Popping Colors for Teen Boys & Girls Bedrooms

Warm and Cool

• The first step in designing a teenager's bedroom is to determine the mood you want the color palette to set. Bright, vibrant colors don't all elicit the same emotional response. For example, warm colors like red, orange and yellow usher energy and vitality into a room. Cool colors like blue, green and lilac introduce a greater sense of calm. Although it's not an exact science, the study of color psychology indicates that most people associate specific colors with particular emotions. Determine whether you want your room to be buzzing with vibrancy or to surround your teen with the calming colors of nature.

Complementary Palette

• If you're looking for bold, there's no better starting point than complementary colors. These are shades that are found directly across from one another on the color wheel and have nothing at all in common. They are the colors that bring to mind the old adage, "opposites attract." A room filled with complementary colors screams for attention. Blue and orange are complementary colors as are red and green and yellow and violet. Threading any of these combinations through bedding, drapes or throw pillows will produce a dramatic palette.

Analogous Palette

• An analogous color palette is a bit more traditional although no less crackling with color. Analogous shades are those found directly next to one another on the color wheel. They create a harmonious color scheme because they have something in common. For example, blue and green are analogous; they work because they both contain blue. Orange and yellow are also analogous because they both contain yellow. Mustard yellow bedroom walls paired with olive green bedding and draperies create a bold, analogous color scheme.

Monochromatic Palette

• One way to incorporate your teen's favorite color into a room is to introduce that hue in a variety of shades, which creates a monochromatic palette. For example, if your son loves the color blue, paint the walls robin's egg blue and the ceiling pale sky blue. Bring in royal blue bedding and drapes, paint the front of his dresser drawers the same royal blue as the bedding and anchor the space with a navy blue area rug.