The 4 S’s of a Functional Teen Room

When planning a functional bedroom for your teen, there are several things to consider. Their tastes and personal style, your budget, the intended use of the room, etc. There are four key functions that need to be addressed in the planning stages: sleeping, storage, studying and socializing. The 4 S’s:)

Sleeping: Obviously a primary function of any bedroom, this is probably the easiest of the four areas to plan for. If you have a limited space, space saving solutions like loft beds and futons are perfect for a teen. A loft bed opens the space below for other functions, while a futon doubles as part of the social area when they are awake.

Storage: A teen has a number of different storage needs that need to be considered. This may include clothes, keepsakes, cd’s and dvd’s, books, special collections, hobby and sports supplies, etc. This list will vary for each teen and their specific interests. There are many options for storage in a teen room including the standard dresses, storage cubes, closets, etc. If you have limited space, make ultimate use of your closet space. A good closet organization system will allow you to eliminate the need for a dresser, freeing up space in the bedroom for other functions. Under-the-bed storage and wall mounted shelves are also great ways to add storage without using up much space.

Studying: As much as they hate it, study is part of most teen lives and so that needs to be considered. When planning this function of the room, you need to first decide where they will study. On their bed? At a desk? In another room? If so, do you still need a desk space for hobbies, etc? What about equipment? Will they need a computer or other equipment or will that be provided elsewhere? How will this study area stay organized? And last but not least, lighting! Proper lighting in the area of the room intended for study is very important to be effective.

Socializing: Social interaction is a vital part of teen development and providing an inviting, safe place for that interaction to occur is an essential part of parenting your teen. Use and comfort are both important to consider. Do you want your teen and their friends to be able to play video games or watch tv in the room, or would you prefer to keep that to a family room? When they are in the room, visiting or playing games, where will they sit? What about sleepovers? Futons, pull out beds, bean bag chairs, and small sofa’s are just a few of the many great options for a teen room. I like things like futons that provide for both socializing during the day and extra sleeping space when needed.

Bedroom shown available from Target. Free Shipping on Select Furniture at Target.com

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