8 Bedrooms That Appeal to Tweens and Teens
Here are some creative bedroom designs for boys and girls who are moving past childhood
Becky Harris
October 11, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
As children enter their tween and teen years, they are often ready for a bedroom makeover. It can be tricky to design rooms for them at this age because they are still kids, but they need a design that will carry them through high school and sometimes beyond. These bedrooms show ways you can create a personalized space that strikes that balance.
Designer: Sarah McCarthy-James of Greenwood’s Home
Goal: Create a room outfitted for intense high school homework while leaving space to play
Goal: Create a room outfitted for intense high school homework while leaving space to play
Interior designer Sarah McCarthy-James designed this room for a boy just entering the double digits — age 10. A combination of glossy white on the cabinets and charcoal paint on the accent wall creates a grown-up base. Meanwhile, splashes of bright orange, a playful nightstand, and plenty of room to display favorite books, toys, games and puzzles will allow the room to grow up with the tween.
Great tween/teen room move: By removing the existing closet, the designer was able to lay the room out in a way that has great flow. A new built-in storage system includes a closet and drawers as well as a desk that is over 6 feet long and shelves sized for the binders and textbooks the boy will have once he enters high school. At the end of the bed, a large bench forms a hangout area, with plenty of room for storing larger items like book bags and sports equipment.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move: By removing the existing closet, the designer was able to lay the room out in a way that has great flow. A new built-in storage system includes a closet and drawers as well as a desk that is over 6 feet long and shelves sized for the binders and textbooks the boy will have once he enters high school. At the end of the bed, a large bench forms a hangout area, with plenty of room for storing larger items like book bags and sports equipment.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Heather Drew of Bella Designs Studio
Goal: Ditch the bunk beds while providing lots of storage
Goal: Ditch the bunk beds while providing lots of storage
On the cusp of teen-hood, these 12-year-old twins were tired of their bunk beds, though Ellie (seen above on her bed) did love the cozy factor of the bottom bunk. After finding out what kinds of colors and patterns Ellie and sister Claire liked, interior designer Heather Drew designed cozy beds with curtains they could close to create the same feeling. New moldings conceal the drapery hardware, and wands allow the drapes to be pulled with ease. Antique initials mark each girl’s bed.
Great tween/teen room move: Fitting in the girls’ belongings was an important function of the design. Drew had the girls do a big purge so that she could get to know their styles via their favorite things and then determine how much storage they would need. They share the dresser seen here, which doubles as a nightstand. A large armoire across the room provides additional storage, and by setting each bed 18 inches off the ground, Drew created room for full-size storage bins underneath.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move: Fitting in the girls’ belongings was an important function of the design. Drew had the girls do a big purge so that she could get to know their styles via their favorite things and then determine how much storage they would need. They share the dresser seen here, which doubles as a nightstand. A large armoire across the room provides additional storage, and by setting each bed 18 inches off the ground, Drew created room for full-size storage bins underneath.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Cathy Zaeke of Your Favorite Room
Goal: Make space for stars, geodes, building sets and even magic tricks
Goal: Make space for stars, geodes, building sets and even magic tricks
For son Jack’s 10th birthday, interior decorator Cathy Zaeske gave him a new room. While bringing in his favorite things, she also sought to strike a balance between an energetic color palette and an immature one. They ditched the primary colors and Winnie the Pooh, and Jack picked the colors for the custom tie-dye drapes. She then worked the new palette around them.
Great tween/teen room move: There’s plenty of room for display and play. Zaeske outfitted bookcases from Target with metal on the back for magnets and a large corkboard wall. This provides places to display his rock collection, origami projects, books, puzzles and geodes. In the new layout, the designer left plenty of floor space, knowing that it would be a favorite spot for Jack’s magic trick practice and for playing with building and invention sets.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move: There’s plenty of room for display and play. Zaeske outfitted bookcases from Target with metal on the back for magnets and a large corkboard wall. This provides places to display his rock collection, origami projects, books, puzzles and geodes. In the new layout, the designer left plenty of floor space, knowing that it would be a favorite spot for Jack’s magic trick practice and for playing with building and invention sets.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
Goal: Create a dreamy space with plenty of storage where sisters can relax, do homework and hang out with friends
Goal: Create a dreamy space with plenty of storage where sisters can relax, do homework and hang out with friends
While her daughters, ages 11 and 12, were away for two weeks, interior designer Ginger Curtis and her husband, Eric, worked around the clock to install hardwood floors and new lighting, custom-build a desk with a pegboard and bunk beds with storage underneath, and paint and decorate the room as a surprise.
Great tween/teen room move: A favorite spot in the room is the bohemian canopy area. Stacked soft floor cushions can be separated to make more room for friends to lounge on the floor.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move: A favorite spot in the room is the bohemian canopy area. Stacked soft floor cushions can be separated to make more room for friends to lounge on the floor.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Galeana Younger of The Galeana Group
Goal: Design a room for a teen that also could be used for guests later
Goal: Design a room for a teen that also could be used for guests later
Interior designer Galeana Younger had to design something mature enough to take this 13-year-old girl through her college years as well as serve as a room for houseguests when she’s away at school.
Great tween/teen room move: Tone-on-tone wallpaper, a tan rug, white plantation blinds and a white duvet cover provide a versatile neutral base that goes with the rest of the home’s style and is easy to adapt to other schemes. The zebra wallpaper adds a lively pattern without overwhelming the room. Meanwhile, big dashes of fuchsia and chartreuse bring in joyful colors that the young teenager loves.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move: Tone-on-tone wallpaper, a tan rug, white plantation blinds and a white duvet cover provide a versatile neutral base that goes with the rest of the home’s style and is easy to adapt to other schemes. The zebra wallpaper adds a lively pattern without overwhelming the room. Meanwhile, big dashes of fuchsia and chartreuse bring in joyful colors that the young teenager loves.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Jen Talbot Design
Goal: Set up a place to listen to and play music
Goal: Set up a place to listen to and play music
Interior designer Jen Talbot tailored the global feel in this bedroom to a 16-year-old girl who was learning to play the vintage sitar and drums she bought on a trip to India.
Great tween/teen room move:
A branch light fixture, inspired by a tree the teen had seen in India and crafted by Talbot, is magical. The young musician also dreams of traveling the world, so Talbot — in addition to providing plenty of space for her to play various instruments and listen to music — gave her lots of places to display her favorite things, such as her favorite albums over the bed.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move:
A branch light fixture, inspired by a tree the teen had seen in India and crafted by Talbot, is magical. The young musician also dreams of traveling the world, so Talbot — in addition to providing plenty of space for her to play various instruments and listen to music — gave her lots of places to display her favorite things, such as her favorite albums over the bed.
Learn more about this room
Designer: Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs
Goal: Build in places for enjoying music, doing homework and hanging out with friends
Goal: Build in places for enjoying music, doing homework and hanging out with friends
Rock and roll rules in this 14-year-old boy’s new room in Texas. Interior designer Ginger Curtis designed it with his love of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who and The Beatles in mind. A Union Jack bedspread and rug infuse grown-up color into the mostly neutral background. A comfortable chair provides a spot for playing guitar and video games, and turns into a bed for sleepover guests. A chalkboard wall gives him a place to compose new music and doodle. By using neutral colors and elements like rustic wood, the design will grow up with him.
Great tween/teen room move:
Finding artwork that was meaningful to her young client was an important part of the design. Curtis crafted the frame for this vintage microphone photo herself. She also hired an artist to render sound waves from two of the teen’s favorite Beatles songs and hung them next to his bed.
Learn more about this room
Great tween/teen room move:
Finding artwork that was meaningful to her young client was an important part of the design. Curtis crafted the frame for this vintage microphone photo herself. She also hired an artist to render sound waves from two of the teen’s favorite Beatles songs and hung them next to his bed.
Learn more about this room
Designers: Ann Larsen and Susan Taggart
Goal: Design a fun room that can grow up with a young teen
Goal: Design a fun room that can grow up with a young teen
This Utah home’s custom design has room for three generations, so thinking about age was always at the forefront during the design process. Because the clients’ daughter was 13 at the time, the designers considered how fast she’d be growing up and gave her a more mature yet playful space.
Great tween/teen room move: The double bed is a grown-up touch, while the duvet cover can be switched out inexpensively if she tires of the big elephant. Funky wallpaper adds whimsy on a corner, and a hanging chair with a view is a favorite spot. A leather chesterfield sofa provides a comfortable stationary spot for reading and visiting. The homeowners have also added places around the room for her to post her favorite photos and other mementos.
Read more about this multigenerational home
More: 6 Great Built-Ins for Kids’ Rooms
Great tween/teen room move: The double bed is a grown-up touch, while the duvet cover can be switched out inexpensively if she tires of the big elephant. Funky wallpaper adds whimsy on a corner, and a hanging chair with a view is a favorite spot. A leather chesterfield sofa provides a comfortable stationary spot for reading and visiting. The homeowners have also added places around the room for her to post her favorite photos and other mementos.
Read more about this multigenerational home
More: 6 Great Built-Ins for Kids’ Rooms
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What great ideas for transitioning kids bedrooms into a space that reflects their personality.
Oh, I just have to share this photo from one of my clients' teenage boys room. I cannot take any credit, I just really like this. His son is very interested in Japanese Animé and had scads of these comic books. He put them into the microwave to loosen the glue and took the comic books apart. Then he taped the pages together on the back and made his own "wallpaper". They are put up with thumbtacks. I loved it! A fun, interesting and innovative idea to make his room fun for him. I think kids should have a lot of creative license in their own rooms. Close the door if you don't like their color choices and so on. It's their space. It shouldn't have to go with the decor for the rest of the house.
I am in the process of redesigning my highschooler's room. The room was bright and funky but now I am toning down the colors to make the room more of a stress-reliever. I use more wood, glimmering metals, vintage-looking mute fabrics, faux furs here and there to make it more relaxing by look and touch.