Every January I set myself a list of DIY projects, and this year it’s especially sizeable given we’re about to move into our very own home. For the first time ever we’ll be out of rented and not restricted to magnolia walls. As exciting as it is, there’s a lot of pressure to get it right, particularly as we’ve talked up the children’s bedrooms to cushion the blow of them leaving their friends.

Although my two aren’t teenagers, we really want to pick themes that will transition neatly into early adulthood. They might be sold on their favourite cartoons at the moment but their interests are short-lived and we’re keen to avoid constantly donning overalls to update their rooms. But just what makes the perfect transitional teen bedroom?

The essentials

The bedroom of a teenager is a form of refuge - it needs to serve as somewhere to sleep, work, have mates round, and escape from mum and dad. They’ll treat their room (however modest the size) as a self-contained apartment within your home, so it demands an awful lot within an often tight space.

If you can get away with it, I’d definitely recommend a small double divan bed with plenty of storage. Although a double bed might seem like a luxury, your teen will use it for reading, studying and listening to music, as well as sleeping. When they eventually fly the nest, a double will also allow a quicker transition to a guest room.

You’ll also need a comfortable workspace for all that homework. If you’re up against it space-wise, you might also consider a vertically oriented study area; a small surface for writing whilst making use of vertical space above and below the table surface for storage and other items. Otherwise there are a number of clever workstations that essentially fold away when not in use - these are also ideal for clearly separating work and play to promote better sleep (so often overlooked in teenagers rooms).

Finally, they’ll also need some comfy chairs, pillows or beanbags for when they’re entertaining. Again, if space is at a premium, invest in decent textiles that can be thrown on both bed and floor to create somewhere cosy for a gossip (or spot of gaming) .Never has the need for clever zoning been more apparent than a teen’s bedroom!

Storage and lighting

With so much bulky furniture gobbling up space in their bedroom, storage is absolutely essential. You’ll need a real mix; from shelving to display all the bits and bobs they’re happy to show off to mates, and drawers & baskets to squirrel away the things they aren’t.

My best advice is realise the potential of every square inch of wall space. If you have a little money to spend, invite a carpenter round to ensure you’re maximising the space, particularly when dealing with quirky or pocket-sized dimensions.

As regards lighting, you’ll likely be at the mercy of your teens when it comes to colour schemes, and sadly many will plump for darker oppressing tones. Yet good lighting is key when you’re asking so much of one room. Natural light is considered best for applying make-up and studying, whereas spot lights and fairy lights can transform a densely furnished bedroom at night. Play around with different lighting to really help your teen achieve a well-zoned bedroom, and avoid heavier darker window dressings to invite in as much sunlight as you can.

Styling it up

Although you’ll mostly be led by your teen in terms of decoration, there are a number of staples you’d expect to see in every bedroom. A full length mirror is definitely one of these - failure to pop one in have them mooning in front of your own mirrored wardrobe daily.

Today’s teenagers are design-conscious and up to date on the latest trends, but might need an adult eye to ensure they’re able to bring their mind’s eye to life. If they’re set on red room for example, you’d do well to keep the paint on one wall, and use red accessories throughout the room to avoid it looking like a bloodbath.

I’d also recommend a pot plant or two to add texture and encourage some degree of responsibility, and to make the room a blu-tack free zone in favour of poster glass - trust me on this one. Otherwise, I’m loving chalkboard walls, wall decals and Polaroid bunting as statement pieces for teens this season.

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Finally, don’t forget to spend a few hours on Pinterest or Homify before you commit paintbrush to wall. We’re so lucky to have such a vast catalogue of images to help guide the design process nowadays, and never has it been more fun to start a project with your child.