Making a pre-teen hangout room....

[CampCrazyMom]

My girls are 10 & 7.... I need to re-do our "playroom". They're not using it. Going to weed through the toys (garage sale!) And put the money towards something for a "hangout room".

What kinds of things do pre-teen & teen girls like to do? All their friends have Wii's. My girls aren't really into video games. Just looking for some other ideas.

The room is in the basement - pretty big. Not big enough for a ping pong table that my hubby suggested.

What would keep a couple of pre-teen girls & their friends busy & happy? (Already have the tv & dvd player) I'm looking to change the room so it grows with them.

[loveless82]

Hiya,

Do your girls like to craft or do scrapbooking? You could set up an area for that. Or some beanbag chairs for reading books or magzines. A friend of mine has a daughter who 11 and was having a hard time with not be a little girl anymore and so I help her redo her bedroom to a more pre-teen look. I took her to home depot and let her choose her colors. Did they tell you any ideas they had? Well good luck.

[sunshine]

Karaoke! They all like to think they are stars. We built a small platform "stage", covered it in a carpet remnant, got a microphone and stand, and a karaoke machine.

[perSue]

keep it simple!

seriously, their like/dislikes/friends/favourite colours/etc will change SO often...

so use "accents" to liven up the room... maybe some things from their bedrooms???

maybe put an old unused flower rug on the ceiling, or an old pillow, remove the stuffing and put it on a wall like a "poster".
simple things for decorating.

maybe bean bag chairs (if you find 'em on special at garage sales) (duct tape & sewing 'em up can do a lot!)... and use big stickers to cover up blemishes on the bags.

definitely a tv would help, even a telephone if you allow it.

maybe bring down old unused board games you may have setting around.
some cards too!

girls like the experience of being around each other, more than "having to do something" (like boys).
so just a "cool" environment to be in that they can call their own makes it all worth while.

ask the girls to help out too with ideas.
and i'd set down some ground rules too! LOL
"this is now YOUR extra room, you keep it clean..."
(makes mom's job easier in the long run!)

see what kinds of things they might want to add to the room from their own bedrooms, what crafts they'd like to have added for decoration.

You can always go to a dollar store with them & get those cardboard cut-outs to hang on the walls.

I wish I had this "issue"... i'd love it.
I've got guys who think my putting cushions on the kitchen chairs & a table runner atop is "fancy". LOL!

good luck!

[MirandaK]

I'd consider making one wall mostly mirrors. Making up dances, fashion shows, practicing for their american idol auditions...girls will find lots of uses for mirrors!

[happimommi]

We have a PS2 and DDs and friends love Sing Star.

[pkellyc]

A dance mat that hooks up to your TV.
A twister game.
Card table and chairs for those 2 day monopoly games.
Friends.

[nuisance26]

~Definately a craft area. I loved paper crafts(making my own fashion scrapbooks, cards and stationery) and jewelry making at that age. Some of those huge cork boards on the walls would be nice for all their notes and clippings. I LOVE that mirrored wall idea, brilliant! Also, maybe a tween/teen dress up corner. My sister and I loved making up fashionable outfits and having a photo shoot. So maybe a box of clothes and accessories(lots of hats, belts and scarves!), a room divider for a changing screen, a vanity for the make-up station, a backdrop(draped sheet) with or without a catwalk and a camera for photos. Make sure it's well lit!~

[Neeley]

I agree with keeping it simple. A few butterfly chairs, bean bags, tv w/dv player, stereo, a table, cool lamps and rugs, etc... Their interests are going to change so much the next few years (especially the 10 year old)I would not gear it towards one specific hobby or interest. I would make it just what you said a "hang out room". A place to hangout, talk and do whatever.

[Jskell911]

At that age, I would think a radio or cd player would be a must! Also a bookshelf for their books and games.

[qtkitty]

How about a nice comfy couch for them and their friends to crash on and talk till they are blue in their faces. ( even if its a nice new couch .... COVER that sucker with some nice bright color couch cover)

LOTS of Pillows maybe some bean bags and comforters and blankets stored somewhere in the basement. They will come in handy for sleep overs and so they can watch movies and get all comfy during the day as well.

Also a large sturdy coffee table ... which could be used for arts and crafts the others have already described.

Bins could be places under it to store art goodies, scrapbooking supplies, good ole games ( Uno, Checkers, and more teen adult games), ect.

A DVD/CD shelving system ( we just got one from biglots it looks AWSOME and sturdily made $39 and holds 200 and some DVD's.

Boom box/Karaoke machine so they can listen to new music and talk about how hot the singers are *lol*

Paint the walls some bright colors ( you said basement so i am assuming there isn't much natural light ) So you can go Bold with colors with out it looking tacky.

When i was living at my mom's my room was Banana Whip for the main walls, the window alcove, inside of the closet, and the inside of my door were all Canary Yellow, and the trip was Lemon Lime Green ( lets say Neon Green basically ). I had a peice of Cube Art Deco Art in contrasting background if a Purplish Pink and the Lines were LemonLime Green 4ft X4ft hanging on one wall. They thought i was BONKERS til after it was all painted, then my grandmother goes huh all those bright colors really made the room warmer and more lit with out needing massive amounts of light to make it look like that.

[mombottoo]

Sounds like hubby wants a room where he can hang out too!!! A game table would be nice, it would give them a place where they could play cards and board games.

[CampCrazyMom]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

The room is already re-done, it's just kind of baby-ish. stencils on the walls - too many toys cluttering the floor. Built in shelving for the tv & books and such. Closet WITH locking door so I can stash the toys I didn't want strewn all over the floor. It has a couch - but again with a baby-ish couch cover on it.

I just need to update the room. Something that will grow with them over the years.

Thanks again! I appreciate the ideas - many I hadn't even thought of.