Our teenage years are often described as our best years or our worst, depending on who you ask. One thing is for sure is that it can be unpredictable, to say the least. It is during this tumultuous time that a teen’s bedroom becomes almost sacred, a place of retreat and self-expression. While your teens may be going through a lot of changes, you can give them something that will remain constant in their life: furniture.
Investing in basic furniture to anchor in your teen’s bedroom sets them up with something they can use in the future while still providing the essential functions they need now (sleep, studying, and socializing). However, you do not have to go out and buy specially-made teen bedroom furniture. Instead, our iNSPIRE Q Design Team is here to tell you the 4 bedroom essentials for every teen that they can use for years to come.
1) Full or Queen-Sized Bed
The first decision to make when it comes to investing in teen bedroom furniture is choosing a bed! As your child grows out of their twin bed, the need for a full or queen-sized bed arises. With as large of an investment as a bed is--and with so many kinds of beds out there--it can be overwhelming. The iNSPIRE Q Design Team recommends considering two types of beds: platform and/or metal.
Platform beds are a popular bed choice because the frame supports your mattress without needing a box spring. Without a box spring, you can take the money you save and put it towards a good, quality mattress that will last. Many platform beds are also designed with storage built into them. This is an excellent choice for teens, who may be going through a lot of clothes during these years.
Metal beds are another great choice for teens because of the durable construction. The all-metal construction needs very little maintenance and tend to last longer than wooden beds. Ideally, the bed that you buy for your teen is something they will use even in adulthood, and metal beds are just the bed for the job!
2) Dressers and Chests
Teens go through growth spurts. It’s pretty much inevitable, for better and for worse. Thankfully, teens (hopefully) will not be going through as much furniture as they do clothes. The second of our 4 bedroom essentials is here to solve that very problem: dressers and chests!
Dressers are short, wide, and deep. What makes them great for teens is that most dressers can support a mirror on top. Getting ready for school in the morning are now a breeze!
Chests, on the other hand, are tall and narrow. While not ideal to setup a mirror atop a chest, chests are great for those who are tight on space; their vertical design takes up very little floor space, leaving plenty of room for your teen to spread out.
Regardless, you cannot go wrong with either. It all comes down to the space’s needs, and definitely is not a piece of bedroom furniture you want skip out on for your teen.
3) Nightstands
Nightstands are some of the most versatile pieces of teen bedroom furniture to own. They provide storage solutions in one of the most convenient places possible: the bedside! If you think about it, nightstands are the place where we keep our most important possessions. Phones, wallets, keys, daily reminders, alarm clocks, and any items we regularly use are stored in the nightstand.
Because of the plethora of everyday objects that can be placed on the nightstand, in addition to lamps and pieces of home décor, it is important to get a nightstand with plenty of storage. Some even come with power outlets and charging stations for your electronics!
4) Desk and Chair
The last, but certainly not the least, of our 4 bedroom essentials is to create a space for your teen to do schoolwork! A spacious desk and a supportive chair are teen bedroom furniture must-haves. They serve as the place where they endure the rigors of high school.
Like with the nightstands, the best kind of desks are the ones that offer storage solutions, whether it be shelves or drawers. Not only is this the place for your teen to do homework, but it is also where they will be applying for colleges, applying for jobs, and paying bills in the future. This is the place to get stuff done, and they’ll need all the space they can get to stay organized and on top of their work.
And what’s a desk without a chair? Your teen may not need a big, elaborate office chair. All you really need is something plush, cozy, and supportive. Button-tufting, velvet upholstery, and wingback styles are all great choices. Not only do they double as a chair for the desk, but can also be used as extra seats for when their friends come over!
It can be difficult to keep up with all the changes that come with our teen years, but bedroom furniture is a great constant to have. Anchoring your teen’s room with these 4 bedroom essentials gives your teen the stability they need. You don’t need to buy furniture branded specifically for teens. In fact, teen-specific furniture is furniture created for a very specific stage of life, the most unpredictable stage of them all, no less. Invest in furniture that will last throughout this stage and the next, furniture that they will use every day, no matter where life takes them. Your teen needs pieces that function for sleep, school, and socializing. By providing your teen with that, they still have the flexibility for their self-expression to flourish around it.
If you liked this guide, check out our other blog posts for more design inspiration!