Interior Design Advice for Transitioning Children's Rooms Into Teen Retreats

 Room Makeovers Are a Fun, Grown-up, Summer Project for Parents and Teens According to Interior Designers

TAMPA, Fla.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--What happens when the little girl who loved pink and canopy beds becomes a teenager? Her bedroom, once perfect for an eight-year-old, will need updating. Interior design firm Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors recommends that parents and teens work as a team when remodeling teen bedrooms. It can be a fun project they'll look back on for years to come.

“Especially for teens entering high school next fall, now's the time to get started on updating a teen bedroom”

Priscilla Castellano, an interior designer and owner of Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors in South Tampa, Fla., has a long list of specialties including luxury interior designing, home restorations, and decorating bedrooms for baby nurseries to teenagers. She believes summer is prime time for teen-bedroom decorating projects.

"Especially for teens entering high school next fall, now's the time to get started on updating a teen bedroom,” said Castellano. “Well-designed bedrooms can help teens be more successful, both socially and academically.”

Likely, a teenage girl will want a bedroom to reflect that she’s more mature, which means that frilly canopy and girly-girl pink is likely history. Sons may not be as particular about their rooms, but chances are they don't want that dinosaur wallpaper from second grade. The bedroom also needs to be multipurpose, where the teen can study, entertain friends, and store an avalanche of stuff.

Here are more tips from Castellano:

• Encourage studying by including a desk, shelving, good lighting, and room for the computer. Teens are able to concentrate in a well-equipped space.

• Allow plenty of room for self-expression, but be prepared to modify some over-the-top ideas. For instance, instead of deep teal or black paint, pick a lighter shade in the same color family.

• Think about seating for when friends come over, such as floor pillows. Also, furniture companies have product lines designed for teenagers.

• Call in an interior designer who can maximize space, function, and tie it all together.

Founded in 1999, Andrea Lauren Elegant Interiors is a full-service interior design firm located at 3006 West Swann Avenue, Tampa, Fla. Its designers coordinate all aspects of interior design, from space planning, to installations, to interior decorating for residential homes and commercial offices. Specialties include coastal living, kitchen and bath remodeling, children's rooms, home theaters, contemporary spaces, and more. Visit www.andrealaureninteriors.com.