Living with teenagers can feel like navigating a storm. Considering how your home functions with teenagers may make a difference during these sometimes stormy years. By adapting your home to create dedicated zones for parents, teens, and shared family time, you can foster a sense of calm—well, at least most of the time! Here’s how to organise your home for older or even adult children.
1. The parents’ retreat
Let's be honest; sometimes you just need a break. Here are some suggestions for creating a dedicated parents-only zone:
- Ditch the TV and set up a comfy reading nook with soft lighting. Use this space to unwind with a good book, meditate or simply enjoy quiet time.
- Carve out a dedicated workspace within your retreat if you work remotely. Think a corner desk or a closet converted into a mini office.
- If your parent retreat will be in the lounge, consider converting it into a mini bar corner. Add a floor lamp, a wine rack or a bar cart, a mini fridge, and a couple of comfortable armchairs. Finish with some ambient background music, and it instantly becomes the perfect parental escape within your home.
- Decorate your haven with calming colours and objects that bring you joy—for example, a framed family photo or a collection of seashells from your last beach trip.
2. The teen zone
Designing a home with teenagers in mind means giving them the independence they crave.If you can’t swing a second living room exclusively for them, consider transforming an outdoor space like a balcony, a section of a patio, or a sunroom into a teen-only zone. Add comfortable seating, fairy lights, an outdoor projector screen or TV, and maybe even a mini-fridge for their snacks and drinks.
If you have unused garage space, add a ping-pong table, beanbags, an old couch, and a mini-fridge, and you have the perfect teen retreat. They can even paint the walls in cool colours and decorate them with posters or band memorabilia.
Teen bedroom makeover
If you don’t have extra space, collaborate with your teen to upgrade their bedroom.- Let them choose the colours or wallpaper (within reason, of course!).
- Add a dedicated desk with good lighting.
- Encourage them to invite friends over by adding comfy beanbags.
- Tailor their storage space to best suit their changing needs. IKEA has amazingly affordable home storage systems that fit all room types.
3. Shared space
While separate zones are important, shared spaces create the foundation for lasting family connection.
Teenagers love to be included, especially when food is involved. Cooking videos are all the rage, so use this to your advantage. Create a "Family Recipe Night" where you learn a new dish together. Equip your kitchen with age-appropriate tools and guide them through the process. Not only will they learn valuable life skills, but it can be a fun bonding experience.
Studies show that shared family meals lead to better future outcomes for children. So make dinner time a priority, where you encourage conversation and avoid distractions like phones.
A communal space that acts as a natural gathering area is paramount, which might be at the kitchen island, a dining table, or the lounge room.
Your shared space also needs cleaning, so take the time to teach your teens basic cleaning skills and involve them in running the house. Divide chores fairly, and consider rewarding them for consistently completing their chores with something meaningful to them.
Creating a teen-friendly home is a win-win situation. It fosters their sense of independence while providing a much-needed escape for you.
Do you need more space with a growing family?
If you need more space for parent and teen retreats, talk to the LJ Hooker Mona Vale team about upsizing to a bigger family home in the Northern Beaches. Let us know what you’re looking for and we can talk you through preparing your current home for sale so that when the right time comes you’re ready to act.
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