9 Ways to Turn Your Teen’s Bedroom into a Haven
As their own personal and private space, your teenager’s bedroom is very important to them. Here’s how to enhance it
As your child grows into a teenager, their need for privacy and independence grows, too. And the teen bedroom is a really important part of this process. It’s the place they can get some time to themselves – and, with some good design ideas, it can be so much more.
Many of us are realising this, which is perhaps why, as revealed in the 2024 Houzz UK Emerging Summer Trends Report, searches on Houzz for “teen room”, “teenage boy bedroom” and “teenage girl bedroom” were up by more than half at the start of this year, at 54%, 53% and 58%, respectively.
So where to start? Teens crave many of the things they see us grown-ups enjoying – a personalised space in which to entertain friends, somewhere their tastes and interests can be on show, and a spot for reading, chilling in front of a screen, studying, gaming, playing music or enjoying hobbies. Here’s how to create a haven for your teen they’ll love for years to come.
Many of us are realising this, which is perhaps why, as revealed in the 2024 Houzz UK Emerging Summer Trends Report, searches on Houzz for “teen room”, “teenage boy bedroom” and “teenage girl bedroom” were up by more than half at the start of this year, at 54%, 53% and 58%, respectively.
So where to start? Teens crave many of the things they see us grown-ups enjoying – a personalised space in which to entertain friends, somewhere their tastes and interests can be on show, and a spot for reading, chilling in front of a screen, studying, gaming, playing music or enjoying hobbies. Here’s how to create a haven for your teen they’ll love for years to come.
2. Build in dual-purpose storage
Rare is the teenager with a tidy bedroom, right? The best you can do is make it easy for them to keep mess under control by building in as much storage as you can.
In this beautiful, all-white room, designer Vivian Panagos created a storage bench with deep drawers and bookended it with ready-made filing units for yet more storage.
Cleverly, she also had a cut-to-size, fabric-covered foam topper and side cushions made to turn the bench into a comfy sofa, which provides an alternative place to sit that isn’t the bed, but is still away from the family spaces – perfect for when friends come over.
Need help? Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz and see photos of their previous work.
Rare is the teenager with a tidy bedroom, right? The best you can do is make it easy for them to keep mess under control by building in as much storage as you can.
In this beautiful, all-white room, designer Vivian Panagos created a storage bench with deep drawers and bookended it with ready-made filing units for yet more storage.
Cleverly, she also had a cut-to-size, fabric-covered foam topper and side cushions made to turn the bench into a comfy sofa, which provides an alternative place to sit that isn’t the bed, but is still away from the family spaces – perfect for when friends come over.
Need help? Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz and see photos of their previous work.
3. Give them a mood board
When it comes to personalisation, a mood board is the ultimate teen space must-have for everything from motivational postcards to photos of their friends.
A ready-made, configurable pegboard-style design like this, in a gorgeous teen room by My Bespoke Room, with space to clip things as well as moveable shelves and pots in which to grow tiny succulents or stash attractive pens, is an excellent idea.
On Houzz, we’ve also seen a lot of lovely corkboard ideas, filling a whole wall or cut to size to slot into a space perfectly. Go big on this idea and think about its power to remove the temptation for anyone to fill their freshly painted walls with screw holes or Blu Tack.
When it comes to personalisation, a mood board is the ultimate teen space must-have for everything from motivational postcards to photos of their friends.
A ready-made, configurable pegboard-style design like this, in a gorgeous teen room by My Bespoke Room, with space to clip things as well as moveable shelves and pots in which to grow tiny succulents or stash attractive pens, is an excellent idea.
On Houzz, we’ve also seen a lot of lovely corkboard ideas, filling a whole wall or cut to size to slot into a space perfectly. Go big on this idea and think about its power to remove the temptation for anyone to fill their freshly painted walls with screw holes or Blu Tack.
4. Help them to hang around
Imagine if you’d had something like this swing seat in your teen bedroom? Not only does this stylish rattan version, in a project by Jefferson Street Designs, create a relaxing place to sit that isn’t the bed, it also has the novelty factor – having something unique in your room can be a huge plus for teens when it comes to socialising.
A hammock or – if suitably located fixing studs aren’t forthcoming – a standalone swing seat or sofa, like a retro garden seat, could also do the job.
Imagine if you’d had something like this swing seat in your teen bedroom? Not only does this stylish rattan version, in a project by Jefferson Street Designs, create a relaxing place to sit that isn’t the bed, it also has the novelty factor – having something unique in your room can be a huge plus for teens when it comes to socialising.
A hammock or – if suitably located fixing studs aren’t forthcoming – a standalone swing seat or sofa, like a retro garden seat, could also do the job.
5. Introduce a table
A coffee table might not be something you immediately think of when furnishing your teenager’s room, but the introduction of this simple piece of furniture, as seen in this inviting room by Two Hands Interiors, could be transformative for them.
Suddenly, their bedroom is more like a grown-up sitting room – a place they can put a tray of snacks and make drinks for their friends. A stack of floor cushions keeps seating flexible.
A coffee table might not be something you immediately think of when furnishing your teenager’s room, but the introduction of this simple piece of furniture, as seen in this inviting room by Two Hands Interiors, could be transformative for them.
Suddenly, their bedroom is more like a grown-up sitting room – a place they can put a tray of snacks and make drinks for their friends. A stack of floor cushions keeps seating flexible.
6. Tune into tech
If your teen loves their tech – whether musical, audio, visual or lighting – this set-up, by Wecselman Design, should inspire. The beauty of this arrangement is how well the tech is designed into the fabric of the room. No trailing cables, no ugly pile-ups of equipment. Everything, simply, has its place.
More: The Secret to Designing a Child’s Room That Will Grow With Them
If your teen loves their tech – whether musical, audio, visual or lighting – this set-up, by Wecselman Design, should inspire. The beauty of this arrangement is how well the tech is designed into the fabric of the room. No trailing cables, no ugly pile-ups of equipment. Everything, simply, has its place.
More: The Secret to Designing a Child’s Room That Will Grow With Them
7. Encourage them to exercise
Teenagers have a spectacular capacity for sleep and, unless they’re naturally sport-motivated, it might feel hard to encourage much physical activity. But how about this excellent idea by Susanna Cots?
Exercise hoops, strung from the ceiling, provide a fun, private and easily accessible way to work those muscles and get that heart pumping – perfect for relieving the stresses and strains of growing into an adult.
Again, safety is key and your professional will be able to ensure something like this is fitted securely.
Teenagers have a spectacular capacity for sleep and, unless they’re naturally sport-motivated, it might feel hard to encourage much physical activity. But how about this excellent idea by Susanna Cots?
Exercise hoops, strung from the ceiling, provide a fun, private and easily accessible way to work those muscles and get that heart pumping – perfect for relieving the stresses and strains of growing into an adult.
Again, safety is key and your professional will be able to ensure something like this is fitted securely.
8. Squeeze in a desk
Whatever size your child’s room, it’s ideal if you can make space to fit in a desk, so they have somewhere peaceful to focus on study, art or craft. This idea, by GA+Partners, is worth considering if you’re short of space – and have a high enough ceiling.
The designers have raised the bed, leaving space underneath for a built-in desk within the same footprint as the mattress.
They’ve incorporated storage niches and shelves, and the colours and lighting are muted to keep the mood calm, even if the exam revision feels the opposite. It’s worth getting something like this drawn up by an interior designer or architect, so as to maximise available space and ensure Building Regulations are met.
Whatever size your child’s room, it’s ideal if you can make space to fit in a desk, so they have somewhere peaceful to focus on study, art or craft. This idea, by GA+Partners, is worth considering if you’re short of space – and have a high enough ceiling.
The designers have raised the bed, leaving space underneath for a built-in desk within the same footprint as the mattress.
They’ve incorporated storage niches and shelves, and the colours and lighting are muted to keep the mood calm, even if the exam revision feels the opposite. It’s worth getting something like this drawn up by an interior designer or architect, so as to maximise available space and ensure Building Regulations are met.
9. Build a bespoke catch-all
Tick an abundance of teen-pleasing boxes by having a professionally designed bed / daybed / storage unit made.
This amazing structure gives this room a characterful nook and a place for friends to lounge that doubles up as a bed after dark (a generously sized throw and some teen-approved cushions are key for the daytime transformation).
Tick an abundance of teen-pleasing boxes by having a professionally designed bed / daybed / storage unit made.
This amazing structure gives this room a characterful nook and a place for friends to lounge that doubles up as a bed after dark (a generously sized throw and some teen-approved cushions are key for the daytime transformation).
If you’re including built-in lighting, as here, be sure to make this dimmable and put controls within reach of the joinery.
There are different classes of closed storage, heaps of bookshelf space, and even a pull-out wardrobe. Check out, too, the projector in the top row of shelves, a lovely touch for giving teens the capacity to watch movies and project shows or videos from their phones onto a suitable wall.
When planning something like this with your designer or joiner, be sure to futureproof it – imagine the space as a spare room, play room or office in the future and ensure it will flex to suit all needs.
Tell us…
Which idea from these would your teen get most excited about? Share your thoughts, and any other tips for teen havens, in the Comments.
There are different classes of closed storage, heaps of bookshelf space, and even a pull-out wardrobe. Check out, too, the projector in the top row of shelves, a lovely touch for giving teens the capacity to watch movies and project shows or videos from their phones onto a suitable wall.
When planning something like this with your designer or joiner, be sure to futureproof it – imagine the space as a spare room, play room or office in the future and ensure it will flex to suit all needs.
Tell us…
Which idea from these would your teen get most excited about? Share your thoughts, and any other tips for teen havens, in the Comments.
You don’t need us to tell you how frequently your children’s tastes change – and that’s an important consideration when investing in a new bedroom scheme for your teen. But how can you help yours to create a bedroom that both reflects them and remains flexible to adapt to passing passions?
Here, in this calm but characterful space created by Stephanie Bailey of Decorbuddi for a 17-year-old girl, the designers nailed a couple of key ideas to enable personal expression without compromising the longevity of the design.
Firstly, consider painting hero items a favoured shade, but leaving the walls neutral. This gives you something more manageable to repaint should the need arise. The built-in desk, shelves and wardrobe here are a sweet, soft pink. Being isolated items, they could be repainted or professionally resprayed in a day or two. Bedding can also be mixed and matched to tie the palette together, as here with the rosy gingham.
Secondly, those deep shelves provide space for books if needed, as well as a rotation of favoured treasures and photos. Think about incorporating a few areas for display in your teen’s bedroom, such as a narrow shelf for a prized figurine collection, a set of mini box shelves for trinkets or nature finds, and a picture shelf, so they can easily change artworks.