Teenagers tend to be very secretive at this stage in their lives. We all know that somehow, we’ve always wanted to do the exact reverseto create a sense of identity. The rebellious attitude of your teen can also make it harder for you to maintain the home. However, it is still important that you keep his or her bedroom clean. It is a way of knowing how your child is dealing too. Who knows? You might discover something in the process.

1. Ask permission
It is always respectful to ask consentfrom your child if you could clean the room. If your teen seems to be apprehensive, suggest that you do the cleanup together. Simply explain that you only wish to get rid of any dirt or trash that tends to clutter the space and possibly cause a variety of diseases. Give your child time to fix the room for a day or two before you step in. This way, they might still have time to hide photos or their colibri lighters.

2. Start with the hidden areas
I find it easier to start cleaning up areas like the shelves, closets, drawers and under the bed. These areas usually hold the most trash. You can get rid of items that have been gathering dust for so many years such as old school uniforms, worn out gym shoes, dysfunctional video game consoles and antique toys. You may be surprised to find a few treasures as well, like a lost necklace, an NFL flask or keys to a secret box. If you find anything suspicious such as a bottle of wine or a cheap zippo lighter, give your teen a strange look and let him or her explain. It’s up to you how you’re going to deal with the exposure.

3. Choosing the right style
Once you have successfully eliminated the clutter, it is time to let your teen decide what type of design will best work in the room. Allow your child to be artistic, expressive and creative by using the colors that he or she can identify with. In many cases, black is always a suitable color option for teens. Give a color wheel to your teen to combineand match tones. You may also provide suggestions by viewing pictures together on the internet or getting your teen a magazine about interior designing.

4. About Space
The room should have enoughstorage space, so if there were only a few places to keep colibri lighters, it’s time you offer your teenager more by having more closets installed or buying an extra shelf. There should also be enough space for your child to walk comfortably, play his electric guitar or try on a prom dress. You may need to replacethe small bed in some instances. Using mirrors or choosing light tones tend to create the illusion of a wider room. Provide enough accessories to accentuate the space such as light fixtures, a shoe and belt rack, a standalone mirror, a telephone and other decorations, as allowed by your teenager.