If you have a home that is full of teenagers, then you will know that the home can really be a refuge for them. Not only that, but if there is a lot of adolescent angst, then you might need to step in and be a supportive parent that makes them and their friends feel comfortable when they come over to visit. If you have teens that like to be at home, then you will want them to feel comfortable at home and want their friends to hang out there with them too. If you want to make sure that you have done your part to make the home a great space for teens, then it can definitely score you some cool parent points.
So with that in mind, here are some of the things that you can do to make sure that your home is a safe and comfortable hangout space where your teens will be happy to be.
Create a More Grown Up Bedroom
If the bedroom is a place where most of the hanging out is going to take place, then it might be time to let them have a little bedroom makeover. It can be hard to let go of the young things that they may have liked for years, but by updating the room with a few more ‘grown up’ things, it can be a space that they’re happy for their friends to be in. It could be simply down to a fresh lick of paint or changing the bedding and curtains to something like childish. But let your teen be involved and make sure that they are helping their personality to shine through in the room too.
Be More Eco-Friendly
If there is one thing that the younger generation is getting better at, and that is being more eco-friendly and being better towards the environment. If you want to have a home that is the place to be, then make sure that it is an eco-friendly place to be. For example, you could think about getting home solar panels as a way to power the home, which is good for the environment but also for your energy bill. Make sure that you recycle all of the goods that you can, and invest in more sustainable pieces like LED light bulbs and more energy-efficient home appliances.
Add Seating in the Bedroom
If your teen’s room is going to be used for entertaining as well as sleeping and playing, then having a relaxing corner where friends can gather and sit, can make a big difference. There may only be space for some beanbags, but if there is space, you could consider getting a sofa or a daybed, as it helps to create plenty of space and seating, which is a must for hanging out. Then no matter how many friends are over, there will be somewhere for all of them to sit.
Have Something for Them to Do
As much as teens might like to hang out, talk, play music, and eat pizza, having something specific for them to choose to do can be a bonus. It could be that you have space for something like a pool table or perhaps table tennis, air hickey, or a pinball machine. Something like this can be great for teens, and be such a magnet for them when they’re bored at the weekend. If it has its own space in the house, then it can be even better, space permitting, of course. Then it means that little brothers and sisters can be kept away, if that is an issue in the house.
Teen Food at the Ready
No matter if you have teen boys or girls, there will be a time when they get the munchies, usually late at night. If you want to create a comfortable space for them, then having some teen-friendly snacks and food at the ready can be such a good thing. You need to get the balance right between just having pot noodles to having salad, so think about what will work well. You don’t have to just think of junk food, though, as there are a lot of things from homemade pizza to freshly baked brownies that teens will love. You could also think about getting some snacks in for things that they can prepare themselves, such as popcorn or nachos.
Be warned, though, you don’t want to seem too try-hard; your teens will see straight through it! Be chilled out about what they have and what they do, and it will make your place be the resident hangout joint.
