Teen Zone

As our children grow up and - almost overnight - turn into mini adults, life at home faces an upheaval. Areas that were once held sacred after the little ones were in bed, such as a grown-up living room, are now likely to be filled with your teenage kids (and their friends).

Delightful as this is, for many parents the transition is not altogether welcome. Where can parents go for peace and quiet? Retreat may seem the easiest option, but do you really want to end up in your bedroom watching TV? At a time when parents and teenagers need to keep communication lines open, creating an informal, welcoming environment for the entire family is what really matters, while maintaining privacy for those who need it.

Kids who shared rooms as children are very likely to go on sharing as teens. For sure, the onset of the teenage years creates the need for a bedroom that offers privacy, a quiet study zone, and somewhere to chill with friends, but that doesn't mean close siblings must separate entirely. Many will want to perpetuate a precious sense of connection generated over the years. Older kids at boarding school may be so used to sharing that they will feel lonely in a room alone. Same-sex sharing is the most likely combination, but a brother and sister who enjoy one another's company can also cohabit successfully. Don't rule out anything until you've thought through the options - and asked your teenage kids!

Plan a flexible format. As kids move into their late teens and have a more independent lifestyle, they may want to reclaim a private zone, or if a brother or sister leaves for college, a younger sibling can inhabit the entire space during termtime. Two interconnecting rooms and a bathroom could eventually become a self-contained living space for the boomerang post-college generation. Having a flexible space also gives you the option to separate the zones if it's necessary. If same-sex kids are happy to share a bedroom, the other room can be used for study and relaxing.

Teenagers are just as territorial as small children. If they are sharing interconnecting rooms or one big space, it doesn't mean the decoration and furniture has to be exactly the same throughout.

Encourage your kids to create an individual look. Make sure each teen gets their fair share of the room's positive (and not so good) features. Factors such as proximity to the window(s), door, or bathroom need to be balanced fairly against how much floor space each one gets. If they can't agree about fundamentals at the planning stages, ask yourself before proceeding whether they should really be sharing a space at all!