Tweens, Teens And Cool Room Trends (NAPSA)—Although commonly regarded as Generation Y, whenit comes to decorating their rooms, today’s tweens and young teens (ages 8 to 14) can be described as Generation “I” for individuality, say design experts. “Imagination, independence and individuality are the words that describe the style of children ages 8 to 14,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice-president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA). According to AFMA’s survey of 500 children ranging from the fourth through the ninth grades, America’s tweens and teens are eager to express their personalities. Younger children, ages 8 to 10, expressed a desire for more grown-up furniture, as well as a change in the colors and accessories in their bedrooms. Older children, ages 11 to 14, declared their need for additional pieces to add to their rooms. “Furniture manufacturers have addressed both of these childhood concerns,” said Hirschhaut. “Some of the most popularcollections are those that offer additional pieces as the child growsolder, such as versatile storage units and armoires for housing televisions and electronics.” Whenasked what piece of new furniture they would most like to add to their bedrooms, the most frequent answer amongall ages was a place to sit, such as a sofa or chair, followed by a new bed, a computer workstation or desk, anda dresser. According to the survey, girls are more likely to get their decorating ideas from magazines and at the Tips for Decorating Harmony from the American Furniture Manufacturers Association: * Team Spirit. Involve your child in the process. Solicit his or her opinion on fun stuff such as color and accessories. * Do Your Homework. Fip through magazines and encourage your child to show you what he or she likes. * Don’t Forget the Eraser. Make room for new furnishings by moving out things that no longer fit into your child’s lifestyle. * Write a WishList. Decide what’s most important. What do you want? What do you need? * Accessories Express. Lamps, artwork, area rugs, throw pillows and picture frames are a wonderful way for your child to make a statement. @ mall, while boys get ideas from themselves and from friends. Other influences young people listed include parents andtelevision. “When it comes to buying furniture for your children, be sure to consider their hobbies and interests,” said Hirschhaut. “It’s important to reflect each child’s unique personal style in both the furniture and decorating scheme of his or her bedroom.” Among the wide array of available choices, current trends include the use of varied woods, veneers and decorative finishes; creative storage solutions; and upholstery scaled for youth rooms.
