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by Kaja Gam |
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Hangouts that
satisfy teens desire to be on their own - while
But
this desire to live their own lives - complete with messy rooms, loud music
and late nights - is all part of growing up and away from the parental grip.
As a mother of a teenager myself, I have lamented with many friends and
clients about the challenges of the teen years. But I have come up with a few
ways to literally "give them their space" while making life more
tolerable -- if not more blissful -- for everyone. One
of the best ways to start is to see if you have unused space that can be
converted to a room just for your teen. The tiniest and seemingly unsuitable
space - a place you might have thought useless for anything other than
storage -- can be transformed into the perfect room for teens and tweens. Even
if the space you have is not suited for a bedroom (be sure to consult your
local building code to determine what is required to call a space a bedroom),
any space can be converted to a hangout. The cost can be minimal to moderate,
depending on the condition of the space. Safety, however, should always be
your number one priority, so install smoke detectors and make sure you have
incorporated emergency exit plans into the design - right down to a rope
ladder to throw out of a window. From a teen's perspective, here are the most
important aspects of a true get-away:
Once
you've met those criteria, here are some other things to consider that will
satisfy the teenagers who will use the space - and you, who will have to live
with it and pay for it! Insulate: To avoid
a significant spike in your energy costs, address the problem of heat loss,
since there is going to be frequent movement of air between the attic or
basement and the rest of the house. And to avoid being subjected to the
constant thumping of the bass from your teen's iPod dock, take advantage of
sound attenuating sheetrock (especially if the space is raw and you will be
putting up walls), and insulate the stud walls, ceiling and floor. A
wall-to-wall carpet is the most efficient way to trap sound between floors. A
thick hair pad on top of rigid foam insulation creates a nice sound barrier
for the room below, while in a basement, sound insulation goes in the
ceiling. Let
there be light (and air!): Adequate light and ventilation are
critical. If you replace or add windows, make sure they are insulated.
Admittedly, if you are working in a basement, it can be difficult or
impossible to add windows, but you can use full spectrum light bulbs to make
up for the lack of natural light. Make sure that adequate ventilation is part
of your plan as well. Installing a fan that circulates air from another part
of the house usually does the trick if you can't vent to the outside.
Consider consulting a healthy house consultant who can assess air leaks and
air flow throughout your house. Think
ahead: Built-in closets can be inexpensive and create a bonus for
resale value. You don't even have to install closet doors - a nice curtain
can be an inexpensive way to add color and personality to the room. Stay
out of it!: The most successful teen rooms I have done are those in which
the kids made the decisions and Mom and Dad stayed out of the picture (after
certain parameters were set regarding budgets and about what items would -
and would not - - be in the room when finished.) Come
clean: If you can get water into the room easily, install a sink and
faucet. Adding a toilet is much more expensive (and may not be legal) but a
small sink can be gracefully incorporated into a teenage hide out and think
of the way it would help with bathroom tie ups during the morning rush hour! Be
cool: We all have our limits and preferences - and a fridge may be
where you draw the line, but it sure is a convenience for the teenager. There
are many models to choose from today, from small cubes to larger models that
look like mini- vending machines. When
given their own spaces and the responsibility and opportunity to act grown-up
while at home, teens usually do exactly that. Loosening the mental umbilical
cord allows them to take charge in a safe place close to home. Who knows,
they might even learn to like cleaning their rooms! |
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