Teenage Bedroom Design: A Unique Challenge!

If you’ve ever had teens in your home, you know that change comes fast and furious. What’s loved one day is hated the next. It’s very hard for teenagers to settle on aesthetics; whether it’s fashion or interior styling, there’s a bit of chaos, panic, and emotion involved with these decisions. It’s okay, even if we can’t quite remember being in that state of mind; we were all there once! 

It takes patience and understanding to work with teenagers on most things, which is why I wanted to provide some tips to all the parents and grandparents out there struggling to help a teen remake their bedroom into an area they’ll be comfortable with, well, at least for a little while. What I appreciate about the teenage mindset is that it’s unafraid to experiment and express, which can be a great asset in the design world…IF it is guided along with purpose and intention! 

When teens transition out of adolescence and into “adulthood,” they want to express their tastes. When given some guidance, inspiration, and light instruction, their passion for expression can be a wonderful thing to behold. But, as all of us who’ve ever lived with teens know, it’s not about telling them what to do but offering guidelines to follow –  blanks for them to fill in. 

What’s important is to think about your teenager; do they want an energetic space or a place to wind down after a stressful day? Making it work for their personal needs is of utmost importance! 

Here are some teenage bedroom design strategies that you can use to help a teenager focus their energy and create a bedroom space unique to them. 

Teenage Bedroom Design – Guidance, Not Commands

When a teen first wants to redesign their room, it’s a great time to introduce design concepts that will help them for a lifetime. Accent colors, neutral colors, bold colors, artwork installation, and lighting techniques are all important details/lessons for teens to learn when crafting their bedroom vision, and they’ll be motivated to learn about these subjects because they can be put right into action, giving your teenager instant gratification, which everyone loves! 

• Learning the Power of Accent Colors

The desire to express oneself as a teenager often comes across as loud and abrasive color choices. If a teenager wishes to paint their bedroom neon green or nail polish pink, it’s hard to convince them that the choice will lose its charm quickly and become exhausting to the eyes. But, the healthiest way to reach a balance is to provide a “yes” to every “no” given. “No, a highly animated color for the entire room won’t work, but how about a lively tangerine color for an accent wall?” This type of diplomatic solution helps the teen learn about the power of contrast and how accent walls are the prime example of “less is more,” a concept many teens have difficulty grasping. Keep in mind that in the end, it’s just paint! 

• Grasping Color Psychology

Getting color swatches and reviewing color arrangements is an engaging and practical way for teenagers to understand how colors affect mood, emotions, and overall ambiance. Teenagers often act on impulse (yeah, no kidding!), and if a color is flashy, pretty, and attention-grabbing, it may trigger the impulse to want to use it. However, reviewing different color options and explaining the basics of color psychology, such as how cooler colors and warmer colors will make the room feel different, will help them make a more informed decision. Let them be a part of the process and the decision maker; feeling like a part of the process will prove to be very rewarding for them!

• Artwork Installation Techniques

I can picture it right now: the entire household has symmetrical and mathematically arranged art installations to suit every room, every room except the teenager’s room! We can all picture the stereotypical teen room with posters, magazine articles, photos, and whatever else haphazardly strewn about, tacked to the wall with blatant disregard. Okay, teenagers are generally messy, but that’s fine; after all, it is their world, and we must remind ourselves of that from time to time.

You can give your teen some light instruction on how to make the installations look much better, and I bet they’ll be receptive to the tips. Explain that they should choose a handful of their favorite posters or art pieces and get them framed to last much longer and look much more “adult” on their walls. I suggest getting some wall-hanging corkboards or Homasote for the rest of their art collection. I put a large Homasote board on my daughter’s wall when she was a teenager, painting it the same color as the walls. I noticed items going up and down regularly, becoming a great spot for personal expression. She loved it, and I have to say I loved it too! 

• Fun with Lighting 

If your teen is uninspired by the overhead ceiling lighting in their room, it’s time to show them the power of floor lamps, desk lamps, and color-changing lighting options! We live in a great time for lighting accents and accessories. From vintage-cool lava lamps to high-tech smart lighting, there’s a fun, funky, and color-inspired lighting solution for all teen tastes. I must say the color-changing lighting available today is perfect for teenage personalities because, with the swipe of an app, they can go through all the colors of the rainbow to match their mood best!

Guiding Design Energy

Ok, I’m not a family therapist, but as a color specialist and designer, I know what battles can ensue from commanding that kids follow the arrangements and palettes established in the rest of the home. 

You’ve got to let teenagers have their spaces for expression; the bedroom is probably the most personal space for that, and if they have the chance to make it their own, they’ll love it! So, don’t preach to them what to do, but guide them on how to outfit their room and help them express themselves. They’ll be learning without even knowing when this goes right!

My helpful color app, Color911, is perfect for a teen desiring design inspiration! They can arrange color palettes from photos taken on their phone and decide what would look best in their space, or find a color theme that inspires them and use it as their guide to design their space. It might be just the inspiration they are looking for!!