10-year-olds or tweens -- in between the age of a small child and a teenager -- may seem like some of the most challenging people to design a room for. Their likes are changing, they no longer want a babyish bedroom, but they’re not ready for more outrageous teenage decor. Because you probably don’t want to buy new furniture and repaint walls again in two or three years, use discernment to reevaluate your maturing child's bedroom space.
Color
Your 10-year-old may think she has outgrown the cotton-candy-pink or baby-blue paint covering her walls, but don’t be too quick to rule out the soft color, unless it’s peeling or flaking onto the floor. By introducing vivid color combinations with a more grownup palette, such as red against pink or lime green alongside subtle blue, in the form of a faux fur rug, snazzy art and classic, but cool bedding, you can create a space that feels slightly more mature.
Furniture
If the furniture in your child’s room is sturdy and still in fair condition, give it an updated look rather than replacing it. Sand down a painted or natural-wood dresser and bedside table to remove grime, flaking paint or leftover goo from stickers applied during the kindergarten era. Thumb through design magazines with your preteen to discover what type of furniture he or she approves of. Recreate a similar look with paint or stain and new drawer pulls. If he or she doesn't already have one, choose a neutral metal or wood desk that will see them through to high school and beyond.
Sentimental Art
Although a 10-year-old may no longer need her blankie or favorite bedtime book, she likely won’t want to part with it. Turn it into long-treasured art. Get creative with wall hangings or shadow boxes, and find a way to encase the beloved piece without destroying it. For example, a decoratively tattered hardcover could live on housed inside a silver or brown picture frame behind protective glass, or a patterned blanket could find new life on the wall spread wrinkle-free in a poster frame.
Accessories
Spend an afternoon shopping for a few timeless accessories to bring a sense of maturity to your tween's room. A new alarm clock might replace a silly, colorful wall clock. A grown-up style wood blind or white roller shade could take the place of frilly or bright-colored curtains. Baskets set on a bookshelf can replace a toy box to hold the play items she still uses. A crystal or metal table lamp can provide a sense of adulthood as compared to the licensed princess or action-hero lamp that was her idea of must-have bedroom decor three or four years ago.
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