How to transition from a kid to tween bedroom?
Photo credit: Festoon House String Lights
As your kids transition from child to tween, they’ll likely want to make a lot of changes, including their bedroom decor. But it’s not just about redecorating, it’s about marking this exciting time of growth and acknowledging their individuality to create a room they’ll love. Plus, you can make this a fun project that you can bond over. So, where do you start? This guide is a great starting point that you can customize based on your budget and your tween’s needs.
Let’s get started!
Upgrade the furniture
Colorful, small, or plastic furniture might be cute for a kid’s room, but once your child enters their tween phase and beyond it’s just impractical. Upgrading core pieces of furniture like their bed and nightstand is necessary, but you can also add a desk to help them do their homework more independently. Other furnishings you might want to swap out include:
- T.V. stand
- Lamps and lighting
- Seating
While it might be expensive to shop for more mature furniture, going with a high-quality brand like Liberty Furniture can ensure that your investment lasts as long as they’re in the house.
Let them pick the colors
Letting go of the reins on your home’s decor can be a little unsettling at first, but giving your tween the freedom to pick the colors of their room can be a big step in helping them create a space of their own and empower them to make their own decisions. Encourage them to choose a few colors and help them understand which colors complement one another so their room still looks nice but suits their style. Introduce them to color psychology to help them pick a hue that allows them to express themselves and create a good mood for their space. And, if you’re not ready to let them go crazy, you can let them paint an accent wall in the color of their choice. That way, it isn’t overwhelming or too much work to cover up if you end up moving.
Give them a budget for decor
To really take the room from kid to tween, they should be able to personalize their space with some special touches. Give them a budget for decor that allows them to pick some items that make their space feel more sophisticated. Some good ideas for decor that makes a room feel less kiddish can include:
- Throw pillows
- New bedding
- Pictures
- String lights
- Rugs
- Knick knacks
If they don’t have an exact idea of what they want, have them make a Pinterest board with the style they like and help them find similar decor. And, if they want the most bang for their buck, sign up for email newsletters from Pottery Barn Teen and other trendy stores, you’ll be surprised how much you can save with welcome discounts and holiday sales.
Update storage solutions
While having all of their favorite things surrounding them probably brought them joy in childhood, now that they’re a tween, they’ll likely want to keep their room much tidier. Purchasing some sleek storage solutions can help them do that and save you the headache of having to remind them to clean their room before company comes over. Need some inspiration? Here are some easy storage ideas you can add to your tween’s room:
- Underbed storage bins (measure how much space you have before you head to the store)
- Hanging closet organizers (pocket or shelf shoe organizers work great)
- Drawer organizers (fabric for clothing, acrylic or metal for other supplies and gadget)
- Vacuum sealed clothing bags (store their off-season clothing in here to save space)
One stop to the Container Store should have you covered on all your storage needs. Keeping their room organized will help them feel focused, help limit their stress, and teach them good tidying habits to be more self-sufficient.
Use these tips to guide your process as you help your tween transform their childhood bedroom into their own cool haven. Whether you’re making changes over time or are going to do one big overall, take the opportunity to spend quality time with your child as they transition into this important phase. They’ll be thankful that you were so supportive and helped them create their new space.