The power of pattern

Let your teen go wild with colour and bold patterns.

Life is far too short for dull walls. If you’re designing a teen bedroom, it’s easy to fall into the trap of creating a space that feels like a grown-up version of a childhood room – more muted colours, fewer toys and an overall mood that’s a little too serious. Teen rooms don’t have to be serious or stripped of colour. In fact, this age is the perfect time to experiment with vibrant hues like Resene Twisted Sister and Resene Covert. Let your teen go wild with colour and bold patterns. Far from being limited to children’s spaces, patterns can inject a fantastic sense of energy and personality into a bedroom and can certainly be both playful and sophisticated.

A teenager’s bedroom can often be thought of as a transition space, one that marks the shift from childhood to adulthood. But the idea that teen rooms should be more muted (often we paint rooms stark white or a dark hue, maybe to reflect growing maturity) is a misconception. Why not embrace the freedom to mix patterns and colours in a way that reflects your son’s or daughter’s personality and interests? After all, teenagers are ready to express themselves more than ever. We’re talking about pairing exciting hues like deep violet Resene Covert with the sweetness of Resene Divine and the electric pop of Resene Twisted Sister – a bite of orange that’s as full of life as a teenager.

Bold and nostalgic patterns are set to make a significant splash. From feature walls to custom headboards and patterned furniture, the spaces we live in are becoming increasingly more expressive. There’s certainly something nostalgic about this return to pattern – a longing for the comfort and whimsy of childhood designs but with a more mature edge. Patterns don’t just belong in kids’ rooms; they can elevate teen and even adult bedrooms, creating a space that feels personal and grown-up without losing its sense of fun.

As you shift from a kid’s room to a teen space, a few things change. The aesthetic matures, but the desire for a space that still feels youthful and reflects personal style should remain.

We have a few key things to keep in mind when redesigning:

• Mix of colours: While kids’ rooms often rely on primary colours, teens can handle a more nuanced palette. Mix deep tones with lighter hues for depth and balance. For instance, Resene Rice Cake serves as the perfect neutral backdrop to more energising colours like Resene Divine and Resene Sunbeam.

• Focus on functionality: Teen rooms need to evolve with them, so think about their changing needs. Include things like flexible storage, maybe a double bed and plenty of personal touches that reflect their interests. Ultimately, they’ll want to be involved in the process.

• Go bold: Whether it’s on the walls, bedding or furniture, patterns are making a comeback in teen rooms. Don’t shy away from mixing florals, geometric shapes and stripes, especially in hues that complement each other.

• Texture and layering: Add depth by incorporating different textures. A tactile surface – like a fluffy rug, patterned throw or a textured quilt – can bring warmth and more personality to the space.

In this teen bedroom, we’ve embraced a playful approach to design without losing sight of sophistication. Starting with a soft base of Resene Rice Cake, a neutral that sets the tone without overwhelming the space, we introduced a groovy harlequin-patterned feature wall in Resene Casper and Resene Double Sea Fog. This bold, geometric design adds a sense of drama to the room, with the high contrast between light and dark shades creating plenty of depth.

The harlequin pattern itself is a great blend of sophistication and youthful energy. There’s something timeless about the diamond shapes, yet they feel fresh and modern with our clean and contemporary palette. The negative space in between the diamonds is also key – this deliberate separation of edges gives the design a modern edge, while the random pops of grey diamonds break up the pattern and introduce a sense of unpredictability.

The bed’s headboard painted in Resene Hammerhead anchors the room. This deep blue hue offers a grounding effect, bringing a sense of calm and sophistication. Teens often prefer the space and comfort of a larger bed and a custom headboard adds structure to the room. It makes the bed a true feature of the space too.

To balance the darkness of the headboard, we added a bench at the foot of the bed painted in Resene Covert, a warm sugared violet. This hue feels very youthful. Our bedside table painted in Resene Divine is another nod to lilac and is a gentle addition of colour in the space. Adding lilac tones into the mix works to soften the room and introduces a subtle sense of femininity without making the space feel too young. These hues complement the oranges and yellows in our bedding.

To add a bit of energy to the space, we introduced a pendant light painted in Resene Sunbeam, a warm and cheerful yellow. Yellow is one of those colours that adds a spark of life to a room, but we kept it minimal to prevent it from overpowering the other colours. This splash of yellow offers just enough brightness to create a sense of joy. The floor stained in Resene Bleached Riverstone is a soft grey that allows the brighter accents to pop in the room. It offers the perfect neutral base, giving the room a modern feel without drawing too much attention to itself.

We accessorised the room with a range of quirky items. Books in hues like Resene Twisted Sister and Resene Smokescreen add a little more colour. Coasters in Resene Twisted Sister offer a cheeky pop of orange, reinforcing the playful nature of the space. A candleholder in Resene Smitten adds a bold, pink element, while a cactus in Resene Contented adds a touch of softness to our bedside table. Keep in mind bold hues and patterns aren't just for teen rooms – every bedroom can benefit from the energy that patterns and brighter hues bring. The fun is landing on a design and taking the first steps to making over a space.

Colours and products mentioned in this article

Styling by Annick Larkin. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2024