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Teen Room Decorating Ideas - Create Something You'll Both Love!

by Michael Holland
Kids Rooms and Crafts

Redecorating a teen room can be a challenge, but with these teen room decorating ideas, you will both be able to work together to create a unique haven for your teenager.

If your teenager's room hasn't been decorated since they were ten years old, and they're hiding their stuffed animals under the bed, it's definitely time to redecorate.

The very first thing you need to do is to sit down with your teenager and discuss his or her likes and dislikes.

You are decorating your teenager's space, and he or she will never be happy and comfortable unless you discuss teen room decorating ideas with them.

There are many teen room decorating ideas and styles to choose from that will not become obsolete a year down the road. Be sure to take into account the size of the room, your budget, and the practicality of the style.

Does your teenager love animals? Then the perfect teen room decorating idea is the Tropical Style. This is an extremely popular style these days, and it will be easy to find the materials, fabrics, and accessories you need.

This style uses comfort, warmth, and a strong sense of the exotic to create a teen room decorating style that will keep your teenager confident and inspired at the same time. Consider using different animal prints, palm trees, rattan furniture, leather accents, and grasscloth on the walls.

Furniture should be comfortable - think of sinking down into the soft down cushions of a zebra stripe couch - and generally on a large scale. However, the furniture and accessories should also fulfill a purpose in the room.

For example, the couch is so comfortable, it becomes your teenager's favorite reading spot. Or a tiger print trunk at the foot of the bed can double as storage space for shoes, bedding, DVDs, or anything that your teenager usually leaves strewn around his or her room.

Another teen room decorating idea is to use accent pieces made of wicker, bamboo, iron, or rattan, and keep fabrics lush and soft. A fake fur cheetah bedspread is a perfect choice.

You can mix animal print designs such as tiger stripes and leopard spots with animal images, such as a whimsical monkey lamp, a lion poster on the wall, or an elephant stool that can double as extra seating. Another great teen room decorating idea that will never go out of style is Shabby Chic. This style is characterized by a kind of tousled elegance.

Think of deep, comfortable upholstery that looks as if it's been acquired from a Parisian salon where it was well used by the glitterati around a century ago.

Keep in mind that "well-used" does not mean messy or ragged - it means it looks like it has had a long a rich life, and still has a long way to go.

Shabby Chic uses architectural details to lend the room an air of authenticity. Look for beveled glass doorknobs, intricate iron shelf brackets, or a brass art deco alarm clock.

Try to find some accessories that aren't brand new. Scour flea markets for large ornate painted candlestick holders with some of the paint chipped away to reveal the old iron underneath.

Or pick-up a gold leaf cherub lamp, a chipped teapot that can become a flowerpot, sconces with scrollwork, and worn, blurry mirrors in ornate frames. Metal furniture goes perfectly with this style. For example, an old brass headboard is perfect for this teen room decorating idea.

To pull it all together, and calm down the style, make sure to keep the background color consistent and easy on the eyes, such as an eggshell white or a matte ivory. Hang artwork to complete your masterpiece.

Another versatile teen room decorating idea is to decorate your teenager's room in shades of denim blues. Almost all teenagers love jeans (not to mention just about everyone else too), so this is a decorating style that can't fail.

Try a chair covered with a soft, washed denim fabric. Use denim accents in the room, such as trimming a group of red pillows with fat denim cording.

You can even use a denim look to cover the walls. There are paint techniques for chambray and denim-look walls, which will be a perfect accent to a room with a cowboy theme or for a young lady who is crazy about horses.

Denim is a fabric that immediately imparts the feeling of comfort, so it is perfect for bedrooms in particular. Use denim comforters and pillow shams. You can even find chambray sheets and matching curtains.

Try using an old ragged pair of jeans to make valances for the windows, or dress up your curtains with chintz covered cornices.

Keep your walls in the neutral family of colors. Try soft camel beige or a subtle yellow. Pine furniture works well, or you can paint your old wooden furniture in light golden tones.

Furniture that is more casual than formal works better for this particular style. Other teen room decorating ideas to choose from are:

Garden styles. Use floral prints, upholstered furniture, floral area rugs, and balance the look with plain walls, floors, and curtains.

Casual styles. These include rustic themes, sports, nautical, particular hobbies, Americana . . . the possibilities are limitless. For example, a style could be developed around a collection of autographed baseballs, teapots, wooden duck decoys, trophies, art posters, etc.

Decorating with black and white. This style uses black as an anchor to set off a dramatic decorating look.

This teen room decorating idea is for the drama queen or king teenager in your household. Use a black and white floor, crisp white linens and comforters, and upholstered chairs. Set off the black with accents in red or warm gold, but be sure to pick up the black and white theme in lamps, pillows, picture frames, and other elements of the room.

Contemporary styles. These dictate clean lines, sculptural furniture, high ceilings, and geometric artwork.

Make use of brick walls and ceiling pipes. Avoid anything with floral patterns, ruffles, carvings, or traditional details. You are aiming for the look of an art or museum gallery, utilizing a bold, creative, and sculptural style.

Cottage style. This teen room decorating idea works especially well for teenage girls' rooms. Plaid or country-style fabrics work well with white furniture and rustic accent pieces. This style can transform a bedroom into a mini-vacation spot!

European or Parisian style. This is a glamorous style that invokes old world sophistication. It uses furniture and accent pieces from the rococo, baroque, neoclassical to the more modern art deco and cabaret designs.

Your main colors are black, white, and gold, with jewel tones as accents. Choose vintage-style furniture, such as a black or cream painted dresser with gold accents. Fabrics include silks and brocades. For fun, add a few vintage posters of old Parisian nightclubs, French train station signs, and black wrought iron shelves and tables.

The list of possibilities is endless. Find a good time to sit down and go over these teen room decorating ideas, and soon you will find yourself and your teenager working together to reinvent their bedroom.

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