When it’s time to turn your teen’s bedroom into a hipper, more modern space, it can seem pretty daunting at first. However, there are plenty of simple and affordable ways to change up the look of a pre-teen bedroom and give it that fresh, updated look that your teen has probably been asking for.
Planning out all the items you’ll need, curating a complimentary look for all the decor and furniture, and of course, finding the best minimalist approach are all important factors to keep in mind when it’s time for that long-awaited bedroom makeover.
Get Organized Before You Get Started
Picking pieces and a color palette that will grow with your teen is important for being more minimalist in your makeover as it will last them several years rather than one or two. It might also be helpful to start a design book with fabric and paint swatches so that you don’t end up being tempted by something at the store that ultimately doesn’t fit the space. It’s also a good idea to make bullet points of what your teen wants and needs from their space. Do they want a lot of good lighting? A study area? An area to read a book? A selfie or TikTok station? If you have all this in mind during your makeover, it will be easier to stay on task and really make the most out of your time and money.
Utilize Multi-Use Pieces
It’s no secret that teens like to seclude themselves in their bedrooms in between meals and social events. This means it’s worth considering every area of your teen’s room as you’re remodeling in order to really utilize the entire space. It’s also important to consider your teen’s interests as well as their creative input. This space is for them and while you can steer them away from those less evergreen styles and decor choices, let your teen share their vision and you can work as a team to bring that vision to life.
With all the changes, you’ll want to still make sure everything in the room flows together to create that optimal and modern-looking space. For teen room makeovers, consider the following:
Entertainment Central: Teens likely want a space to entertain their friends, watch movies, and play video games. Finding pieces with multiple functions can help them utilize their space. Try a sleeper couch that can sit guests or turn into a bed for a sleepover. Storage is also important but it can be tricky finding modern-looking options. One option could be modern wood lockers to not only hold and organize their stuff but also revamp their room with a unique twist on typical storage space. This is also an opportunity to give new life to old stuff — whether it comes from the attic or a local consignment store.
Creating Atmosphere with Paint and Lighting: Ceilings are often overlooked during makeovers but have a lot of design potential. Paint the ceiling to match the room or be the accent color. Swap out a sterile overhead light with an interesting fixture found at the thrift store. You can also match or contrast the room's color palette by adding window treatments and coordinated throw pillows
Floor Solutions: Changing the floors in your teen’s bedroom can not only run a high price tag, but there’s no point in replacing them if they’re in good condition. However, rugs do bring an element of personality and can modernize a space easily. Rugs can be costly though, especially the bigger ones. Here, again, is a great time to head to your local thrift store or even check out Facebook marketplace.
Make Way for New Beginnings
When working on modernizing your teen’s bedroom, de-cluttering their space and donating any unnecessary items is a vital first step. It helps give your teen a clean slate, which is important when trying to update the space. Of course, sentimental items such as their first teddy bear or middle school science project don’t have to be tossed out, just consider placing them somewhere safe, but out of the room.
As any veteran minimalist knows, one of the best decluttering tips is to create a system. This is a perfect chance to sit down with your teen and put together a plan to stay on top of clutter. How often do they need to be getting rid of old clothes? Twice a year? Every three months? If they take a lot of photos or hang onto important mementos like movie tickets, what is the best way to organize them? Pictures frames, photo albums, display boxes? If you can identify what clutter seems to accumulate the most, then you can set up a better system for organizing it.
Modernizing your teen’s room doesn’t have to be a giant headache. With the right organization, creativity, and minimalist approaches, you can create a rejuvenated space that your teen is sure to enjoy spending all their free time in.
Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.
