Parents of teens know that kids need a place to call their own, a place they can have their privacy, study and entertain friends. And there comes a day when the carousel theme or the dinosaur wallpaper just has to go.

Grown-ups and kids don't always agree on what's cool, and decorating is no exception. "Since your child's bedroom is the one room in the house where they get to express themselves, personalization will help them create a sense of identity for themselves," says Kay Lee, Academic Director for Interior Design at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco. But there are ways to compromise to keep everyone happy.

Talk to your child about their vision for the room, then select a color palette and theme together.

Do they want overpowering or bright colors? "Compromise by using a neutral wall color in the room and adding punch and color with accessories and accents like bedding, lamps, wall art and other decorations.

Likewise, keep window shades neutral, but add a fun, colorful valance. The neutral base will make it easy for you to change the room when your teens tastes change again in a year or two.

Both furniture manufacturers and home decor companies have discovered the teen market, so there is plenty to choose from. You'll notice color trends as you start to shop - most major retailers will stock similar colors in any given season, making it easy to mix and match products from different stores.

It's all about bright color for some girls, from purple to lime green to the ever-popular pink. Retro patterns are making a comeback, and they may look familiar to parents who had something similar when they were teens. But make no mistake, these patterns are updated with a twist for today's teens.

Make a list of ideas, check out catalogs, stores and even online to get more ideas. No reason to buy the first thing you see. Have fun just seeing what is out there to pick from. Now that you have a better idea of what you might want to do with the room. Make a floor plan of the furniture you may need, or already have that might need a little rework to add new charm to the room.

From camouflage cool to sports style, boys have many options as well to pick from.
No matter what his sport or favorite music group, you can incorporate that into the bedroom.

Half the fun is working together to make this room special for your teen, the other half is the pride the teen will have showing it off to their friends, and the happy times they will have in their own space.

Tiles or Mosaics

A way to add some personality to your room.

A mosaic is a picture or design made of little pieces of glass, stone or tile, called tesserae, set into mortar or concrete. Mosaics can be used on floors, walls or ceilings. (Keep in mind this is a great idea if you own the house, if renting ask the land lord first.) The overall design created by the tesserae can be geometric or create words and pictures.

Little pieces of tile can make a huge impact. Tacos, for example, are small decorative pieces usually just an inch or two across. When strategically placed in a solid field, they can add visual interest and contrast. Tacos come in solid or decorated options and can be set next to another tile or within a tile.

Long, thin pieces, called listelos, are available in metal, ceramic and glass. Listelos can be used to frame a mirror, create a chair rail or to simply add a personal touch. Listelos offer a unique way of mixing design elements. Try combining a metal listelo with stone inspired tile for a contemporary twist on a classic look. Or, mix a glass listelo with concrete inspired tile to give clean, modern edge to a space: like around the door, windows, or borders.

A decorative border can make a personal statement in just a little space. A brightly colored and patterned tile can be used to highlight a special architectural detail of a room or even make ordinary detail pop.

Tile can also be reminiscent of a time gone by, a unique decor trend that has recently been popularized. Ticsa is a Tile of Spain manufacturer that takes inspiration directly from old world influences. They are masters of handmade terra cotta tiles that include mosaic designs and hand painted decorative pieces.

No matter what design you choose, tile can be a great way to make your room unique to you.

Check out this site for some new and different in decorations for walls (a new kind of wall paper). www.wall-pops.com