Its my bedroom and I'll do what I want to.....

So. You have a teenager. Two words to describe that - expressive and creative. Think about what they might want to do to a bedroom if left to their own devices! Perhaps that's not a totally bad idea?

Paint itself can be described also in two words - inexpensive and dramatic, so the cost and impact of the teen room makeover is small. Best of all, you can always paint again next year when other inspirations (or maturity) strike.

A few ideas to help add a little hook of color:

1) Teens love stripes and lots of color. For a big zinger effect with minimal effort paint a band of color using painter's tape around the entire room.

2) Give their baby furniture a little attitude adjustment with an awesome paint job. Using paints like Aura by Benjamin Moore makes a job like that simple since it needs NO primer and is super durable and washable! Paint it bold (or whatever they want) to co-ordinate with a cool accent wall. That also is handy for squeamish parents who dont want to have to look at an entire room in Electric blue (Benjamin Moore 2061-40) or the purple Mighty Aphrodite (Benjamin Moore 1397)!

3) Don't forget ceilings. Its a tame way of introducing color and expression while limiting the interruption of the "adult" color flow of the home since you won't see the ceiling from the linen white hallways...

4) If pizazz is in the air, then how about recommending some of the new "fun" paints for them to explore? A total black wall? No problem, hand them a quart of chalkboard paint. Black and dark, yet functional! A glitter girl in the house? How about the sparkling glitter paints? Have a night owl? Well, recommend some glow in the dark paint and let them create their own late night universe.

With a good imagination, creativity and innovativeness you and your teen can bond among the drop clothes and paint quarts....