How to Decorate a Teen Girl's Room in Red and White

Paint the room with your teen's chosen shades of red and white. Bright or very dark red can be overpowering and make the room feel smaller if used on all four walls. If your teen selects a bright or dark shade, opt for a single, red accent wall and three white walls. Muted tones of red have a more subtle effect and can work well on all four walls. If your teen decides to have four red walls, avoid monotony by using white for the trim.

Coordinate furniture to match the color scheme. Sand or prime cabinets, closets and shelves and apply red or white paint. For a spacious look, paint large items such as armoires to match the walls they stand against, but encourage your teen to put her stamp on the room with the smaller items. If she has opted for a single red accent wall, she can achieve a dramatic effect by positioning red items against white walls and white against red. For rooms with four red walls, achieve a balance of color by painting the smaller items white and adding red handles or trim to tie them in with the walls.

Add soft furnishings. If your teen prefers a contemporary style, choose blocks of color and geometric patterns for linen and blinds. Bright and dramatic reds are best suited to this style. Choose linens and drapes with delicate patterns, in muted reds and white, to create a feminine look. If the room is small or has little natural light, choose predominantly white -- either plain white or white with red accents -- for soft furnishings. To achieve a warm and cozy feel, choose predominantly red. Achieve a harmonious combination of red and white by bringing together different fabrics and patterns. For example, if white is the main -- or only -- color in the linen and drapes, choose red with white accents -- or plain red -- for cushions, rugs and accessories.

Dress the room with coordinating accessories. Use inexpensive items to maintain or change the balance of color. For example, if the overall effect is too red, buy white storage boxes for personal items and study materials. If the room has an accent wall, hang a mirror on the opposite wall to draw the scheme together. Encourage your teen to choose artwork in keeping with her color scheme or to create her own using white canvasses and red paint from your local craft store. Add contrast and interest to red walls by hanging strings of small, white lights. Change any light fittings that clash with the color scheme.