Move or Make Over: A modern bedroom for a young adult

"I’m redecorating my 17 year old son’s bedroom as it hasn’t been done since he was much younger. I want to create a room that he will enjoy spending time in and will reflect his personality. He is a typical teenager and so his room always looks untidy. Ideally I would like a modern room with plenty of storage and a shade of paint that is modern and mature. What could you recommend?"

Claire Cronin, Ballincollig

Updating your son’s bedroom is a fantastic idea. At 17 years of age, he is at a real turning point in a teenager’s life and updating his room will make him feel really grown up and facilitate the transition from teen to young adult.

Your son’s input into the décor of his room is important so I recommend that you consider his ideas on almost all aspects of the process. Decorating the room together may ignite some arguments between you but hopefully it will be worth it when he has a room he loves!

When decorating a boy’s room, blue is often the colour of choice for many parents but considering your son is 17 and approaching adulthood, I would advise you to consider alternative shades, like grey for example.

Grey is a sophisticated and contemporary shade, the perfect choice for a 17-year-old! Depending on the amount of light the room receives, you could consider dark shades of grey like Smoulder from Crown’s Solo Mid Sheen. Probably the best thing about using the Solo range is that it provides great coverage and dries quickly, meaning you won’t disrupt his room for too long while you redecorate.

If you find that Smoulder is too dark, why not use it on a feature wall instead and use something like Silver Spoon from Crown’s Easyclean range on the remaining walls? Silver Spoon is a much paler shade of grey and because it is Easyclean, it means the paint will be scrubbable so scuff marks and general wear and tear can be easily washed away. Teaming this combination with pristine white skirting and woodwork would contribute to the room’s modern feel.

If grey isn’t your thing, then perhaps consider some of the gorgeous shades of green on offer. Tuscan Olive from Crown’s Indulgence range would be ideal. Green is known to be a calming shade whilst also promoting creativity, the perfect balance for a teenager! Other shades worth looking at are Almost Sage, Mellow Sage and Palest Green – all from the Easyclean range.