You’ve been listening to it for months now: “Mom! Can I please redecorate my room?!” So, you cave. And start researching ideas to redecorate your *almost* teen daughter’s bedroom. Let’s get into it!

A full remodel – financially speaking – is out of the question. Especially when she starts asking how difficult it would be to rip up the carpet and install laminate flooring! But there are many inexpensive ways to revamp a bedroom – without breaking the bank.

Related Post: Teaching Your Kids The Value of Money

Working with your teen (or almost teen) daughter can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Sitting down and discussing what you’re going to change, as well as setting a strict budget, may help keep disagreements to a minimum. But be prepared for some inevitable eye-rolls and “Ugh! Mom!” statements.

So, what’s going to change in this room?

Furniture? Paint? Bedding? Accessories? At this beginning stage of the transformation, it may be advantageous to start looking for some inspiration. Cue Pinterest! This search engine is an amazing tool for brainstorming and creating an overall vision of what you are researching.

If you don’t already have an account on Pinterest creating one is super easy. Once you’re logged in or have created your account make a board (private or public) to save the “dream bedroom” inspiration pins to. And let your daughter start pinning!

Our girl was all over the monochromatic white trend! We squashed that pretty quick and tried to steer her towards other trends that would maybe last a little longer – both literally and figuratively! At first she wanted to change everything in her room. But that was just unrealistic. Thankfully she was receptive to that reality and worked with us on what we were willing to change.

Going through this step and thought process is great for identifying what your teen wants to change about their room. And, remember that, this is their room! Even though you may be footing the bill for this remodel, at the end of the day, it is their space.

Ultimately, it was her decision on what colour she wanted for the paint, the finish on her bed, and what kind of bedding she wanted. A teenager (or tweenager) needs to have a comfortable safe haven to recluse to – because we all know that where teens spend most of their time!

Now that you’ve narrowed down exactly what is going to be done in her room, it’s time to start cost comparing.

Shopping around can be a time-consuming and trying task because teen’s aren’t really known for their patience. Here are some suggestions:

• Shop at home first. Search your house for furniture pieces and décor that you may not use anymore. Repurposing items you already own is a great way to save a little *or a lot* of money.

• Buy used. Another great way to save some dough is to buy gently used furniture and décor pieces. Clean things up nicely and slap on a coat of paint if needed and it’s like you bought it brand new!

• Pay attention to the sales. Every single store – whether it’s paint, bedding, furniture, or décor – has a sale at least a few times a year.

• Shop local. Supporting local businesses is always a plus – both for the community and for you. Buying local and small means more one-on-one customer service than the big box stores.

• Sell, sell, sell! Get rid of some items you no longer use in order to buy some of the pieces you’re looking to replace. If your child has outgrown some clothes or toys – post them on FB Marketplace and maybe they can buy the new chair they had their eye on!

• Make a vision board. Actually seeing a visual representation of what you’re redesigning can be a great help – whether it’s virtual or on paper. Gather paint samples, fabric swatches, storage solutions, and product images and paste it on the wall. You can also use apps, like Canva, for this task.

• Don’t forget DIY. Not everything has to be purchased brand spanking new for this project. Change out framed prints for something more age appropriate. Browse Etsy for some inspiration or paint something yourself.

Got everything bought and ready to go?

Now’s the fun part! Make sure your child helps with the redecorating process. This is their room after all and they should help with the transformation. Plus, it’s important for kids their age to understand the amount of work that goes into painting a room and assembling furniture pieces. This allows them to be proud of all the hard work they put into their new bedroom space.

“Mom! Can I Please Redecorate My Room?!”

See! That wasn’t so hard was it?! Be sure to take before and after photos to document all the hard work you both did on this project!