Growing Up – Creating A Tween Girl Hang Out

Hey friends! Yesterday, one of my oldest and dearest friends sent me a text and said, “I’d love it if you could create a post about changing up a kids playroom to something more grown-up”. Challenge accepted dear friend! Jenn has two girls and lives in Washington State which is a tad far away for me to actually go and help her makeover this space so I am pulling together some fun ideas I’ve found plus some of my suggestions on creating a cozy big kid hang out in this post. Although I am not gonna lie, I love Jenn and I love the PNW in the fall so I’d really rather fly there and do this whole room refresh thing in person but hey, life is happening over here in California so I should stick around and do my thing while sitting in front of my Mac. It’s not the same but it’ll have to do.

My kids are teens – they’ve gone from a beach themed playroom to a small formal living room turned game room. These days, they don’t have all the toys anymore but they are more tech-driven for entertainment. Tweens are in that in-between age. They still ‘play’ with things like Legos and toys. So storage is key. Always. Storage is the best way to give things a home and make a space feel organized and keep things tidy.

Jenn is using a spare room in her house for her kids’ playroom. It also acts as a guest room when she has company {like ME} come into town. Of course, the size of your space dictates what you can put into it but you can definitely work with what you have and make it the perfect kid hangout.

• this post may contain affiliate links for items I have or would use in my own space.

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Some of my favorite things in a kids space:

• Paint – always start with a fresh coat of paint on the walls. This instantly makes a room feel bright and cheery.
• Throw rug – for color and texture.
• Cozy chairs – poofs or bean bags are awesome options for extra seating.
• A couch – depending on your space, you could go big or small.
• Shelving – you could use cubbies if you have a lot of stuff or just a simple TV stand if you’re kids don’t have as many toys.
• Coffee table – this is a great place to play games.
• Baskets – these are also a great way to store all the things and also a great place for some cozy throw blankets
• Wall art – this is a great way to personalize a space. Etsy is a great place to find art and I also love finding free printables on Pinterest and you can find old frames at thrift stores. A little paint and voila, you’ve got a new piece of art.
• Pops of color – use throw pillows + blankets, art, and even greenery to make a space truly shine.

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I like the storage/media center that Honey Bear Lane used in her loft area. It allows for plenty of storage while taking up minimal space on a wall. The couch is also a perfect size for smaller space. I found this similar couch at Walmart and I love the simplicity of it. You can find the cubbies at Target and mix and match to fit your space.

I LOVE this space at Dear Lillie. It’s simple and feels so fresh. I love the hanging swing chair, the simple entertainment console and that art on the wall is super sweet.

I like the simplicity of this space at Today’s Creative Life. I’m a big fan of adding monograms into a space. I also love the big strip of ‘photo booth’ style photos.

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Know your space and clients:

I was just visiting Jenn in August so I am familiar with her home and family. Each space should be infused with the personality of the people who live in it.

• Keeping on budget. This is a high traffic area which means you could spend more for better quality or you could spend less knowing that it will likely change shape as the girls grow.
• Jenn is an artist and loves to create fun art. I would see that incorporated into the space.
• Jenn’s girls love Lego’s and things like horses. They still have toys but they do have their own rooms which house some of their toys as well.
• A desk would be a great addition to the room for the girls to get creative. A small table with two chairs could also allow them both to be creative and sub in for a game table.
• Seating for them and their friends is a must.
• A media center with extra storage for things like toys, art, and games.

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Some of my picks for Jenn’s space:

A simple couch. I like this one at Walmart. It’s a great price point but adds some comfy seating to the space.

A coffee table with added storage would be my pic. Think: Lego station and game nights!

I love these cubbies as a media center plus you have cubbies for storage. I always add baskets to cubbies to hide things too! I’d line up two or three of these depending on space. She wants to eventually add a TV to this space and it would go great above this cubby!

Baskets and storage cubes are always a good idea! You could go neutral or add in some fun colors.

I love poofs. Not only is it a fun word to say – dare ya! They are so practical for extra seating. I love the colors in this one too.

A simple desk with some storage would give the girls a place to get creative.

I love these metal bistro chairs and I think one in a bold color would be fun at the desk.

I also love large baskets for corraling big stuff or even as a place to keep throw blankets cause getting cozy is a must in the PNW. I like that this one is bold and I pulled the color from the poof.

This art on Etsy would fit the space perfectly and it would be the best message for growing girls.

Inspirational art is one of my favorite things to infuse into a space. I think seeing positive messages is a great way to have it stick in your mind. Here is another great one at Etsy.

Here is another great Etsy find.

How fun is this find at Etsy?

The girls love to ride horses. I’d love to incorporate some art that shares one of their favorite things in the space.

A giant monogram letter is a great addition to a gallery wall. You could do the first initial of your last name or use the first initial of your kiddos names.

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Creating a functional space for your kids is possible at any age. You can add/subtract things as they grow. What works today might not be a thing next year but the basics can stay the same. Furniture can be long lasting while things like accessories and art can be swapped out to match the season your kiddos are in. Also, even though this space is for girls, you could keep the basics and change the colors and art to accommodate the fellas.

Is there a space in your house that needs some TLC? Let me know and I’ll see if I can help you with a game plan.