How to refresh your teen's bedroom

Your teenage years are hugely transformational, and it's a time of rapid change. Personality and passions can shift from one month to the next in the face of endless educational and social pressures. Self-discipline can dip – hello, messy bedrooms – and mood swings are rife.

While your children are testing their limits – and yours – it's vital they have a space where they feel safe and able to be themselves, meeting their growing desire for autonomy and privacy. For the sake of your time and bank balance, it's important that this space can keep up with frequent change, continuing to function for your child as they develop and grow. Discover the foundation for a practical and stylish teen bedroom, with ideas for adaptable personalisation.

Creating a clean slate

Recognise the movement from childhood into adulthood by encouraging your teen to declutter and create a clean slate for this new chapter. As well as reducing the amount of belongings you need to find a home for, decluttering can be cathartic for them, reinforcing the idea that they're capable of achieving goals and boosting self-esteem.

Introduce the four-box method, creating piles to keep, donate or sell, throw away or recycle. This enables them to organise everything at once, which is a great time-saver, and can shift their perspective from 'what do I want to throw away?' to 'what do I use?', helping to remove attachment to once-loved but now-useless possessions. Encourage them to keep some storage space clear, ready to house new belongings.

Choosing the colour scheme

Colour is crucial when considering bedroom ideas for teens. The palette you choose helps determine the feel and function of the room, so resist the temptation to just paint the walls your child's favourite shade. You can still feature colours that are special to them in the wider scheme, in furnishings and artwork or as an accent wall.

Avoid anything too vivid, as these hues signal the brain to be alert rather than relaxed. The best colours to have in a bedroom are blues and greens, which inspire thoughts of nature and an associated sense of peace, helping to promote restful sleep. At the opposite side of the spectrum are orange and pink, stimulating when bright but calming in muted shades like apricot or blush. Keeping furniture neutral means these staple pieces will pair well with any colour scheme, giving you the freedom and flexibility to redecorate in future years.

Integrating functional furniture

Speaking of furniture: optimising kids' bedroom storage is the key to easy maintenance, helping to minimise everyday clutter and establish a relaxing environment. Choose pieces that enable you to get the most out of the available space, like Hammonds fitted wardrobes with customisable interiors for effortless organisation, while leaving plenty of floorspace clear so the room doesn't feel cramped.

Prioritise functional furniture where possible, such as multi-purpose pieces or pieces that can be adapted to changing needs. This could include a sofa bed that serves for socialising, leisure time and sleep, and a wardrobe that can easily be reconfigured. Functional furniture will help ensure the space grows with your teen while supporting a clean and chic room design.

Establishing different zones

A common theme of bedroom ideas for teens is versatility. This is because teen bedrooms have to perform as several spaces simultaneously, providing a place for work, hobbies, socialising, relaxation and rest. Establishing different areas within the room can help ensure it's multifunctional without being chaotic and create a seamless, strategic design.

Using colour is one of the easiest ways to create zones in bedrooms. A dark statement wall behind the bed transforms that area into a cosy sleep space, while light neutrals and vibrant murals around the desk can encourage productivity. You can achieve a similar effect with furnishings, placing a rug in front of a sofa or chairs to visually separate the seating area from the rest of the room. Decoration can help reinforce the role of each part of the room and unite the spaces into a cohesive design.

Personalising with décor

The best bedroom styles for teens allow for flexibility in the finishing touches. Encourage your teen to express themselves through the décor, giving them free rein to choose interchangeable elements like the bedding and posters.

Guide them on bedroom décor essentials, such as lamps for layered lighting that meets all needs, and textiles like rugs and throws for comfort and cosiness. Let them go with their gut when selecting each piece; mixing and matching colours, styles and textures can create a balanced look overall.

Speak to us for tailored teen bedroom ideas

We've covered the basics in this blog, but if you'd like some personalised bedroom ideas for teens, don't hesitate to get in touch. You can book a free design visit with one of our experts for recommendations based on the size of your space and your teen's preferences.