the theme. Use color, subject matter, shape or another design feature common to your theme to tie these decorative pieces together. Use easy-to-update wall decorations, such as framed posters, personal photos and vinyl wall decals that can be quickly removed and replaced with new selections as your teen's tastes mature.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid the use of large or expensive pieces that are purely thematic and not adaptable, unless you have no concern about the possible need to replace such items to update the room's look and appeal.
References
- AZCentral.com; Tips on Converting Little Kid Room to Teen Space; Leanne Italie; June 2011
- Kids Rooms and Crafts.com: Teen Room Decor -- The Sky Is the Limit
- Decorating Teen Rooms; How to Give Teen Age Bedrooms Personality & Appeal; Sherrie Le Masurier
- DecoratingIdeas4KidsRooms.com: Incredible Decorating Ideas ... Unique Kids Rooms
