Decorating Your Preteen's Bedroom Can Be A Challenge

The day has finally come when your son or daughter asked to take down their cartoon wallpaper. Or perhaps you overheard them whining to their friends about the childish bedding and dated furniture filling their room. Either way, when the time arrives to tackle the bedroom of your preteen, there are some things you can expect to deal with.

They will want to have input and lots of it. They also may have different tastes in decorating than you and will express them forcefully if necessary. You need to decide ahead of time whether it is worth the effort to hold your ground about this or whether you will just let them do their own thing.

Be prepared for bold colors and bean bag chairs, as well as space for laptops, flat screen televisions and all of the latest gadgets out there.

For extra storage space, look at buying innovative furniture like a twin loft bed. With plenty of room for sleeping, a loft bed also leaves open floor space. Solid wood or metal painted in a neutral color is the best choice. Invest in furniture that has sturdy construction to ensure that it lasts.

Give away the comforter with their favorite comic book hero on it. Trust them when they say it's time for something new. Look for a bedding collection that will compliment the wall and flooring color, but will not become dated next year. Stay away from flowers or intricate swirls, unless your child absolutely insists. Try to pick something you can both live with.

Take a look at the artwork in their bedroom. You could change it to reflect their older fancies, but be aware that whoever is hot today will be stone cold by tomorrow. Instead of prints or frames, install one large cork board and give them free reign to pin up their favorites. That way when the mood changes the posters can be easily taken down to make room for the next new thing.

Most preteens have their own computers and need some solitary work space in the bedroom. Take a look at combination furniture to get the most bang for your buck. Day beds can work, but won't give your child an adequate desk surface. Check out the popular loft beds with desk built right in. That way your preteen will have that new bed and a solid desk to match.

Design for simple decorating and solid, easy to care for furniture. Let them do the choosing to help them feel a part of the process. Enjoy the chance to explore what your child likes and dislikes. Then go away and give them their space, they're getting a text and need to do their homework.