Bedroom makeover tips for teens

It's often hard to see your little angel turn into a moody teen but trying to turn back time doesn't help matters. Adolescence is a challenging time for our kids and is marked with changes as they come to terms with hormones, discover their identity and personality, establish their place amongst their peers and society, and are expected to take responsibility for their learning and performance.

What they need from their bedroom changes too, especially given the amount of time the average teen spends in this space. Ideally, your teen's room should cater for relaxing, learning, socialising and, of course, their interests.

This is a project you want to do together with your teen. In fact, with a little patience on your part, it can be a great experience that brings you closer together.

Space planning

There's a lot that needs to go into a teen's bedroom and limited space can make this especially tricky. Start by measuring up the room to get a clear idea of the actual space you have available and draw up a layout plan.

At this stage, you should be focusing on major furniture such as the bed, desk, additional seating and any other large items your teen needs space for, such as a drum kit. If you're dealing with a particularly small space, you may want to consider a loft bed, using the space below as a seating or study area.

Colour and decor

If you haven't updated your child's colour scheme in a few years, now is definitely the time. This is a choice that needs to be led by your teen but may require some negotiation, particularly if you want to avoid a completely black room.

If you're not particularly keen on your teen's choice of primary colour, then consider suggesting a focus wall supported by design elements in the same colour. These could include pinboards, light shades, window dressing and wall hangings.

That Spiderman and Barbie bedding will also need to be updated to fit into your teen's new colour scheme.

Furniture investments

Speaking of beds, this is a good time to give your child an upgrade to an adult-appropriate mattress. This will provide proper support through your teen's growth spurts and improve sleep quality. Before giving in to demands for a larger bed, consider the impact this will have on your layout plan. If you do have enough space, you might be more comfortable adding a sleeper couch. This will provide ample seating when friends are around and an additional bed for those sleepovers too.

One item that might need upsizing is your teen's desk, particularly if they have a computer or laptop. Bear in mind that homework and effective studying often requires sufficient space to have numerous A4-sized books open at the same time. While you're at it, invest in an office chair that is comfortable and will provide your child with proper support.

Essential elements

While there is no magic wand that will ensure your teen's room remains clean and tidy, there are elements that can help. Easily accessible storage is a must for a teen bedroom with space allocated for books, hobbies, sports and display items. A hamper with an open top will also help your teen keep their dirty clothes off the floor.

Consideration should also be given to electrical outlets. Selecting and positioning an appropriate multiplug will help keep cables off the floor, protect devices from damage and ensure that plug points aren't dangerously overloaded.

Lastly, make sure your teen has suitable lighting in the different areas of their room. Their desk, for instance, will probably need a dedicated cool white light to assist learning and prevent eye strain. The main light fixture and bedside lamp, on the other hand, require warm white lightbulbs to encourage relaxation and sleep.