When you have a child, you get the privilege of watching them grow through many different life stages, from infancy to school age to the excitement of the teenage years. As a parent, it is your responsibility to help them through each of these stages, and a part of that involves giving them a comfortable bedroom that meets their preferences and size.
You might one day look at their bedroom and realise they have outgrown it. Or (perhaps more likely), they will tell you themselves! The transition from a kid's room to a teen's room is particularly stark and can feel like you need to start from scratch, so here's how to make it work.
Table of Contents
Start with the Bed
It's best to start with updating the most important piece of furniture: the bed. The quality of your teen's sleep matters a lot, after all. The chances are you'll need to get a larger bed if your kid still has a bed made for a child. If you don't have a lot of room to work with, you can get custom made beds designed specifically to fit in any kind of space, including a tighter bedroom. Then, once you have the bed frame and mattress sorted, you can ask your teen what type of duvet cover they want according to their taste.
Declutter
A big part of updating a child's room involves getting rid of the old to make way for the new. A kid will likely fill their room with toys, a teen, on the other hand, will likely have different interests, whether that's collecting records, books, musical instruments, or art. It's best to declutter with your teen, as that way, they can tell you what they might want to keep for sentimental value.
A Fresh Lick of Paint
Move everything out of the bedroom and give the walls a fresh lick of paint to update the space. It's best to choose a neutral colour that will see your teen through the years, no matter what changes their personal preferences go through. You can always then make the space more unique by adding a bold accent wall with another colour or wallpaper.
Create a Study Space
When your kid enters their teen years, studying becomes a lot more important, as they will likely have many exams to revise for. To help them with their schoolwork, create a clutter-free study space. Make sure it has space for notebooks, stationery, a laptop/computer, and task lighting.
Prioritise a Lot of Storage
While your child will likely not be accumulating a ton of toys each year anymore, they will still have a lot of items they need to store. You want your teen's room to stay tidy, so provide plenty of storage. So, as well as investing in made to measure mattresses and bed frames, also consider making that bed a divan bed, so that there's space underneath for items. A chair with hidden storage works well, too. Built-in shelves and wardrobes are also handy for making the most of the space while ensuring your teen has room to put all of their belongings.
