Bedroom ideas: what to do with as your children grow older

Your kids have their own, perhaps unusual, designs on what home should be, that’s where negotiation comes in.

Perhaps the best and worst thing about parenting is that nothing stays the same for too long. One minute you’re pushing a pram, the next you’re off to high school graduation events.

This can prove a bit of an interior design challenge, especially if you locked yourself in early to a particular theme, like racing cars, fairies or dinosaurs. But there are ways of navigating the design maze without too much drama when your teenager wants to create their own look. It just takes a little planning – and negotiation.

Planning and negotiation required.

Q. We set up my son’s room when he was seven years old. He’s 13 now and his room really needs updating. How do I navigate this?

A. Teenagers get a lot of bad press.

It’s a tumultuous time and for many their bedroom is a place of sanctuary and self expression so it’s only fair that your son should influence how his space looks.

That said, I’m sure you’re keen to avoid a home I lived in where the teenage son had painted the whole room black – including the ceiling. Start with something as basic as the colour scheme.

Ask him what colour he would prefer and then offer him a few (pre-approved) options in that range. If he has his heart set on a particularly bold colour that you’re not crazy about, consider painting a feature wall not in view of the doorway so that he is still able to enjoy it.

There are also some amazing removable wallpapers on the market that might work in well with his interests, like surfing, graffiti walls or world maps.

Is it time for a bedroom makeover?

Other ideas like faux brick, galaxies and city skylines can create focus in the room – and can be removed or changed as he grows.

Unless you have the budget for a painter and decorator, get him involved in the makeover process to create a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Q. What does a teenage boy’s room need? I want to avoid it looking like a cave.

A. Given they can spend so much time in there, teenage bedrooms can develop their own special aroma.

One thing that often gets overlooked is ventilation.

If your son has expressed a desire for greater privacy, make sure that is tempered with access to good light and ventilation via a well-fitted blind or curtain over an openable window. Good ventilation will help with his focus and help avoid that cave-like atmosphere.

Many families move their kids into double beds when they become teens, but if that takes up too much floor space, a king single (a little wider and longer than a standard single) can be a good compromise.

There are some great options with built-in storage underneath for stashing clothing, school books or hobbies.

Veer away from the boy cave.

The other main addition will probably be a desk. Go for something with a decent depth to allow room for laptops, stationery and textbooks. Who knows what learning will look like in the next few years so buy the best desk chair you can afford that will offer good lumbar support.

Q. Is there any one thing I really need to consider?

A. With interior spaces for teens, it’s always a bit of a balance between creating a space they’ll love but not so much so that they never leave – and you lose touch with what’s going on in their lives.

Some kind of comfortable, informal seating is always a good addition to a teen’s room, like a sturdy bean bag or a papasan chair. It will offer them an alternative to always sitting at their desk to read or listen to music and provide somewhere for friends to sit when they come to visit.

It’s also a good spot for you to sit and listen to your son when he needs to talk things through, rather than hovering in the doorway.

Just remember to knock first.

Robyn Willis is The Fixer. here to answer all your home improvement, renovation and repair questions. Email us at [e-mail]

Originally published as Bedroom ideas: what to do with as your children grow older