Baby + Kids
37 teenage bedroom ideas to upgrade decor, storage & style
Kids grow up fast, and as they enter high school, their tastes and interests can shift as they grow out of the things they loved as children. If you’re in need of some teenage bedroom ideas, these styling tips and tricks will help you collaborate with your teen to create a space that’s modern, comfortable, organized and catered to their unique personality.
1. Leave room for change
Teenagers’ tastes can change seemingly overnight. They may love a TV show, musician or even color now, and then completely grow out of it by tomorrow. If you lean too hard into a theme, you might find yourself redecorating by this time next year. Consider neutral base tones for the walls and furniture to leave room for more easily updatable features like bedding and decor. Don’t forget to leave plenty of shelving opportunities so their art and accessories can be refreshed as the mood strikes.
2. Upgrade the lighting
An easy way to make a big impact in your teen’s room is to change out their old lighting and update to a new light fixture that better aligns with their maturing tastes. This is a great opportunity to let them really express their personal style with a feature they may not have even realized they could replace.
3. Let them pick new bedding
Another low-investment, high-impact choice you can make together is a bedding update. If they’re still going to sleep every night in the same animal-print sheets they had when they were kids, it’s time to make the switch to a pattern or color palette that’s better suited to their age.
4. Make it a hangout spot
High schoolers have to spend more time reading, studying and relaxing, so help them out by making their room more comfortable with lounge furniture, extra pillows and plush throws. When their friends come over to hang out or work on a school project, they’ll have plenty of seating to accommodate.
5. Add pops of color
Even if you and your teen opt for a more toned-down color scheme for their room, consider bringing a little more personality with occasional color pops that will really stand out. Bring in a bright throw pillow, swap a neutral comforter with a pastel one or hang a vibrant piece of art to add an instant shift in the feel of the space.
6. Incorporate wall decals
If you want to update the walls of the room without completely repainting them, decals are a great alternative. A few well-placed decals can bring a more dynamic look to the space, and a repeated pattern can give the effect of custom wallpaper. If you decide to change the look again later, you can always take them down.
7. Give them shelf space
From pictures of friends or family trips to awards and sentimental knick knacks, teens tend to have plenty of items to display. Put shelves up throughout the room to give them plenty of options for showing off the items that remind them of the people and experiences they adore.
8. Mix things up with wallpaper
Wallpaper can completely change the feel of a room. From simple patterns to quirky designs, wallpaper offers limitless possibilities to bring a little more flair to a teenager’s bedroom. Consider using it as an accent wall or even on the ceiling if you’re happy with the paint color but want to add a little something extra.
9. Let them make a statement
It’s important to let your teen have a say in the creative process of designing their room—having them pick a fun statement piece is a great way to do that. Even if it may not fit the feel you have in mind, give them full freedom to pick out at least one piece they love regardless of whether it matches the rest of the room.
10. Personalize with DIY
To maintain a truly personal touch, try to incorporate some DIY decor. This could be crafts or projects they made at school or camp, an original piece of art, professionally printed and framed photographs they took themselves or something sentimental from their childhood.
11. Paint an accent wall
Another quick way to make a noticeable impact to the look and feel of your teenager’s bedroom is to let them pick out a color for an accent wall and then have them paint it themselves. This gives them a chance to participate in their own redesign and really get hands-on with it. If it isn’t perfect, that’s OK—it’s all part of making the room into a space that’s truly their own.
12. Frame their favorite things
From friends to movies to music to art, when a teenager loves something, they love it fiercely. Honor some of those formative friendships and artistic obsessions by professionally framing their favorite photos, vinyl album covers, movie posters or art prints to hang throughout their room so they can surround themselves with the images and people they are building their identities and personalities around.
13. Maximize storage space
Whether it’s childhood toys, outgrown clothes they can’t bring themselves to toss out, keepsakes from school trips or old science fair projects, most teens have plenty of things to store. If you don’t give them ample bedroom storage options, it’ll probably all end up in piles on the floor. Opt for furniture that offers bonus storage space, and make use of any spare room—like under the bed—that can be used to conceal storage bins.
14. Find the perfect area rug
Another great way to involve your teen in room decoration is to have them help pick out a rug. Point out how the color and pattern choices will complement the space, and then see what options they tend to gravitate toward. Just make sure to measure your space and select a piece that will cover plenty of ground without overlapping with any furniture.
15. Hang a photo line
A fun, efficient way to display handmade art and beloved photos and postcards is to hang them from a photo line. If these are hidden away in old shoeboxes, piled into a desk drawer or hung on the refrigerator, consider displaying them as personalized, meaningful decor.
16. Install a removable chalkboard wallpaper panel
Chalkboard wallpaper is an easy way to make a space more fun and interactive. You can use it to cover an entire wall the way you would with decorative wallpaper, or you can cut strips to fit a portion of a wall or even create a custom “chalkboard” by installing it on the side of a dresser, the back of a door or in a thrifted vintage art frame.
17. Go mid-century modern
If you’ve designed the rest of your home around a mid-century modern aesthetic, consider collaborating with your teen to redesign their room with the same principles in mind. These versatile furnishing options make it easy for them to layer on their personal style to create a space that grows with them as their tastes change.
18. Ace the study setup
As your teenager’s quiet little oasis in your home, their bedroom may be the only place they can get their studying and homework done. Set them up for success by focusing on the design of their work area and ensuring they have comfortable seating, space for their textbooks and storage for their school supplies. Setting aside an attractive workspace and reducing desktop clutter can go a long way in helping them get the most out of their study time.
19. Liven things up
Another simple teen bedroom decor idea that can make a huge difference is adding plants to the space. Living plants bring an organic element to the room that truly does make it feel more dynamic and alive, and they even come with the bonus of giving your teen a little more responsibility. Does your teen show no sign of a budding green thumb? No problem. Alternatively, faux plants offer the same design benefits.
20. Designate functional areas
A teenager’s room serves many purposes: It’s a bedroom, a study room, a dining room, a lounge and even a classroom all wrapped up in one space. By stripping back to minimal design and maximizing storage options, you can designate separate functional areas for every type of activity. Try laying out a specific lounge space with comfy seating and a changing and laundry space apart from the bed and desk. You could even consider setting up a closet desk to really isolate their study space.
21. Add a trundle
Trundles are one of the most overlooked teenage bedroom ideas for small rooms. When you’ve got a small space, versatility is a must. Not only do they turn unused space into concealable storage, they offer an added sleeping option if friends stay over.
22. Give them space
Every teen needs a little space, and the same is true for their room. This is more of a general philosophy to consider as you redesign, but it’s important to keep the general principles of easy organization, accessible storage, multifunctionality and minimalism in mind.
23. Make it easy to stay organized
Unless you’ve got an especially diligent teenager in the house, if you want to set them up to keep their room organized and build lasting organizational habits, it helps to make it as easy as possible to keep their clutter in order. Ensure all the storage spaces are easily accessible, and give them somewhere to put their trash, small trinkets, desk supplies and especially their laundry.
24. Use every surface to display their favorite things
Remember that every surface provides another opportunity to display something sentimental for your teen, so make use of the tops of dressers and desks, and consider using a bookcase as a more general display space. Mix it up by showing off their favorite book series on their desk using bookends, and use the space on a bookshelf for pictures, keepsakes and potted plants.
25. Don’t forget fun features
They may (hopefully) be getting a little more mature, but they’re also still kids at heart. Don’t forget to spruce things up with some fun touches like a quirky trinket dish, themed decor or less traditional furniture like an indoor hammock.
26. Start with a lookbook
Many teens take nearly constant cues from friends, social media, shows, magazines and influencers and may be developing a personal style of their own they want to explore. This is an opportunity for them to express themselves and make some surprising choices. Ask them to start a lookbook with designs, decor and furnishings they would love to incorporate into their own room.
27. Make a bed change
Updating their room may be as simple as swapping out their childhood bed for a new one. That could be as basic as updating the headboard to something more stylish and modern, or it could mean upgrading that twin bed to a full one. Just remember that if you change bed sizes, you’ll need to change the bedding as well to make sure you’ve got the right sheet size.
28. Bring in a full-length mirror
Our teenage years are the time when we’re starting to come into our own as individuals as we hone our personal style, discover trends and identify our personal tastes. A small hanging mirror in the bathroom may not be enough to help your teen properly assess their “fit” in the morning, so help them out with a full-length mirror you can prop against a wall or mount to save space.
29. Stay sleepover-ready
If your teen has friends over often, consider adding additional sleeping options to their room so they don’t have to spend the night on the living room couch. Get creative with versatile sleepers like trundles, futons, lofts or daybeds.
30. Incorporate their tastes
Make this a more active experience for them by continually collaborating on any design decisions. If they have a favorite color, use it for an accent wall, for the bedding or to upcycle their existing furniture. If they obsess over their Zodiac sign, find pieces or decals that align with it. If they love a specific animal, symbol, design or aesthetic, blend those elements wherever you can.
31. Go with a touch of boho
Blending aesthetics can be a fun way to personalize a space, and adding boho touches may be just the teenage bedroom decor idea your teen’s room needs. You don’t have to go all-in if the design leans a little more modern or mid-century, but a hanging tapestry, rug or throw might be the perfect boho embellishment to tie things together with that signature laid-back, earthy warmth.
32. Blend in accent lighting
It’s amazing how some extra lighting can really transform a room. Supplement the primary bedroom fixture with string lights or draping lights, or even add an funky table lamp to bring additional warmth while serving as a decorative feature on its own when not in use.
33. Convert an attic or basement
If your teen is sharing a room or is ready to grow into a new space, consider converting a basement or attic into their room to give them more of a sense of independence. This allows them to decorate the space from the ground up and enables you to convert their old room into an office, guest room or a more accessible storage room.
34. Replace a platform bed with a loft
Loft beds come with lots of benefits: They incorporate extra storage, they free up a huge amount of room by utilizing vertical space and they’re also just plain fun for anyone who loves the top level of a bunk bed. Utilize the added space below the bed by turning it into a dedicated study or hangout area.
35. Mount their nightstand
Another simple solution to make a small bedroom look more spacious is to opt for mounted night stands. This gives you the option to either utilize the area below the nightstand for additional storage or decor or leave it open to lend the space a little more breathing room.
36. Make it multifunctional
The key to making efficient use of a smaller room is to incorporate as many multifunctional pieces as possible. Benches, headboards and ottomans that combine essential functionality with extra storage capabilities are always smart choices.
37. Play with palette
What color schemes define your teen? Do bright colors complement their bubbly, extroverted presence? Do warmer shades represent their more introverted, laid-back tendencies? Would neutral tones help them achieve a greater sense of calm and focus? Being intentional about the room’s overall palette gives you the opportunity to reflect their personality or create an atmosphere they can thrive in.
Designing your teen’s bedroom can be a rewarding experience for both of you. With these teenage bedroom ideas for teen-friendly furnishings, decor and organization solutions, we hope you feel inspired to tackle this project together!
