Redecorating: Is It Time to “Tween-Up” Your Daughter’s Bedroom?

Little girl bedrooms conjure up images of pastel pink walls and canopy beds, fluffy bed skirts and gingham pink, yellow and green bedspreads. You might imagine walls with butterflies and fairies, hearts and flowers. But what happens when your little girl suddenly becomes a tween and wants to start expressing her own style ideas? What happens when she wants her own decorated and designer bedroom? What happens when your sweet little girl wants a room of her own?

Before you give in to the dark purple and black painted walls that she insists she will love until the day she moves out for college (after all, she’s only 12!), let’s consider some things here.

#1. She’s 12! (Or 11, or whatever age - fill in the blank.) Of course, she’s not going to love purple and black walls forever. I learned this the hard way when we agreed that my daughter could have pepto bismol-pink and chocolate walls for the next six years of her life. (That trend lasted only two years!) Agree on a neutral-color paint for walls. Opt for a subtle gray, soothing blue, soft brown, or warm white. While your daughter may not like this idea from the start, I promise you, the end result will amaze her. And you’ll be much happier since you won’t have to repaint walls in two years. (Like we had to do!)

#2. Stay away from themed rooms. Don’t get crazy with major animal prints or a particular hobby. Of course it’s OK to add small elements (we’ll get to this later), but painting a huge giraffe on the wall - definitely not a smart idea. This is a bedroom, not a dance studio or a zoo. Let’s remember that the main purpose is to offer a calm place to hang out and sleep.

#3. Do encourage a POP of color. Now that the walls are a neutral color, add her favorite color in other ways. That way, if she gets bored with that vibrant purple she loved when she was 11, when she’s 16 she can switch it up inexpensively. Add pillows, sheets, lamps, wall stickers and accent rugs to make the room unique and colorful. Since she might be a little mad about the wall paint choice, agree to let her pick out any bed comforter she wants.

#4. Personalize without going overboard. As we mentioned earlier, don’t create a themed room. However, add special items that showcase your daughter’s personality and hobbies. If she’s a dancer, hang her ballet slippers from a hook in the corner from the ceiling. If she loves horses, frame a picture of her riding a horse. Little personal touches are so much more endearing than just throwing a room together, and they’re so much more meaningful.

#5. Create a hang-out spot. Whether you have room for a desk, or even a place for a bean bag and a standing lamp, a place where she and a friend or two can can hang out to chat is a great addition.

You can keep a room re-design simple and easy, and by encouraging some ideas from your daughter, it can be manageable, fun and inexpensive too. A little paint and some imagination and your little girl can tween up her room without too much drama. And with these easy steps, she’ll be able to go from tween to teen with no trouble as well. Just promise me you’ll do yourself a favor… do NOT agree on pepto bismol pink walls no matter how adorable you think the room might turn out. You’ll thank me later.

Read about these simple and glam rooms from the FPgirl members!