When my daughter was in her teens, she wanted to redecorate her room. First of all, she wanted sponge-painted walls which were the rage back then. Rather than wait for her half-brother, a professional house painter, to find time to do it for her, she took matters into her own hands. She and her boyfriend moved her bed into the middle of the room, laid down some drop cloths, and she started in. With a sponge of blue paint in one hand and green in the other, she jumped up and down on her bed and dabbed the paint on wherever her hands happened to hit. The results weren't exactly what I would have picked, but she was very pleased with her new room. No damage was done, because I could always paint over it when she got old enough to leave home.

A teen needs a space that reflects her interests, lifestyle, and personal tastes. She's no longer a child, and her room décor needs to grow up as she does. In fact, her tastes and needs will continue to change throughout her teen years. Allow her to help in designing the ideal space for her needs. Some suggestions might be to add a study area, a music area, and separate sleep space. In the study area you might include a computer and a big cozy chair for reading. Don't overwhelm your daughter by forcing responsibilities on her she isn't ready to handle, though.

While coordinating any bedroom design, there are a number of important factors you always need to consider. They are colors, models, walls, floors, window treatments, bedding, and decoration. More information about each is outlined below:

What's the Color Scheme?

Always consult with your daughter to get her input about the colors she would like to have in her room. The colors she chooses will reflect her personality and help create the perfect living environment for her. Say, for instance, that your daughter loves a bright lime green. Work with her to add a complementary accent color such as hot pink or black. If she chooses a dark shade, such as purple, help her choose bright-colored accessories to go in the room. She knows what she wants, and that will make your job easier.

Start with a Paper Model

It's always good to use a scale model of any room you are remodeling. If you've ever seen a presentation board that was made up by a professional designer, you'll know that this is exactly what they do. On this board they include color swatches, pictures of rooms using similar color schemes, drawings of special aspects of the room, and a floor plan that shows how big the furniture should be and where it should be placed. It's a lot easier to move your paper furniture around on a plan than it is to move actual furniture around a room looking for a good placement.

Your Walls are all around You

The wall color you choose will revitalize your room and provide a springboard for adding accessories to the décor. When choosing wall colors, though, you need to think about how long you're going to live surrounded by them. Magnetic paint is a hot new option for teens. Using it will allow your daughter to hang posters, pictures, and other memorabilia on her walls using magnets instead of wall-damaging nails and pushpins. Other wall treatments which remain popular for teen rooms include stenciling and sponge painting.

Use Neutral Floor Coverings

As I said before, your daughter's tastes are going to change several times during her teen years, and she'll want to change her room to reflect these differences. When choosing a new floor covering for her room, stick to the basics, such as neutral-colored carpeting or a hardwood laminate. These floors will go with any changes she may decide to make.

Window Treatments Make a Statement

Window treatments don't have to be expensive in order to really make a room décor pop! Blinds can be an excellent choice of window coverings these days, because they come in so many different styles and colors and also provide privacy for your teen's room. Blinds don't have to just be wooden or metal slats. Some styles come with colorful tapes. They can be either horizontal or vertical. Some treatments, like Roman Shades, come in a rainbow of colors and fabrics.

Decorate with Style

After you've finished with the remodeling basics of walls, floors, and window treatments, gives your daughter a chance to decide on other, more personal decorative items. She may choose mirrors, pictures, posters, or other forms of wall art. Sit down and actually talk to her about what she'd like to have. You will find that if she is involved in the planning, the room will more fully reflect her personality and provide her with a happier place to live in.

Go Wild with Bedding

The bedding you choose will end up making the room, so make sure it fits in well with the room décor. Although you'll want to stick with the same basic colors, it doesn't matter if patterns match. You can mix and match fabrics with checks, stripes, patterns, and polka dots if that's what your taste dictates, as long as they are in coordinating colors.

You and your teen can have a great time turning her childhood bedroom into a teen retreat. Make sure you tell her about any limits you've set before you ever get started. Then you'll both be free to let your imaginations run wild as you spend time together creating her perfect room.