Does your teen crave his own space? Does he want his own private hang-out? Are you struggling with ideas on how to make this happen for your teenager? The solution may be as close as your garage, workshop, or storage building. All it takes is a little imagination and creativity, a few expenses, and a lot of initiative, and you and your son or daughter can create a great teen getaway in your own yard.
First, you need to take a good look around your property and decide where this new space should go. If you have a workshop, you don’t actually have to give up your tools, bikes, and other items to make room for your teen’s new spot. There are so many storage ideas available today, and many of these storage options can make use of every single space, including walls and ceilings. You might want to wander through your local building supply company to get some ideas on what you want to purchase to store any of those items that simply must stay in the workshop, storage building, or garage.
Next, you will need to get organized. Don’t be afraid to get your teen in on the act. After all, the purpose of this organization is to make a space for him. Look around the workshop or storage area, and decide what should stay and what should go. You can put many sets of shelves along the walls. If your teen doesn’t like the way they look, you can cover them later with eye-appealing curtains. You can hang bikes and other items from the ceiling, and these can actually add to the look of the new hangout. Don’t be afraid to get rid of items you never use. You can donate them to places such as the Salvation Army, and these donations are typically tax deductible. Another great idea would be to have a yard sale. You and your teen can use the money that you make from the sale to purchase decorative accessories for the new room.
Now that you’ve organized your area, it is time to add some personality and color. Since this area will mostly be used by your teenager, she should be allowed a lot of input as to the color scheme of the room. If she isn’t sure what she likes, you should both visit local department stores and look at various accessories, such as pillows, posters, and inexpensive chairs. Once she has found the colors she likes, you might want to purchase one item to take with you to a paint or building supply store. Most paint stores can color match paint to almost any item.
You and your child can now paint the walls, ceiling, and even the floors. Contrasting colors look great, and the more colorful this area is, the better! Obviously, you may not be able to go out and buy expensive furniture to place in the new hangout, but you really don’t have to. All your child and her friends really need is a place to sit. There are many colorful lawn chairs available at reasonable prices. They can easily be moved from one place to another, and you can buy several for much less than the price of one upholstered chair. Plus, if they become too dirty or broken, they are inexpensive to replace.
Throw pillows and large beanbags also make excellent seats, and you and your teen can arrange them in interesting patterns. You might want to invest in a large area rug, which may be your most expensive item. If you can afford it, though, it will do wonders for the room.
If you plan on placing a television, DVD player, stereo system or any other expensive piece of equipment in the room, you will need to make sure that you have a sufficient way to lock up the building. You may be struggling for ideas on where to place these items. All you really need is some concrete blocks and a few pieces of plywood. Paint the blocks and wood in contrasting colors, and create sturdy shelves for the TV, stereo system, video games, and books.
If you placed shelves along the walls to store items, you can easily cover these up by hanging long rods from the ceiling. Find cheap, coordinating fabric to hang from the rods, and these curtains will hide any of your storage items. The curtains will also create a cozier atmosphere for the room.
Finally, add any accessories your teen likes and can afford, such as posters, paintings, candles, etc. He and his friends can enjoy their new hangout, and you can be happy knowing he is nearby.
