Winning ways to tame the teen bedroom battleground


Working as a home stager, interior stylist and professional organiser/declutterer means that I often get asked by parents  - and this question is usually asked with a heavy sigh and raised eyebrows -  “I really don’t know what to do about (insert name of teenager)’s room …”

Does this look familiar?
A common battleground between parents and teens is the young person trying to assert their growing independence from Mum and Dad. And very often the theatre of war where this battle is most bitterly fought is in the place that is their personal space, the bedroom.  

So shouting matches ensue when teens hide the walls with posters and the floor under piles of discarded clothes, unwashed mugs and plates, and parents trespass on their offspring’s sacred space in desperate guerrilla raids to clean up the muddle. In fact the untidy teenager phenomenon's so common that the word 'floordrobe' has recently become an official Collins dictionary definition on the basis of public submissions! 

It’s true that teenager’s bedrooms can be the most challenging to deal with, either when  you are trying to get your house looking its best to sell, or when you want to get the family on board to declutter and get the home more organised. I often find myself in the middle, with a teen intent on self-expression digging their heels in on one side and a frustrated parent on the other. 

An independent second opinion can be helpful in breaking the deadlock and finding a way forward that works for everyone, which is why I now offer family decluttering sessions (these can be very illuminating, and empowering for younger members, when it's pointed out that yes, Dad's out-of-hand 'piles of books in every room' library collection and Mum's overstuffed wardrobe are just as much clutter as a teen's treasures). Along the way I have learned ways to get younger members of the family on board with home organisation and makeovers as well as the business of staging your property for sale - which can get especially sticky when moving means leaving the home they've grown up in.   

So here are a few suggestions which I hope will help defuse teen room hostilities if you feel like a family at war ...

Don't impose when you can involve

Allow your teen to be involved in decisions about organising and decorating their space. You may not be particularly keen if they want to paint their room black or purple or in their football team’s colours but they may have other creative ideas that you haven’t thought about.  And negotiation is good – you could be persuaded to let them have one dark or vivid feature wall but point out that all-over black/purple/red/fuchsia pink can be overpowering and will make their room feel smaller and darker.


If Blu-tacked or sticky-taped posters are damaging paint or wallpaper, putting them in inexpensive clip frames and hanging them properly will also protect the posters from tearing or curling at the edges. 

Making a wall feature of a giant pinboard is another way to allow your teens to display their stuff without ruining the decor. Here's one way to make one from Amber Interiors  or you could hang several smaller pin boards together to make a larger display space.

Moves to help motivate a move

However if you’re planning to move, pale and neutral wall colours are always best to show your home - and that includes teen bedrooms - to its best advantage when you put it on the market. In this case you could have neutral walls and incorporate your teen’s interests and favourite colours in new accessories instead (that can go with them to your new home). Then the room won't be quite so over-powering for prospective buyers. 


Tidying the 'floordrobe' and toning down teen
decor pays off when selling. Incentives can
help if they are resistant to change! 
When getting ready to move, previous clients with teenagers have found that my suggestion of an incentive scheme (OK, yes, it's a bribe in other words) will persuade their offspring to 'buy in' to changing their rooms to help the sale. It takes the form of a promise of a special treat or outing - or even a cash payment - once the house is sold. Music or match tickets can be a powerful inducement to get kids on side to tone down a loud colour scheme or take down some of their, er, very personal taste in wall posters! 

If YOU need an incentive to go down this route because you anticipate resistance (opposing your parents is the very essence of teenage rebellion, after all) it pays - literally! - to remember this: prospective buyers will look out for things they would need to change as excuses to make a reduced offer. Too many 'red flags' will make them pass over a property altogether for one they can move into and not have to do anything straight away. In one recent case de-personalising a dark and cluttered teen bedroom was the only redecoration needed to clinch a sale for over £13,000 above the previous best offer. That more than paid for a fabulous family holiday to celebrate once the family had moved, and all for the minimal investment of a few hours' effort and a couple of cans of paint! 

Another time-and-stress saving tip when preparing your property for sale is to have special 'staging bedding' (lightweight quilts and pillows dressed in clean pillowcases and quilt covers in plain and simple white or a pale neutral shade) ready to put over the top of the bedding your children are sleeping in when there are viewings. This saves (often unproductive) nagging to make the bed and a nicely dressed bed means at least the main focal point of the room will look clean and tidy to prospective buyers. 

Storage that works

Recognise that it’s important for your teen to have a haven they can call and make their own.  If they don’t like hanging up their clothes, no amount of nagging is going to make them do it. But putting up some (temporary) shelves in the wardrobe with storage crates to fit provides a quick and easy way to scoop the piles off the floor and out of sight. So what if their clothes are crumpled? Other than school uniform is it really so important? Anyway, they’ll need to learn how to use an iron sometime …

And so to bed ...

One inexorable sign that your 'baby' is growing up is when they want a double bed. OK, the boyfriend/girlfriend sleepover dilemma may yet be a way off, but they ARE growing up in size and they DO spend a lot of time in bed so it may simply be a more comfortable option. It doesn't necessarily mean they are planning on having sex the moment you're out of the house (and frankly, we all know you don't need a double bed for that anyway!)
A loft bed can be built in as here or
free-standing 

If your teen needs a new bed and you do go for a double I'd recommend avoiding divans with built-in drawers (in my experience they'll never put anything in them). Instead choose a simple frame bed which not only looks less bulky in a small bedroom but offers storage space underneath that you can make good use of with lidded storage crates (semi-transparent so it's easy to see what's in them without having to turn everything out.

If you have rooms with high enough ceilings a loft bed will almost double your teen's personal space, giving them a cosy sleeping platform-cum-relaxing reading/listening to music area and plenty of room below for storage, study and entertaining friends. 

And another big plus-point of a 'high sleeper' bed for a teenager who's not naturally tidy is that it's not immediately obvious if the bed's not been made! 

Clear-up incentives

If your teen’s room is bursting at the seams with stuff they no longer need or use, it can be hard to persuade them to part with it by just chucking it out. But teenagers always need money, so why not help them sell it at a car boot or garage sale or on eBay with the promise that they can keep the profits?   

Lots of teens are environmentally aware too, so show them that saving the planet can start at home by recycling their old stuff, either by donating to a charity shop or giving it away via sites like Freegle  or Freecycle  or the Books For Free initiative run by Healthy Planet 

This approach can be particularly persuasive in getting your offspring to have a clear-out close to birthdays or Christmas when you can stress that they’ll be giving a gift to help others less fortunate than themselves (and not just doing YOU a favour!)

Finally, remember that your offspring are not teenagers for ever. And when they leave home and you're an empty-nester, you may even find yourself missing their noise and mess. Strange but true. I know I did!

Clare Parrack, owner, Clarify Interiors   




Clear the decks for Christmas with the 99 Day Declutter Challenge


So, we’ve finally seen some summer at long, long last and – what do you know? – it’s already less than 100 days to Christmas. As I write today it’s exactly 99 days until December 25 to be precise.

But before you panic and start drawing up gift lists and menus, how about some seasonal preparations that will bring you real dividends in the form of more space and extra Christmas  spending money? Try my 99-day declutter challenge.

It’s very simple. All you have to do to start is choose one unwanted item that’s taking space in your home, and dispose of it today.  And do the same for every day from now until Christmas. Of course you can choose to get rid of more than one item at a time if you want to, but if you make a pact to get 99 or more unnecessary items out of your life by December you’ll have much more space, not just to hide the pressies you need to keep a secret till the big day, but to store the gifts that (hopefully!) you’ll receive. 

A good place to start is with turning out the unwanted gifts you had last year – come on, I know you’ve got at least a couple lurking somewhere!  I had a big clear out of my bedroom cupboards and drawers at the weekend, and found three presents I’d forgotten about and clearly won’t use. Now they’re listed on eBay and with luck will bring in a few pounds to my own personal Christmas savings club.  

Make space for this year's Christmas presents by
clearing out your clutter
Alternatively you could identify someone who would welcome them as a gift this year – saving on your festive pressie spending at the same time, but if you can’t clearly remember where something came from in the first place, don’t risk embarrassment and offence by unwittingly passing an unwanted gift back to the friend or relative who gave it to you!

What about the books you’ve read this year that are now overcrowding your living room shelves? Give them to a charity shop and give yourself the warm glow of knowing that someone else can enjoy them and you’ll have helped a good cause at the same time.

Putting away your summer clothes and looking afresh at your autumn/winter wardrobe offers another clear-out opportunity.  If there are summer clothes that you didn’t wear –  not just because the weather wasn’t right but because they don’t fit any more or are looking dated – don’t waste storage space putting them away for another season, give them to a charity shop or clothes recycling bank. And likewise, if you dig out your  winter togs and are wondering what that moth-eaten woolly or crumpled cardy is still doing taking up space in your wardrobe, let it go!

If you’ve got children, start noting what toys and games they have stopped playing with, and they too could be recycled to make way for the new treats Santa will bring in a few months. 

As the next few weeks go by, weed out your kitchen, bathroom and spare room cupboards, and don’t forget those clutter-magnets, the garage, loft  and the shed. You never know what forgotten stuff you’ll discover that could make fab Christmas gifts for somebody else – or bring in some much-needed festive dosh!

If you'd like professional help with clearing your clutter this autumn, Clarify Interiors covers Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, or get in touch with one of my colleagues in the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers, which has members all over the UK. 


How to make buyers fall for your home


What’s love got to do with selling a house? Absolutely everything! 


Two things traditionally happen in February. One is St Valentine’s Day, and the other is the real start of the spring property market boom, when more people put their houses on the market, or start preparing to put their property up for sale, than at any other time of year.


So is there any relationship between the two? Well, yes, actually. Because the key to selling any property quickly and achieving the best price is to make prospective buyers fall in love with it at first sight. Buying a home may be the biggest financial commitment many of us ever make but at the heart of the matter it’s an emotional decision. And first impressions are just as important when looking for your dream house as they are when seeking the partner of your dreams.


Buyers make up their minds in the first 30 seconds whether they are interested in putting in an offer, so follow the tips below to help make YOUR property stand out from the crowd and the one that buyers will fall in love with. 



Make YOUR house the home of a buyer's dreams
Selling a house is selling a dream and you need to 'set the stage' to appeal to your target audience just as a theatre or TV producer does - there's a good reason that 'show homes' on new developments are called that, you know! 


The property market these days is like internet dating – full of 'armchair browsers' who choose what they want to find out more about purely on the basis of what they instantly like the look of  online.


1. Declutter
Buyers will be looking for more space; they need to see that your property has plenty of room to store their own ‘stuff’. Pack away anything that creates visual clutter – that’s too many ornaments, the collection of fridge magnets, piles of toys and excess pieces of furniture. You’re moving anyway so it makes sense to start packing things
away now and create that much-desired feeling of space and calm.


2. De-Personalise
Help a buyer to visualise themselves living in your home by removing any overly personal items such as family photos, children’s drawings, holiday souvenirs and mementoes – they all give a powerful message “This is MY home”. Family photos are fine in the bedroom but keep them to a tasteful minimum. If you have too many personal items on show a buyer will find it difficult toimagine their own possessions in your home.


3. 'Come on in' kerb appeal
Potential buyers will often do a ‘drive by’ before deciding to arrange a viewing so creating 'kerb appeal' is vital. Tidy the garden, repaint the front door if necessary, make sure that curtains are symmetrical and windowsills are free of clutter. Add some colourful plants in pots or hanging baskets by the front door. In other words, make your property look as instantly inviting and welcoming as possible so potential buyers want to come in and see more .


4. Entrancing entrances
Once you’ve got them through the front door buyers need to instantly feel ‘at home’.Help them literally 'see’ themselves in your home by placing a mirror in the hallway - this will also help introduce additional light into what is often the darkest part of the house. Remove all coats, shoes and sports bags from this area – a cluttered hallway can set a buyer into thinking that there isn’t enough storage space in the property


5. Do that DIY - now!
Any unfinished DIY jobs ring alarm bells for potential buyers as they send a subliminal message that your property could be ‘maintenance heavy’ and will alert them to look out for other outstanding jobs, which they could use against you to negotiate a lower price.


6. Clean till it gleams
It can’t be stressed enough that a spotless home always creates a good impression and reinforces the message that the property is well maintained. Clean the kitchen, bathroom and loo until they sparkle, polish the windows and make sure that the home smells fresh - pet and smoke odours are big turnoffs for buyers. To create a brighter atmosphere it
helps to turn the lights on and have plants or fresh flowers in most rooms.


7. Define the space
If you’ve got 3 bedrooms they must be presented as 3 bedrooms – not 2 bedrooms and a box room with no obvious function other than to store clutter. And if you’ve got a sitting room and a separate dining area they need to be presented as such and should not be seen a living room-cum-kids’ playroom or ironing room. Buyers are aspirational and need to be shown the lifestyle they can lead if they were to move into your property, which is likely to include entertaining even if the usual mealtime reality is more likely to be TV dinners than dinner parties.


8. Redecorate where necessary
It can be a stretch of the imagination to spend  time and money on a property that you’re about to leave, but a neutrally decorated, well-presented and inviting property can add thousands to your asking price. Remember, you’re in danger of devaluing your property if you don’t show it off it to its best  advantage.


9. Set the stage to sell 
If you really want to see your property through the eyes of someone else take photos of each room from different angles and then take a cold hard look at them. It will be pretty obvious what if anything needs to change. Today’s buyers are attracted to clean, bright, clutter-free, co-ordinated and spacious environments with aesthetic appeal. Buy a few interiors magazines as they give good examples of what people find attractive today. You’ll also see how good accessorising can enhance the look and feel of a room. Depersonalising doesn't mean dullness - attractive focal points in each room will make your property memorable for all the RIGHT reasons.


10. Mentally move out
This is perhaps the most important piece of advice. You’ve decided to move so do all you can to help yourself achieve a quick and profitable sale. Remember, living in a property that is for sale is not the same as living in a home you’ve settled in so don’t worry if the new look of your property is not to your taste – it doesn’t matter, you’re moving out anyway! And hard as it may be to live in an uncluttered 'show home' it's not for ever, and the more effort your put in the quicker you will reap the rewards with a sale at the best price - giving you more to invest in your new home. Present your property to show off its full potential and you can soon look forward to creating your own personalised space again, just as you like it, in your next home.



If you don’t have the time to carry out the practical work of property presentation or don’t really know where to start call us at Clarify Interiors and we’ll talk through how we can help present your property to showcase its full potential and sell at the right price.



t:  Clarify Interiors on 01865 494955 or 07917 716004 
e:  info@clarifyinteriors.co.uk


Maximum impact for minimum expense: professional – practical – creative – cost-effective

10 cheap and cheerful ways to lift January gloom


Is your home feeling bare and looking duller than you remember now you’ve taken down the Christmas tree and put the decorations away for another year?

It’s a familiar feeling, made worse by the fact that the days are short and grey and money’s always tight at this time of year. But you don’t have to splash the cash to sweep the New Year blues out of the house.

Try these suggestions to jazz up your January home with some help from the sales and a little creativity. It’s amazing how a fresh approach and a few new finishing touches can cheer the place up – without busting your household’s New Year austerity budget!

Fairy (light) magic
Simple white fairy lights look lovely on the Christmas tree, but there’s no need to box them away just yet. Keep the winter gloom at bay by draping them over shelves, a bedstead, or use them to decorate a large feature plant or arrangement of twigs  

Keep some sparkle
OK, baubles look a little sad when they come off the tree, and lots of glitter just feels wrong after December 31. But think again – a couple of gold or bronze baubles will add a warm glow to a bowl or basket of rattan balls or pot pourri and make a pretty table display

Scatter some colour
Hit the sales and snap up some new scatter cushions in a cheerful colour to liven up your living room

Snuggle up
Cosy throws can be found at low prices in the sales, so if your budget/diet means you’re not going out and you can’t have chocolate this month at least you can console yourself and be a warm and comfy couch potato while you watch TV!

Mug up
Cheer up your kitchen – and breakfast on these dark January mornings – with some new mugs in bright colours. Matching dinner services, tea towels and oven gloves can also be picked up in the sales.     

Framed fabric makes personalised wall art

Try a new accent

If you can’t afford a whole room makeover, for the price of a pot of paint you can have a dramatic new feature wall.  Pick up the free decorating guides at your DIY store for inspiration.  

Let the sunshine in
Warm up windows and grey days with simple blinds in sunny yellow or spring green – seek out roller blind bargains in the sales or buy some cheap fabric and it’s really easy to make your own tie-up blinds - you can download a how-to guide at www.clarifyinteriors.co.uk

In the frame
Want some new wall art? Recycle your old frames but replace images you are tired of with a patterned fabric that matches your colour scheme. Or for small frames, find some high quality images you like on the internet and print off and frame them.  

Flower power
Nothing lifts a room like a flower arrangement, but you don’t have to spend a fortune. Cheap and cheerful daffodils in a sparkling glass are a welcome visual reminder that Spring’s not TOO far away, and the gorgeous  fresh scent of a simple potted hyacinth will boost your winter-jaded spirits better than any artificial air freshener.   

And so to bed
If you can only afford to buy one new thing in the sales, make it a set of crisp new bedlinen – there are some great bargains to be had, particularly in supermarket home departments. If humans can’t hibernate, waking up in a refreshed bedroom will at least make those grim dark winter mornings yet to come a tiny bit easier to face!

Clarify Interiors specialises in 'minimum expense, maximum impact' home styling including one-room makeovers in a day. If would like a new look for your home in 2013 and want professional interior expertise WITHOUT the interior designer price tag - call Clare at Clarity Interiors on 01865 549955 or 07917 716004 or email clare@clarifyinteriors.co.uk