Congratulations on your adoption! Fwiw I have a 13yo and 8yo boy and just redid both their bedrooms - when we went bed hunting, the younger one basically begged for a loft bed. The older one was not taken with the idea at all. My kids are crazy tall, so that may be part of the answer, but I think by the teenage years, boys are pretty slouchy in general and the prospect of climbing in and out of bed is less appealing than to an 8yo little monkey boy.

My younger child's room isn't much bigger than the room you have - I didn't get the loft bed since I figured it would be a pain to change. And I wanted to keep the fan. And yeah, mine grow quickly! But with a twin bed across the 8 foot wall, it leaves a lot of space for a chest of drawers, bookcase, and beanbag chair -- and still room for play basketball with a semi-realistic hoop mounted on the long wall.

We haven't yet bothered with a desk, but my older son has a longer version of this Ikea desk and it's slim but very useful: Ikea narrow desk. Kids do a lot of their homework on a computer these days, so consider how that will work in your house. We got our teenager a Chromebook and he sometimes works sitting on his bed. I got both the kids these "bedrest" pillows from the dorm room section of the local Target - the teenager likes to use it to read or draw while sitting on his bed.

smalloldhouse_gw Thank you. I was thinking he wouldn't want to climb in a bed each day. I do like the desk since all that would be on it is a laptop. I never knew what those pillows were for, lol. Now that I know, he may be interested in those too.

It's important to pick furniture he can grow with. Most kids don't use a desk per se so don't get wrapped up in what a kid's room once had. If you get him a desk, will he use it or do his work in bed? If he does use a desk, then a loft bed/desk may be the best ticket for you. How is the closet? Can you do a built-in dresser in there for shirts/socks/underwear etc? It sounds like there isn't a lot of room in the bedroom for a lot of furniture. Check out Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, CB2. Ikea is great too if you're handy, if not they can give you names of people to put the pieces together. Have fun with this project!

Gray & Walter, Ltd. The closet is small but deep. A small dresser should fit. You are probably right about the desk too.

Congratulations on your adoption. My son was smaller like yours but boy did he spring up in high school-5 inches between junior and senior year! I would suggest an extra long twin just so he has plenty of room.

vkatinparadise thank you! I'm looking at some now. I'd be my luck he grows too big for the bed and we have to get another.

You're welcome. Your son is very lucky to have a mom who is so thoughtful and takes all of his needs into account!

katinparadise Thank you, I appreciate that

Oh, yes, the bedrest pillow! My older son loved his! Both boys picked out desks that are not much more than tables with a pencil drawer. It's really all they need. They do also have a small shelf across the back, not attached, keeps some little things and lamps out of the way of the laptop and any papers they may shuffle around.

I haven't clicked on the links posted above, so someone may have suggested something like this...a low loft with a pull out desk and storage....

Camaflexi Twin, Low Loft Bed With Retractable Desk, Panel Headboard, White · More Info

Donco Kids Studying Student Low-Loft Bed, White, Twin · More Info

Bless you for adopting an older child!

I have no new advice for you but want to say congrats! A tiny room filled with love is the biggest gift any parent can give to a child who has most likely dreamed of not a only a room of his own but a family of his own! You are a hero!

My tween has a loft bed and desk set up and loves it.

Enjoy your new additions!

I don't care for the climb-up beds. I'd get him a regular type one. A storage drawer underneath would be good.

And I agree that kids these days often don't use desks - they sit on the bed with their laptops. And with e-readers, bookshelves are not as necessary as they once were. I wouldn't get either a desk or bookshelf. Wall-hung shelves are more versatile, and can be added if you need them.

A small recliner would be luxurious in any teen's room, and well worth the space it takes. Or, a less expensive option, the very comfortable Ikea Poang chair, and a footstool. Around here there are lots on Craigslist, even leather ones.

You say his closet is deep. I'd fit the closet out with dual hanging space and add some good shelving, and he may not need a dresser at all. Wire systems are economical and you can often buy kits.

One way to save space in the room is to just use a wall-hung shelf instead of a night table. Attach a light to the wall, that swings over the bed or of the way. That way you only need a relatively small shelf.

Olychick no I hadn't seen that one. That is a very nice one as well! I'm thinking he would be fine and appreciative of anything.

roarah thank you, I appreciate that and it means a lot. I'm hoping it comes out really well.

The bottom of this one can be storage drawers rather than another mattress, and the headboard has storage too. The drop down desk is handy and probably all he'll need for a laptop. I'd try it left of the window with another drawer unit directly under the window. Reverse the door swing so in the open position it is against the wall. Don't eliminate a ceiling fan entirely. Teenage boys are well known for their rooms smelling like locker room full of sweaty gym clothes and dirty socks. Everyone will appreciate the fan for ventilation.

Bole · More Info

that's one cool bed

decoenthusiaste great find!! lol, in that case I will make sure there is a fan.

I think a work space is important, not just for schoolwork, but also for their hobbies, and a bed they can sprawl comfortably on is welcoming. A bean bag or squab would be handy for friends to sprawl on too.

I like these types of fold down bed/desk, because they don't need things to be tidied away before converting, which is important for a teen!

Do check the length of bed though, as teens grow quickly, and being cramped is not good for growing teens who need what sleep they get.

http://www.hiddenbed.com/

http://www.studybed.co.uk/

People Space Architects Ltd. that's actually a really cool bed. I didn't know there were cool things like that. Thank you!

A standard bed will work with the dimensions provided. Skip the nightstand and choose a small dresser to server double duty.

Some inspiration:

Thinking outside the box -loft over closet and entry door

I just liked the elegance of this

er612 I like these suggestions and do agree I probably won't need the nightstand. I don't even use mine really.

I love that last one. It's all you need as far as a bedroom goes. (I think folks forget that, sometimes)

I'm very drawn to small spaces.

Gina, a shelf under the window will suffice very well. Easy to open drawers underneath the bed, easy to clean under there, and maybe a plant can sit (always good for small responsibility for a kid...).

Also over the door shelves are great for containers for off season clothes or little used items....it's an underused area imho.

chijim I love 1 2 &4! 1 has everything I'm looking to put in the room. Thank you for your great suggestions!

pennydesign I like the last one more as a guest room. If he likes though, we will go with that one.

Oh it was just personal love, Gina! I wouldn't expect it to be used for a teenager...I like all of the ideas (except, as you know, a loft bed. But you never know what kids like!).

Just wanted to add,to give more room you could take off closet door and replace with bi-fold door or curtain

Would something like this fit? Possibly mounted so it folds down at foot of bed?

And do you have an IKEA near you to have a stroll around? Nobody knows how to use space you didn't know existed like Ikea...

chijim now that you mentioned bi-fold, I actually like that better. Earlier others suggested a curtain but a bi-fold would look nicer.

pennydesign Yes, a desk like that can work. I did go to an Ikea and loft beds were suggested. I did see them but feel it would be a pain for him to climb up and down the ladder. I saw some storage beds but they looked oddly small. I will check this weekend at another to see their display rooms too.

One thing I like about a regular door over bifold is that you can have storage on the inside of the door, racks or hooks for jacket, sweatshirt, robe, keys and lanyards, etc.

I think I would make the furniture purchase yourself, since you will know what you can afford and what he needs. He might not be thinking he needs a place to study, while you probably think he does. :) Then, let him pick his decor - bedding, wall color, pictures, posters, lamp, etc. He may have never owned a lot of "stuff" before, so he won't realize how quickly he can accumulate things once he has a mom to spoil him. :) You will have a better idea of how much storage he needs.

Here are some great small bedroom ideas.

http://www.digsdigs.com/photos/thoughtful-teen-room-layout-34.jpg

http://www.digsdigs.com/photos/thoughtful-teen-room-layout-14.jpg

http://www.digsdigs.com/photos/thoughtful-teen-room-layout-21.jpg

http://www.digsdigs.com/photos/small-teen-room-layout-10.jpg

I would put a bed with drawers under the window, and then I would use the entire length of one wall for desk and storage space. Think vertical. :) If a bed with multiple drawers underneath is a little too pricey, you could still get a simpler bed as shown in the photo, and do storage underneath it.

Good luck!

Congratulations! What an exciting time for your whole family.

I don't care for most of the pre-made loft beds shown so far. The railings around the top of the bed remind me of a toddler's bed, and I think that would be the last thing a young teenager would want, at least within a year or two if not yet.

I like some of the storage beds that have modular shelves and desks like jo-in-tx suggested in the digsdigs article. Many of those have a modern masculine feel that I think he would like. If he has a hobby like music, sci fi, or sports, plan on incorporating those interests into the decor, like hanging a guitar on the wall or using his team's colors on the walls. I can't imagine any teen not liking a room that is a reflection of who they really are, not just what their parents like.

My experience with teenage boys is that by the time they're around 15 or so, they tend to get a little disillusioned with life and have a lot of teenage angst. That might not be your boy, but I'd encourage you to let him have as much control over his own space possible, especially if he is coming from a background that has been somewhat turbulent and unsteady.

These rooms have a little bit of a dark and edgy feel to them, but they feel ultra cool and moody teenager to me. His friends that come over will think he has a cool space with really cool parents if this type of thing appeals to him. I'm noticing that in most cases, beds are very simple, no headboards and many are quite low. I love the one that has raw lumber built-ins around tge bed. I'd look for things that will serve him for many years to come, even things that he can use in his first apartment after college.

Please share pictures when you finish the room. I wish you all the best.

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jo_in_tx These are great ideas as well. I especially love the first suggestion in your second comment

DH Thank you! He is a huge basketball fan and I'm sure he will want something in his room with his favorite team. I've been looking at items like lamps, comforters, posters & pillows. Thanks for all the suggestions too.

A captain's bed would work well up against the wall where the window is- it eliminates the need for a dresser as it has storage drawers already.

A R Thank you. That is a very nice one and should look great under the window.

Are there heating vents in the floor that need to be kept open? In my house, there is a heating vent under every window so it wouldn't work to put a solid piece of furniture there. You'd need to pull it out a bit.

A basketball theme can be conveyed fairly simply and in a way that will grow up well with him.

Washburn · More Info

Basketball · More Info

Or you could go more all out...

Bedroom · More Info

Miami Heat Inspired Boys Bedroom · More Info

Lots of good ideas here already, but I don't think this one was mentioned, so I'll toss it on the pile. Desks that slide over a bed.

Congratulations on your adoption! Friends of ours adopted an out of country sibling group of four this year, two of them teens. It's been an amazing journey! The kids have been such a wonderful addition to their family. It hasn't been without bumps, but it's been good. I wish you and your son the very best!

partim They are both on the baseboard to left. One is close to the door and the other is close to the window but shouldn't get blocked

er612 Thanks for the suggestions! A lot of good ones shown!

DH that canvas is great! I think that would be one he'd ask for. I would just have to change the color of the room. I added it to my cart. I also like the Heat inspired bedroom. That will probably be his pick.

laughablemoments Thank you & I love that idea! It doesn't take up room and he won't need a chair.

One of the things I love about that Miami Heat room is that the shapes on the comforter allude to basketballs, but not literally. More sophisticated that way. Would be easy to adapt to any team colors.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40228708/

My 13 year old has a Ikea bed similar to this with the storage drawers. Headboards with storage is also available if space allows.

I just wanted to say congratulations. My family is a combination of bio and adopted. So much challenge and fun! Enjoy.

Lexis July I like that one and the drawers appear deep enough too.