Got A Sociable Teen? Some Smart Hacks To Create A Teen-Friendly Space In Your Home

Kids grow up in a blink of an eye. One minute your child is happily playing outside with his or her friends, the next thing you know, they’re asking you if they can bring their pals home to hang out and watch YouTube videos of the hottest K-pop bands of the moment. If you’ve got a sociable teen, then you’re familiar with the ways that a horde of teenagers can change the vibe and appearance of your home. For some, it may seem like an inconvenience, but it’s a fact that most Pinoy parents prefer this setup as it allows them to know who their child is spending time with. Moreover, it’s a good way to prepare children for the real world as teens get to learn how to communicate and be hospitable as they interact with their friends at home.

If you’d like to encourage your child to keep on entertaining friends at home, you may want to consider fixing up a certain area in your space that’s dedicated for your teen’s use. This way, your child can have a place to have fun with his or her friends without disrupting the usual flow and vibe of your day-to-day household activities. Here are some smart hacks to create a teen-friendly space in your abode.

Choose where to have your teen’s hangout space

You don’t need to splash out on a full home renovation just to give your kid and his or her friends a place where they can hang out — simply assign a certain area in your home for that purpose and design it with teenagers in mind. A basement, an attic, or a portion of your living room will work for this purpose. Your front porch can also serve as the perfect hangout spot for teens. Once you’ve chosen the area, make sure that it is free of potential dangers such as exposed electrical wiring and the like.

If you’ve designated part of your living room for your teen’s use, you can use a folding screen to section off the area and lay a comfortable rug on the floor to further establish the spot as your teen’s special place. Make sure that the space is well ventilated and has plenty of natural or artificial lighting to make it inviting.

Decorate with teens in mind

Teenagers like to be comfortable when they’re hanging out, so create a cozy place with lots of areas where they can lounge about. Consider having a soft couch, bean bag chairs, and a plush rug with a few floor pillows in your teen’s hangout space. For added impact, have a water feature in the room such as a tabletop or indoor floor water fountain. The sound of running water can be incredibly soothing for young people. You may also want to ask your child to add his or her personal touch to the space, so let your teen put up posters or have a display of their collections in the entertainment area.

If your budget permits it, splurge on a few extras

If you’ve got some cash to spare, consider placing a personal refrigerator in your teen’s hangout space and fill it with drinks and snacks. This way, your family refrigerator will no longer be the go-to for sudden snack attacks. A TV and a DVD player in the area allows your teen and his or her friends to have a movie marathon in there without disturbing other people in your home.

Letting your child invite his or her friends over is a wonderful way for you to get to know the people your teen is spending time with. Doing so also allows your child to be social as they practice being a good host. Consider these ideas to build a teen-friendly space in your home that your child and their friends will enjoy.