Fun and functional tween bedroom ideas

Let dynamic designs meet functional furniture with these creative tween bedroom ideas that are sure to please even the pickiest customers… 

Curating a new bedroom design can be challenging at any stage of life. The trickiest time, you ask? We’d argue it’s the awkward, transitional phase that every parent dreads: when your child becomes a tween. If you’re not familiar with the term, it refers to those often challenging few years in-between childhood and teenage years – typically lasting from age 8 to 12. 

They’re experimenting with their fashion sense, finding a personal style, forming their own opinions – and they’re not afraid to use them! So, if your tween is itching for a bedroom makeover but you’re worried about getting it wrong, we’re here to lend a helping hand.  

In this blog, we’ll share our best tween bedroom ideas, along with clever design suggestions and decor tips to create a space that reflects your child’s personality while accommodating their ever-changing needs.  

1. Think bold colours and playful patterns

Credit: @emandeverything

As your children get older, their taste is guaranteed to evolve with them. So it’s time to ditch the cutesy fairytale castles and farmyard animals, and upgrade to something a little more mature. Cue the parental tears! 

That being said, tweens don’t want to feel like they’re sleeping in a bland hotel room. Think about introducing vibrant colours and playful patterns to create a space that feels fresh and young.  

For boys, classic pairings like navy blue and grey are an easy way to bring a little masculine edge, with patterns like stripes and geometric shapes working well together. Or, try playing around with monochromes for an understated look.   

For tween girls, we love using gingham, dotty prints or large spots for interesting patterns. Colour-wise, consider moving away from the typical pink bedroom palette. You can still make it girly with other pastel shades such as mint grey, baby blue or butter yellow – the latter being a huge early interior design trend for 2025. You heard it here first…  

If you need more bold colour inspo, why not check out our guide to nailing dopamine decor? 

2. Storage is key in a tween’s room 

Your tween has no doubt hoarded a lot of stuff over the years. From clothes and schoolbooks to old teddies that they can’t bear to part with just yet – everything is going to need a home in their new bedroom.  

Finding a smart storage solution is critical. We’d recommend investing in a sophisticated storage bed, such as a divan bed with built-in drawers or an ottoman with lift-up storage. The Northwood Kids Wooden Bed Frame in solid pine wood is an excellent choice. Not only does it offer an under-bed storage drawer, it also features handy shelving in the headboard, so your child can decorate their bed with their favourite books, gadgets and trinkets.  

3. Choose clever, multi-functional furniture

Want something a little more versatile? There’s plenty of multi-functional teenage beds that are both extremely functional and stylish – from bunk beds with large desks and innovative storage space, to futuristic gaming pods and built-in sound systems.   

For aspiring gamers, the Marshall Kids Wooden Gaming Loft High Sleeper offers the ideal set-up for an immersive gaming experience. Featuring a cosy high sleeper single bed, a spacious desk and a fold-out futon underneath, your little gamer will have everything they need with this loft-style gaming pod. The Marshall also comes with built-in shelves, a clothes rail, and a handy hook to hang their headphones on when it’s game over. Their friends will be desperate to come over for a sleepover! 

4. They’ll need a cool study zone, too

No kid enjoys doing homework – especially as the pressure begins to ramp up towards those all-important GCSEs. To make studying less of a chore, revamp their homework station with a cool ‘focus zone.’ Not only will this give them no excuses about having nowhere to do their work, it’s proven that having designated study areas can foster concentration and productivity. 

It’s also a good idea to encourage organisation with smart layout choices. If you’re tight on space and don’t have room for a bed and a desk, consider a space-saving bunk bed which features both! Take our stylish Cassie High Sleeper, for example. This bed features an extra-long L-shaped desk, plus additional storage shelves, so your tween will have plenty of space to spread out when they’re studying. Job done.  

5. You can personalise the room with their artwork

Experimenting with artwork is an easy way to help establish their personal style in their bedroom decor. From funky prints to posters of their favourite bands, or cool neon lighting, there are endless options to customise their room.  

This is an important part of the design process to make sure your tween gets involved, so don’t forget to ask what kind of art they’d like to see on their walls, or better yet, take them shopping with you! It might just be a good bonding activity…  

6. Add fun features to let their individuality shine 

Bedrooms are more than just a place to rest your head at night. Especially for your tweens, they want to have a space that feels tailored to them – so make sure to add some personal touches that’s individual to them.  

Not sure what that looks like? Think about their hobbies and interests. Is she a keen horse rider? Give her a shelf where she can proudly hang all of her medals and trophies. Is he a budding artist? Make sure he’s got plenty of space to store art materials and an extra-large desk to work on his next masterpiece. Or maybe he’s a top gamer? Create a cool gaming zone with plush bean bags that are sure to make all of his friends envious.  

7. Choose elements with flexibility for future style shifts

We know how fast your little ones grow. That’s why it’s important not to choose any bedroom furniture that they’re going to quickly grow out of or dislike. Opt for a neutral colour bed frame and pick out as many flexible elements as possible so that their room can adapt and change as their personal style evolves, such as a plain bookshelf or a dresser that can be moved around the room. Soft furnishings like bedding, cushions and blankets are easier to switch up more regularly. Nobody wants to be redecorating a space every six months!  

Our classic Dawson Single Ottoman makes for a great blank canvas for your tween’s bedroom, thanks to its neutral grey upholstery and modern padded headboard. It’s no ordinary bed though – it features a snazzy built-in sound system, with two hidden speakers and Bluetooth connectivity! An ideal choice for tweens transitioning into their first “grown-up” bed.  

8. Create a memory wall to capture special moments and milestones

Giving your tween a space above their bed that they can personalise is a great way to spark creativity and treasure special memories and milestones of their teenage years.  

One way to do this is by hanging a large cork pinboard or metal grid panel on the wall behind their bed, and let them personalise it any way they like. They can add items like photos of their friends and family, postcards from holidays, badges, stickers, keepsake tickets from special concerts or football games – whatever they like!   

Designing a tween bedroom is all about giving them a space that feels like their own special haven. By making it a collaborative process and allowing your tween to make design choices, (with a little parental guidance), you’re sure to create a comfortable environment for relaxation, study, and self-expression.