Turn her room into her own personal paradise.
It's not revolutionary to say each person's bedroom is a sacred, personal place, but it's worth repeating when you're talking about a teenage girl. Do you remember how crucial your privacy was when you were a teen? And since you're here, we bet you were pretty insistent about discovering your own sense of style. So you get why the design and look of a teen girl's bedroom is so important. Wherever your teenager is in her coming-of-age storyline, you can show her you care (and maybe even impress her) by offering up a room makeover—and to make sure it's a success, use these teen girl bedroom ideas as a starting point.
You have a few good options here. You could start small and ease her into the redesign process, say, by switching out her childhood headboard for one that's more playful and fun. You could replace her overhead boob light with a statement chandelier or install a cool hanging chair or two if there's room. For a medium-sized project, have her pick out a new paint color and redo the walls or, better yet, go ahead and paste on a bold wallpaper. If you're ready to do something big, we've got ideas for that too: Add a built-in desk, commission a hand-painted mural, or install bunk beds for when her friends sleep over.
No matter what you and the teen in your life envision, you'll both find plenty inspiration in our designer-approved list below. Happy redecorating!
1
Dedicate a Wall to Schoolwork
What's better than a desk? A whole wall dedicated to storing her school supplies. If you don't have enough room in the house to fully separate school from life, make sure your teenager has a space solely for homework and studying that she can leave behind when she's finished for the day. Interior designer Gina Sims added a much-needed element of fun to this homework-centric built-in with a coat of vibrant green Sherwin-Williams Inland paint.
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2
Install Feminine Sconces
If you look closely, you'll see clear butterflies flitting across these otherwise simple sconces—what a perfect way to add a touch of femininity to your teen's room! They're from the same Gina Sims project as the gorgeous green desk above. They're a great transitional element for a tween's room as she moves closer to the age where she'll want more "grown-up" decor.
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3
Hang Woodland Wallpaper
Using wallpaper for an accent wall is a great idea, and if your teen girl is an animal lover, choose a print featuring a few of her faves. In this room by CuffHome, the dark background has a nice moodiness that balances the pastel colors of the bedding, nightstand.
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4
Choose an Unconventional Headboard
In Colleen Bashaw's daughter's room, a framed elephant textile hangs behind the more traditional and feminine four-poster bed, instantly shifting it in a more eclectic and mature direction. To give your teen girl's bedroom a quick tune-up, find a textile she loves (or blow up a print), and hang it at center stage behind her bed.
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5
Embrace Circus Tent Chic
In case you haven't gotten the memo yet: Painted ceilings are the new accent walls. Coat your teen's ceiling in a wide stripe pattern for that fun, summery circus tent chic look. It's whimsical but also very beachy, a fact that Colleen Bashaw embraced here by choosing rattan accents and other vibrant accessories.
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6
Accessorize With Natural Textures
Balance a room that feels a little too soft with rough-textured accessories, like this rattan table lamp. The plush headboard, scalloped pillowcases, and pastel blue wall could skew babyish, but the brown lamp (with the same scallop) and vintage art Lilse McKenna added to the mix bring much-needed visual weight.
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7
Balance Sophistication and Youthfulness
Give a girlish room an air of sophistication by combining youthful patterns (like this Liberty print fabric) with more mature choices (like the solid, textured wallcovering and graffiti-style art). Next Wave Class of 2022 designer Hilary Matt wanted something "sweet but not babyish" for this teen girl bedroom. We think it's safe to say that she succeeded.
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8
Highlight Her Art
In this teen girl's office by Jeremiah Brent, her own drawings decorate the wall. Sculptural furnishings like the Light Cookie chandelier, Eternity Modern sofa, and Urban Outfitters floor lamp complete the creative and sophisticated vibe.
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9
Install Built-In Bookshelves
If your teen girl's bedroom is lacking in closet space—or doesn't have a closet at all—install a built-in that doubles as clothing storage and a mini desk. This burl wood wall unit designed by Matt also introduces an interesting pattern to the room.
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10
Use Mature Colors
Not all teen girls want pinks, purples, and pastels—some prefer a darker, moodier palette. So why not give them one? Don't worry: If you don't like the idea of painting all four walls something dark (in case she changes her mind), show your teen this bedroom by ABD Studio and tell her she can have one dark accent wall and bring in complementary colors through her art and accessories.
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11
Lean on Vintage Influences
Whether you're decorating on a budget or your teen simply likes antiques, slowly replace her little-girl decor with vintage pieces, like a wall-mounted mirror or light fixture. (Bonus points if you go treasure hunting together.) Ashley Hanley gave this room character with an intricate mirror and vintage-inspired flush-mount light.
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12
Decorate With Macramé
Macramé is a beautiful, intricate textile art that looks stunning on a wall, especially if that wall is a dark color and the art is light, like in this room by Betsy Wentz. You can go about macramé one of two ways: You can buy a beautiful wall hanging, or you can learn how to make it yourself. It could even be a fun bonding opportunity for you and your teen.
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13
Set Her Up With a Monitor
If your teen is a big gamer, surprise her with a dual computer monitor setup. Take a cue from Brooklinteriors and make it a whole separate alcove if you can, with fun wallpaper and floating shelves. Even better: It'll double as a homework station!
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14
Set Up a Desk Slash Vanity
Kill two birds with one stone, and set your teen up with a desk-vanity combination. This is especially helpful if her room is lacking in space. Sprinkle on a bit more creativity and make the mirrors reminiscent of windows, as Camila Pavone did here.
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15
Shop From Women-Owned Businesses
The wallpaper in this bedroom is by Lauren Haskell, one of many women-owned businesses Camila Pavone prioritized using in this renovation. Follow in her footsteps and take time with your teen to research women-owned shops to lean on for her room makeover.
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16
Paint the Trim
To give your teen's room a crisp, elegant feel, paint the ceiling trim and wall in two different, sophisticated colors that coordinate with her bedding. Carleton Varney made this bedroom more interesting still by painting the ceiling and walls in different shades of blue.
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17
Embrace a Single Print
Keep the accents consistent and match the drapes to a piece of furniture in your teen's room, like an armchair or her bed's headboard. It'll most likely require custom upholstery, but it'll look so chic and elegant, just like this Carleton Varney project.
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18
Add a Window Bench
A window bench is such a cute way to add seating in your teen's room for when she has friends over or wants a sunny spot to read. A cushioned window seat is never a bad investment. Plus, you can build extra storage into the base, as Chauncey Boothby did here.
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19
Make It a Bunk Room
It's possible you have two teen girls in need of a bedroom makeover, in which case you should seriously consider built-in bunk beds. In this small teen girl room, Chauncey Boothby squeezed in an elegant set fitted with a sliding ladder for easy access and inset shelves. (No nightstands necessary.) It's such a clever idea that looks so clean.
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20
Paint Furniture Bold Colors
Painting your teen's furniture is a relatively easy way to add more color to her room. Take these dressers from an Elizabeth Georgantas project as a bright, stylish example. Getting out the blue painters tape and doing it yourself will only make the resulting piece—and the project—feel more special and sentimental.
