Design Plans for Carson’s Teen Boy Bedroom
Sharing our design plans to create a charming, character-filled bedroom for our soon-to-be teenager.
This post has been a long time coming my friends. The truth is, I’ve felt pretty stuck in terms of design for this space. I’ve had ideas, so many ideas, but Carson also has some strong opinions about what he wants and doesn’t want (including the wall paper I SO wanted to bring into this space!) – finding a way to meld together my design ideas with his own ideas and opinions, not to mention his rapidly changing tastes has definitely been a challenge. While I want to hold space for his opinions (it is his bedroom after all), I also want to make sure we are creating a space that will hold some longevity for him as he continues to grow older. It’s been a delicate balance my friends, but I think we’re getting closer now and I can’t wait to share our plans with you today!
While I was desperate to include all manner of stripes and plaids, including the BEST plaid wallpaper, Carson has wavered somewhere between an Oiler’s themed bedroom (in honour of his favourite hockey team), complete with Oiler’s wallpaper (the only wallpaper he would entertain) and any other Oiler’s decor we might possibly be able to hunt down, and something more subdued. Luckily, after A LOT of back and forth, I think we’ve found a happy middle ground. Something that incorporates the plaids and stripes I’d been picturing, while honouring the more plain, “grown up” design he’s been hoping for.
The first thing we managed to agree on was this rug, which, though super cute, didn’t give me much of a jumping off point in terms of design. But then, I came across this boy’s bedroom (pictured above) and all of a sudden things started to click for me. I instantly pictured dark brown walls (will have to be paint though since Carson still insists he doesn’t want wallpaper), fabrics in a mix of plaids, stripes and linens, working with a mix of browns and greys with pops of blues and greens – something really warm and earthy. Let me show you what we’ve come up with…
Teen Boy Bedroom Design Plans
We started with a base of warm brown paint on the walls – we haven’t chosen a colour yet, but I’ve got my eye on Mouse’s Back from Farrow & Ball. I think we’ll stick with a warmer white for the trim, doors and built-ins, something that will pop against the brown, but still feel warm. I am really hoping to work in some plaid curtains, but with two sets of windows to cover, going custom will be quite pricey, so currently exploring some other options for this.
We’ve already purchased all of the lighting and the dresser is one we had custom made for him before he was even born (I’ve linked something similar below). I think we’ll likely purchase a new bed for him, something that maybe comes with a trundle option for sleepovers. We’re looking into several different options at this point, but right now this one is the front runner for me – I love that we can customize the fabric and piping, and there is the opportunity to add a matching trundle. I haven’t decided on his nightstands yet, but I’m thinking we’ll maybe just try painting his current set a deep, grey-blue colour.
Just because I couldn’t resist, I did do a mock up of what C’s room could look like with the plaid wallpaper. Maybe if I share this with him, I might be able to change his mind. ๐
Another challenge to figure out in designing C’s bedroom space has been the layout. He had a long wish list of things he wanted to incorporate like a built-in desk and an extra bed nook. On top of that, he got a whole stereo set up for Christmas this year, including his own record player and we’d really love to build in some storage to give all of those stereo pieces a better home than the current set up that’s stacked all across the top of his dresser. C and I sat down to play around with some different layouts together and in the end, we decided that the bed nook just wasn’t going to work in there with all of the other things he wanted to include. He’s happy enough with the window bench though, so it didn’t feel like much of a loss for him at least. Here’s where we landed with things…
His desk will be built into the nook beside his closet, complete with lots of shelving above. We’d also like to add a built-in cabinet with shelves above for his stereo equipment on the other side of the window, beside his bed. Thinking maybe we’ll tuck a chair in front of that to curl up in while he’s listening (or more likely, throw dirty laundry onto). I think we’ve landed on centring his bed under the set of windows on the side wall of his bedroom. Finally, we’ll tuck his dresser in on the wall beside the door.
While we’re still working out little details (like wallpaper), it feels good to have the big stuff figured out at least. With Carson’s bedroom next on the list here, it’s time to start ordering up materials so we’re ready for construction just as soon as our primary closet is done!
Wishing you such a lovely day my friends!
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