How to Decorate a Teen Boy Bedroom

Your little boy is growing up! Isn't it time to bring his living space up to speed? Be innovative in your approach to the décor of his room to best reflect the young man he's growing up to be. Unsure of what he wants? Try these teen friendly decorating tips on for size.

Encourage him to get involved in decorating his room as a mode of self expression; his interests, lifestyle choices, and personality. Be warned however, teen boys may not be the most eager participants in a decorating process.

Step one may be to choose the paint scheme that fits the room best. Bold colors are an option, as are neutral ones with a strong accent wall. If you opt to choose colors from paint chips, remember to apply paints a few shades lighter than your pick. You may also get sample containers of a number of paints and ask him to try them out about three square feet of each on one of the walls to find out which works best. It may pay to leave room for adaptability by sticking to a neutral color such as white, grey, or beige if your teen boy is fickle in his choice of color.

Furniture is the next major step. Basics such as the bed, dresser, and desk should be sturdy, simple, and coherent with the paint theme. Allocate them in functional ways, to cater to his needs; a sleeping area, study zone, and space to entertain friends are stable choices. Accessorize freely, letting him have his pick of cheap "funky" gear such as beanbag chairs, cushy throw-rugs, bold lamps, flashy bedding, etc. These things can easily be replaced when a new look comes along.

Add curtains, framed wall art, and posters of his favorite video game, sports teams, movies or musicians. Make sure to include a waste basket to help reduce the junk in his room. Innovate to create the most storage possible to control the mess in his room. Accessibility is key to the usage of storage space when designing for teens.

Adhere to simplicity in your decorating quest, and always lean towards what you think says "welcome home" best.