How to convert a kid’s bedroom into a teen hangout
Kids grow up. Many of you will say they do it too fast. But that doesn’t change the fact that they do. One minute they’re happily playing with their toys and the next they’re finding everything boring and babyish. And when it gets to that point, it’s probably time to redecorate their bedroom.
However, simply painting the walls a new colour won’t always cut it. More often than not, their needs and tastes will have changed completely, meaning a complete rethink of the space is necessary. But how do you do this? Here are some tips for converting a kid’s bedroom into a practical teen hangout they’ll love.
Boost functionality and space
As your kid grows up, the bedroom can need to become more of a multifunctional space. No longer just a space to sleep, it may also be a place to study and to hang out with friends.
This means that furniture must work harder to meet these demands. So, good, space-saving storage is a must. The more you can use wall storage and underbed storage, the more floorspace you can free up. This, in turn, will make it easier to fit in extras such as comfy seating and a desk.
As we all know, teenagers can be incredibly messy. Therefore you also want organised storage to encourage good habits. For instance, you might want wardrobes and underbed storage with labelled compartments and shelving with storage baskets. You can pick up a single bed with compartmentalised shelf and drawer storage for around £250 to £500.
If there’s room to, it might also be an idea to zone the space. So, if friends are hanging out in the bedroom, they have a dedicated area to chill and play games. This will help to keep the bed and desk free from clutter – so, there’s no excuse for not sleeping or studying.
Increase socket capacity
While younger kids are generally happy playing with toys like Lego and dolls, older kids are generally more into their tech. So, it’s worth thinking about installing additional plug sockets – especially if you’re zoning the room. If you think about it, they’re likely to need plug sockets near their desk for a task lamp and laptop or computer, one near the bed for a bedside light and another in their recreation area for games consoles and the charging of gadgets.
Even if you’re not zoning the bedroom, it’s handy to have sockets available on all of the walls as this will enable you to move furniture around when they get bored of the current arrangement or their needs change. It will also avoid the use of extension cables which can be messy and are a fire risk.
To install a new plug socket costs about £75. If your teenager has a smartphone or other gadgets that need charging, you might want to choose USB sockets.
Be playful and give the space some personality
Although your teenager won’t want the room to look childish, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be playful or have a theme. It just needs to be done in a more grown-up fashion.
For instance, you could have a gallery wall that incorporates some of their interests. Perhaps playing or listening to music is their hobby. In this case, you could mount album cover artwork along with musical instruments on the wall. If they like snowboarding, you could include snowy holiday snaps and snowboarding apparel in the gallery and use old snowboards as shelving alongside it. You might even take it a step further and use wood panelling to create a ski cabin-themed feature wall.
It doesn’t matter what you choose to include but it’s important to get your kid involved with curating the décor as you want them to like it and appreciate it. Doing this will give the space some individuality and personality, enabling your teen to feel like the room is truly theirs. It will also help you avoid walls full of tatty posters.
Add a focal point
Often, when we redecorate a room, we like to create a focal point. And this is something that can work really well when you’re trying to turn a kid’s bedroom into a teen hangout.
If the bedroom is going to house a TV and games console, you might consider creating a mini entertainment wall. Or you could go with a painted or wallpapered ceiling and a fun light fitting.
But if you’re keen to keep distractions to a minimum, you might make the seating area the focal point. A cool egg chair or swing seat suspended from the ceiling could work if space is tight. These typically cost between £60 and £300 but if you’re suspending anything from the ceiling, it needs to have the right support. So, it’s worth getting some professional advice from trades first.
