Stay neutral

Start with white for walls and your floor, then choose bright and bold accessories. Use zappy floor-length curtains, cushions and rugs to splash retro colour around the room. White is an excellent backdrop as it will go with any new scheme you choose when your teen outgrows this look. If you’re painting over exposed brick walls, apply an interior sealer undercoat – tinted to match the topcoat – before you paint. Or, use an exterior outdoor paint.  

Quirky canvases (see image above)

Centre and glue second-hand vinyl records onto painted round canvases with construction adhesive. You can pick up vinyl records for a song (ha, ha) from op-shops or, if you’re lucky, from a garage or boot sale. Paint each canvas with artist’s acrylics or household paint, using the room’s colour scheme as a guide for colour selection.

Double duty

Teens are notorious for owning lots of electronic games and sports equipment. To control the inevitable clutter, opt for dual-purpose furniture.

Be seated (see image above)

Dedicate an area where your teen can chill out or socialise with friends. Arrange comfortable seating in a U-shape – or whatever works for your space – around the TV. If sofas don’t fit, use floor cushions or beanbags.

Hit the floor

For a smart concrete floor, paint with an easy-to-use water-based paving paint such as Berger AquaTread. Use it in conjunction with AquaTread Etch & Clean, which cleans bare concrete for better paint and sealer adhesion.

Tuck a desk into one corner of the room and set up a home gym in the opposite corner. A bookcase will effectively delineate the two spaces. Ensure the study area is well lit to reduce eye strain. Allow for an adequate number of power points to accommodate computer equipment, and provide an internet connection for research purposes.

Buy an old timber coffee table from an op-shop and give it a facelift. Strip or rough-sand the table of varnish, sand smooth, then paint with jet-black gloss paint. Using your computer and an image of your teenager, zoom in on the face and enlarge it to about A4 size, then print it.

During daylight hours, tape the blank side of the photocopy against a window. Place photocopy paper over it and trace the outline of the face, before adding facial features and shading. Use a black permanent maker pen for the outline and shading. Duplicate the finished image until you have sufficient images to cover the tabletop.

Leaving one or two images black and white, brush watered-down artist’s acrylics over the rest, using a palette of colours to match the room scheme. When dry, seal the front and back of each image with Mod Podge – an all-in-one sealer and glue.

When dry, cut out each face. Arrange the faces on the table any way you like, then glue them in place. Working from the centre out, run a rubber roller over each face to remove any wrinkles or bubbles. Use a slightly damp lint-free cloth to mop up any excess glue. Leave the glue to dry and set overnight, then finish the table with at least two coats of clear varnish.