Teenage hangout at home
TEEN HAVEN: How to turn an extra room in your house into a space for kids to play, study or just kick back
Q: My family and I recently moved into an old two-and-a-half-storey house with more space than we need, but the price was right, so we went for it. On the second floor, there is a very large room (approximately 500 square feet) that my husband and I thought would make a great space for our teenage kids (they actually get along) to study, watch TV or hang out with friends. Any ideas on how to infuse some personality so that it doesn’t appear like one large student lounge?
A: You and your husband can pat yourselves on the back for raising children who get along well enough to leave unrefereed in a space designated and designed just for them. Bravo!
Five hundred square feet is a generous-sized room to work with, so you have plenty of space to plan separate zones within the room, helping to cosy up the overall look and feel.
Here are a few recommendations you and your family can tweak to suit how you live:
TV/games/lounge zone
I think we can safely assume this area of the room will be the most utilized and therefore deserves the most space. A sectional sofa is a great choice, not only because it’s practical for the number of kids it can hold, but it can also help create a visual divide from other zones in the room. Add to this an oversized durable coffee table and a comfy chair or two, and your kids and their friends can watch TV, play games and eat pizza without ever disturbing you.
Table tennis/pool table/foosball zone
I don’t know if any of these activities are a requirement for your kids, but you have the space and they provide great hand-eye coordination the old-fashioned way.
Study/snack/board game zone
Rather than creating individual work stations, I recommend one long table that your kids can either study at or have classmates over when working on a group project. This table can multi-task for eating, crafting or playing board games. My inspiration photo features a room by Roughan Interior Design (roughaninteriors.com). Designed by Christina Sullivan Roughan for her client’s three children, ranging from age 12 to college age, the goal was the same as yours: “To provide a space the children could call their own and feel at home in.”
Sticking to a palette of bold blue, apple green and cream, the room feels modern and youthful without looking juvenile. I recommend choosing colours, as Roughan did, that not only work for your children’s tastes now, but as they grow older. And most importantly, remember this room is for your children and their friends and not necessarily you and your husband, so consult with them on major decisions.
Roughan set a playful tone for the room and infused a great deal of personality by covering the floor in a wide-striped blue-and-white carpet. If budget is a concern, you can achieve a similar look by painting your floor (you did say your house is old, so I’m hoping you have hardwood that would benefit from a paint job) or using bright modern throw rugs. Alternatively, carpet tiles will work well in this area, considering the traffic and potential spills.
Though the walls in this room (papered in a cream grass cloth) provide a sophisticated backdrop to showcase the furnishings, you may want to utilize your walls to add a pop into your 500-square-foot room. Consider using a bold wallpaper for a feature wall or take inspiration from the carpet in the photo and paint wide horizontal stripes on your walls.