Buzz
Giving your bedroom a fresh makeover is an excellent way to showcase your creativity and create a space that promotes relaxation and happiness. Start by refreshing your walls with a new coat of paint or fun prints, then update your bed with coordinated blankets and decorative pillows. Incorporate furniture and accessories that bring vibrancy and organization, transforming the room into a space that reflects your unique style.
Steps
Decorating the Walls and Floor
Pick a style and color scheme. To create a harmonious and stylish room, it's best to choose a color palette and style direction before you begin decorating. Select a color scheme that you truly love and won't tire of quickly. While your bedroom should be fun and dynamic, it should also promote a restful sleep. Draw inspiration from online platforms like Pinterest, design magazines, home decor stores, or even design TV shows.
- Soft pastel wall colors with a lively floral bedspread and decor create a feminine yet balanced atmosphere.
- Pairing deep purples and blues with white or cream walls gives the room a calm and soothing ambiance.
- For a chic look, opt for a monochrome palette of black, white, and gray, accented with hints of pink, purple, or blue.
- If you prefer a lively and vibrant style, combine bright pinks and rich oranges with your walls, bedding, and furniture.
Repainting your room can completely change its vibe. A fresh coat of paint is an easy way to transform the look and feel of your room. Discuss your ideas with your parents and explore different color choices together. Take a trip to pick out the paint and offer to assist with the painting to show your commitment to your space.
- Be cautious when picking colors! While vibrant shades may look appealing on paint swatches, they can overwhelm a room. Consider choosing more muted tones to create a soothing atmosphere, like navy blue instead of bright cobalt for a peaceful and warm effect.
- If you choose a bold color, balance it with lighter furniture and blankets. You can incorporate bright accents through pillows, throws, or rugs, or create a feature wall with a bold color behind your bed.
- If repainting isn't an option, don't worry! You can still personalize your space with wall art, throw blankets, and updated furniture.
Display a print, decal, or poster on the wall to liven up your space. Even freshly painted walls can benefit from some extra flair. Look for wall decals, framed prints, or posters featuring your favorite movies, bands, or quotes to add personality to empty wall space.
- Decals come in various shapes and designs. Choose ones that complement your wall color and bedding. You can find decals in stores or online, especially on platforms like Etsy.
- Don't overdo it with decals—placing more than two in a small area can make the space feel crowded. Stick to one large decal or two smaller ones placed strategically.
- To elevate a poster’s appearance, frame it or hang it with wire instead of just taping or pinning it to the wall.
Personalize your wall space with photos or a bulletin board. Frame and hang a few of your favorite photos of family and friends to add a personal touch. For additional display space, consider adding a bulletin board where you can pin up memories, photos, and artwork.
- A small magnetic chalkboard or whiteboard can also work well for displaying photos and jotting down notes. You can even paint part of a wall with magnetic chalkboard paint to create a versatile space for photos and messages without damaging the wall.
- If you don't like the traditional look of cork bulletin boards, cover it with colorful fabric for a more unique appearance.
- Customize your photo frames by decorating the edges with stickers or paint to give them a personalized touch.
Create a cozy lounge corner with a soft rug and throw pillows. Many teen rooms are too small for a full-size couch or chair, but you can still create a comfy corner by stacking large throw pillows on a plush rug.
- If there's extra room, consider adding a beanbag chair or a backrest pillow to make it even more comfortable.
- For a cozy reading nook, add a pouf and some plush cushions in a corner. Complete the space with a floor lamp for some extra light.
Install a mirror to make your room feel larger. A full-length or half-length mirror can help you decide on the perfect outfit while also making your room appear more spacious.
- Add a small mirror in another area for makeup touch-ups and to further open up the room. Make sure mirrors are positioned to avoid reflecting each other.
- Consider placing a mirror on your bedroom door, closet door, or even above your bed for an extra touch of style.
Decorate with string lights for a warm and gentle ambiance. Ask your parents if they have any spare white string lights to brighten up a dull wall or add soft lighting to your room. You can get creative with the lights by arranging them in a pattern or simply draping them across a wall with tape or push-pins.
- Thread the lights through your headboard for a cozy reading light, or wrap them around the top edge of your room for a gentle glow.
Install a lighted mirror garland for a shimmering effect. To create a lighted mirror garland, hang 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) of mirror garland over a curtain rod that’s 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) long, letting the garland cascade towards the floor. Secure the rod in hooks on your wall to create a dazzling, unique decoration.
- Place the garland near a window to maximize its glow. For an extra touch of sparkle, add string lights to the garland.
- Ask your parents to assist with installing the hooks, ensuring they are wide enough for the pole and securely screwed into the wall.
- Mirror garlands can be purchased online or in craft stores.
- For a more decorative touch, consider adding crystals to the garland.
Install hanging shelves to maximize storage in a small space. If you're running out of room for books, decorations, or photos, ask your parents to help you mount shelves on your wall. Hanging shelves are an excellent way to decorate your room while keeping it organized.
- Hanging shelves can be found at furniture stores, or you can create your own with your parents for a fun DIY project.
- If you don’t have space for a nightstand, try placing the shelves beside your bed to hold essentials.
Enhancing the Bed Area
Pick a comforter that complements your room’s vibe. Your comforter or duvet is the focal point of your room, so choosing the right color or design can greatly impact the look! Browse home stores, online shops, and catalogs to find one that fits your room’s aesthetic.
- For a plush and cozy feel, go for a fluffy comforter and layer it with one or two throw blankets at the foot of the bed. Add a few throw pillows to complete the look.
- If your room has vibrant walls or you’re planning to add bold furniture, opt for a pastel or white comforter for a more understated vibe.
- If your walls are light-colored, feel free to go for a bright or patterned comforter to add a pop of color to your bed.
- If buying a new comforter isn’t an option, revamp your bed with stylish blankets, or even try making your own comforter to suit your style.
Rearrange your bed to transform your room layout. Changing the position of your bed, whether by rotating it or placing it on the opposite side of the room, can instantly refresh your space. Discuss with your parents the idea of shifting your bed to a new spot, or turning it to sit in the center of the room rather than against the wall.
- When selecting a new spot for your bed, aim to position the headboard against a wall without pipes, and ensure it’s close enough to a window for natural light.
- If you’re concerned about placing the bed near the window, hang curtains to block out light during those lazy mornings when you want to sleep in.
- For a daybed vibe, place one long side of the bed against a wall and add pillows along the edge. It’s a cozy spot to relax or study, and the pillows can easily be moved when it’s time for bed.
Add playful throw pillows to your bed for a pop of color. Look for pillows that are both stylish and comfortable, matching your comforter and room decor. Scatter 3-4 pillows casually across your bed, or stack them neatly for a more polished look.
- Choose pillows in different shapes and sizes to complement your room’s style.
Place an end table at the foot of your bed for extra storage. A storage bench at the foot of your bed is a chic way to keep clutter out of sight while adding an additional seating option. Check out home stores and online retailers for a bench that complements your bedding.
- For even more storage, pick up colorful bins from a home store and tuck them underneath the bed to hide your clutter.
Opt for a mounted headboard to save space and create a clean look. A headboard mounted on the wall can push your bed away from the wall by a foot or more, freeing up valuable space in a small room. Talk to your parents about removing the headboard or installing a wall-mounted version to save space and create a tidy aesthetic.
- If you prefer, hang a decorative wall tapestry or scarf behind your bed as an alternative to a traditional headboard.
Hang a blanket above your bed for a boho-inspired canopy. If a full princess canopy feels too juvenile, try draping a light, patterned blanket across the top of your bed. Suspend it from the ceiling, letting it hang 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) above your pillows to create a breezy, relaxed vibe.
Furnishing Your Space with Style
Repurpose a small table as a desk and style it with vibrant containers. If you don’t have a desk, choose a compact table that fits your space while keeping things light and airy in your room. Personalize it with accessories like a lamp, pencil holder, bookends, and a digital clock to match your room’s color scheme.
- Avoid overcrowding your desk with too many knick-knacks, especially if it’s a spot you’ll use for homework. The clutter can distract you from studying.
Place a cute, small trash can to easily discard clutter. Pick up a small trash can either online or from a home store, choosing one that complements your room's design. Set it in a corner to provide a convenient spot for tossing out paper scraps, clothing tags, or any other small waste items.
- If you don’t have a lot of trash, repurpose a basket or other container you already own as a creative trash bin.
- Make sure to empty your trash can weekly to prevent any buildup of clutter.
- Avoid using the small trash can for food waste, as it can cause odors and attract insects.
Organize your makeup with a magnetic board. Buy a magnet board and cover it with fabric that fits your room’s color theme. Then, attach small, strong magnets to the back of your makeup containers like eyeshadow, blush, and bronzer. Stick them on the board to create a cute and organized display.
- To organize your brushes and eyeliners, attach magnets to a small plastic cup. Place your mascara, brushes, and liners in it, then stick the cup onto the board for added convenience.
Repurpose a colorful trash can as a nightstand. To create a fresh bedside table, buy an inexpensive, colorful trash can and turn it upside down to use as a cute, functional table next to your bed.
- Look for a trash can with appealing designs or patterns that complement your bedding and walls. Alternatively, you can use a plain one, flip it over, and spray paint it your desired color—glittery gold is a fun and bold option.
Give your dresser drawers a pop of color with fabric decoupage. Cut a piece of fabric to fit your dresser drawer, wash, and dry it first. Apply Mod Podge to both the fabric and the drawer, then carefully press the fabric on in sections, smoothing it out with a straight edge.
- If using a thin cotton fabric, first paint your dresser drawers white. This will prevent darker colors from bleeding through as Mod Podge can make thin fabrics semi-translucent.
- Start practicing on a small piece of wood to master the technique before working on the drawers.
Transform an old filing cabinet into a modern storage piece with paint. Ask your parents if they have an old filing cabinet that’s no longer in use and give it new life as a functional storage unit. Sand it lightly, clean it, then apply 3-4 coats of paint using a roller.
- For added organization, use chalk paint and label each drawer with chalk, or go bold with a neon color like pink or yellow for a contemporary touch.
- To prepare the cabinet, wipe it down with a wet cloth to remove any dust, and let it dry thoroughly before painting.
Revitalize lamp bases with a fresh coat of spray paint. Update an outdated lamp by applying a coat of bright spray paint. Take the lamp outside, place it on newspaper, and spray evenly on all sides.
- Allow the lamp to dry completely outdoors or in a garage, following the drying time indicated on the spray paint can.
- Be sure to remove the lampshade before painting to avoid getting paint on it.
Create a stylish dressing area with a tailor’s mannequin. Buy a female dress form mannequin from a craft store or order one online. Dress it in a beautiful outfit and place it in a corner of your room, near a mirror or vanity, to create a chic dressing area.
- Choose a dress form instead of a full-body mannequin to save space and maintain an elegant, timeless look.
- Let the mannequin express your style by changing its outfit according to the season, or dress it up to get excited for an upcoming event like a dance.
