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Whenever a client approaches me to design a home that includes a room for a teenage daughter, it gets me truly excited. Designing a room for a little girl means giving her a private space to dream and live in where she can plan her aspirations and future. This is the room where she will make memories with her girlfriends, cry in tough times, laugh out aloud, act goofy and pursue new hobbies and interests. I love the feeling of being responsible for creating such a space which can help her stay in touch with her playfulness but one which also gives wings to her dreams.

Below, we discuss some essential elements to consider in this space.

Bright colours
Teenage girls are usually clear about their preference in colours. Trust and depend on her favourite one and don’t shy away from making ample use of it to do up her room. Bright colours will keep up the energy in the room and ensure that it never appears drab even on dull, cloudy days.

Personalise it
The room is going to be your daughter’s haven and she is going to spend most of her growing up days there. Design the room to be an extension of her personality. Encourage her to share her ideas on the designs and add elements that reflect her style.

Pin up pictures of her favourite movie stars or musicians. Encourage her to paint pictures, create projects that you could hang around the space. Let the room be a place where she feels a sense of ownership and where she can grow into a confident adult.

Study area
At an age when distractions abound but academics remains a focal element in life, allotting a separate corner in the room with a study table, storage drawers and a comfortable chair is a must. This would be her study zone – try and create this as an area where she will be least distracted.

Pretty frames
Use several frames in various colours to pep up the space. Choose them over wallpapers and colourful walls as they allow greater flexibility and can be changed without much hassle.

Teenage girls tend to get bored of their space in a few years. The idea is to keep accessories as the highlight, so that you can change them as frequently as you want and give the room a new feel and look whenever needed.

Appeasing bed linen
The bed is usually the focal point of the room. It must be comfortable of course, but you can make it even more interesting by adding colourful cushions, bedspreads and blankets. Play with colour combinations and prints and take the liberty of adding elements of softer shades.

Playful lights
This room is a great place to experiment with exciting lamps and light fittings. Teenagers would love something out of the ordinary. You can opt for anything from subtle to over-the-top pieces. Try playful chandeliers or colourful lights. Another great idea is to use simple fairy lights around the bed or the dressing table and make the room a dreamlike space.

Storage
A teen loves her clothes, shoes and other accessories. If not yet, she will definitely start shopping and filling up her cupboards very soon. Ensure that you have enough storage space to accommodate all her belongings.

And storage does not have to be the boring part of the room. Opt for pretty dressers and wardrobes in colours of her choice. Embellish them with pretty door knobs or hang trinkets on the handles to give the room an added and quirky appeal.

Dressing area
An absolute necessity in the teenage girl’s room is a dressing area that ensures that her everyday requirements like accessories, combs, hairbrushes, make-up and jewellery are all within easy reach. The mirror can be large and you can style it with personalised items like photographs with her friends and family, her favourite flowers or things that reflect her hobbies and interests (paintings, travel souvenirs).