Designing From Tweens to Teens

Now what? That little child who is now turning into a teen is asking for a room makeover.  Okay, do we allow them to participate in this decorating adventure? You had complete control over the “baby room” and then control over the “tween room” but how do we let our 10 or 11 year old decorate his or her domain to last through the teen years right through college?

First, ask your child about their preference to color selection, and then from there it has to be a compromise. We always want our children to be creative and express themselves, so this is a chance to see where they can go.

Listen to what they have to say and then suggest what you feel will work for you and them. As a designer, I always ask the parent to have their child sit in the consultation and, believe it or not, most of them listen to my suggestions and my input.  If you let the child feel they are being heard, they are more apt to be receptive to their mom’s or dad’s wants in the room.

We want to create an atmosphere that lasts well into the college years with minimum changes.   Color can be the most fun; mixing brights with neutrals such as pink and brown or grey and violet.

Bedding can be changed relatively inexpensively, but the staples such as window treatments and rugs are the areas we want to keep for the duration. Choose furniture that can be used well into the college years; at this point we want to forget bunk beds.  Second-hand furniture or pieces that have been hidden away are great pieces to paint and decorate with stencil damasks and creative painted knobs.  Just remember, these are the years that your child begins to really express themselves and try to respect their creativity.      

Check out the photos from Mahwah teens’ rooms for examples of how to implement these tips.

This weekly Patch column, which looks at different homes in Mahwah for design inspiration, is written by Gina Avino, a Mahwah resident, interior designer and decorative painter, and Linda Wetterau, a Mahwah resident, floral designer and event planner, of Gina Avino Artistic Designs at 103 E. Main Street in Ramsey.

If you have a design question you'd like to see addressed in a future article, email the authors or visit their website.