Laura Heynike: How to design the ultimate pad for your teenager
Mixing in a bit of vintage is on trend and also quite a fun trip to op shops.
”Keeping to the budget can be tricky but when shopping for furniture and decor pieces, see if you can do a mix of second-hand and new.”
We all know teenagers need their space, and to be honest we need space from them sometimes!
Constantly pushing boundaries, one thing our young adults love is ownership so why not make their digs a place that they love, feel safe and inspired by.
The first step is to set some rules up so it’s not a free-for-all exercise.
This could be setting a budget, letting them choose a scheme of three colours and a timeframe to achieve the project by. You also might want to include what pieces of furniture they need to keep and this will help to keep the budget on track.
Choosing a scheme is mostly based on their personality.
By now they would have identified with colours they relate to and that reflect their personality.
For example a confident teenager would be drawn to bold or neon colours, while a sensitive and quiet personality will confide in blues and softer pastel hues.
A great outing is taking them to your local paint retailer and taking home some test pots to try.
Keeping to the budget can be tricky but when shopping for furniture and decor pieces, see if you can do a mix of second-hand and new.
Mixing in a bit of vintage is on trend and also quite a fun trip around op shops in the neighbourhood.
Then spend a bit more on an area that needs it the most like a custommade storage and desk solution so they have a productive space to study and keeps their room organised. When designing a teenager’s room it’s also a good idea to think about their friends and where they will sit or hangout.
If you have a bay window turn this into some extra seating or have an armchair in the corner as well as the desk chair.
Lastly, it’s about interpreting your teenager’s personality into something visual.
I usually start by asking about what music they like, perhaps a favourite sport or hobby like comic books. You don’t want to go over the top in theme, but paired with their favourite colours and something they like is a match made in heaven.
I once designed a room for client in Sydney for her 13th birthday.
She was obsessed with makeup so we custom-made a makeup light station and a couple of ottomans so she could have her friends over and do each others makeup.
We also did one in Grey Lynn, loved the idea of a New York loft look, so we went all out with styling linen and wall decor to create her ideal teenaged haven.