TEENAGE HAUNTS

Your teenager may be too old for trick or treating but that doesn't mean they can't join in on the FUN...allow your teen to create a room and invite a few friends over for some tricks of their own.  Follow these simple steps to assure the spookiness is a success.



Purchase inexpensive foamboard and cut into gravestones, using a wooden spoon handle engrave names and dates, wash over with watered down black paint. 

Use red and black lightbulbs

Place "cobwebs" in corners and on furniture

Make recordings of haunting sounds

Buy inexpensive styrofoam heads at beauty supply stores and paint them like "zombies"  Add fake blood and you are all set for some scary times.

Serve ghoulish punch, mix jello with green punch and let harden just a little.  Serve in a platic couldron with a hand. (freeze punch in a latex, unpowdered glove tied tightly at the wrist)

Create a quick, scary snack with microwave popcorn.  Place popcorn in a large bowl (or individual bowls) and add gummy worms crawling out the sides.

Boys Bedroom Movie Hangout

 If your young man has a love for movies, this is the perfectly themed bedroom for him.  The best thing, it will last him until he goes to college and can easily convert to a den. Start with a great paint color like blue, grey, or brown,  Add vintage or current movie posters ( I love the character of vintage), comfortable seating with lots of pillows, and some very cool lighting and his friends may never leave.
Create your own director's slate artwok with a piece of MDF cut at your local Lowe's or Home Depot and some chalkboard paint.

Directors slate pillow available from Pottery Barn

Vintage Movie Posters

Vate Floor Lamp

Pier One Desk Lamp

I found this awesome metal artwork on Amazon.com

Perfect for a movie themed room

Happy Creating!

Let's Start with the Basics

As boys grow up, they want a space they can call their own, feel independent in, and hang out with friends.
Of course, all teens want a "cool" room but it also has to function.  A bed with storage is a great investment to keep things neat and tidy.  A desk is a must have for any child if the space is available (not enough space, I have a cool solution). 
This post is meant as a starting point, from here we will add themed ideas and products for each individual room.
I absolutely love Ikea for kids rooms.  Their products are inexpensive, but really do hold up over time.  Here are a few of my favorite pieces for a teen boys bedroom...
These headboards all from Ikea

Desks are important for studying and storage, check these out from Land of Nod

Now that we have the major bedroom pieces down, we can start creating personalized rooms

 

Study Space

Yes, It's back to school time again and many experts feel that children do better when they have a designated homework space. Childrens brains are not capable of multi tasking the way (scientifically, not all adults can multi task either) but for children, it is especially difficult.  As parents, we can give our teens more independence and confidence by giving them their own workspace. To accomplish this, carve out a space in thier bedroom, a playroom, or shared living space.  If you don't have alot of room, think vertical!  Expand space vertically by purchasing a hutch, small desk, or table and add shelves or a bulletin board on the wall above.  If you are lucky enough to have a room to devote to homework, think large desk, bookshelves, chairs, and floor pillows.  Now matter how much space you have, the most important dynamic is that it is well organized, calm, and attractive.  Having this type of space will help your child focus and have a place for everything.  No doubt, your teenager will have a few of thier own ideas, so get them involved by asking them to show you pictures of rooms they like, choosing colors and containers to hold papers, pencils, etc.  This will help them want to spend time in the space as well.
Check out these ideas...

             
      Stuff your Stuff Study System, Pottery Barn Teen

        Beadboard Space Saving Desk, Pottery Barn Teen

I also love IKEA for lots of inexpensive and space saving ideas for setting up kids work spaces.  Need help selecting items, contact me!

Welcome!

Hi! Welcome everyone to Hip Kid Digs! A sister blog to Pikkles & Ice Cream, Hip Kid Digs! features ideas for tween and teen rooms as well as important information to get you (the parent) through the teenage years!