Tween Bedroom Makeover to Gothic Punk

Paint and Wall Coverings

• A gothic punk room makeover works best with daring wall hues like black, red or gunmetal gray, but you don't have to commit to painting the entire room. Another option is to paint a single accent wall, or you can try color blocking and only paint individual sections of the walls. You can accomplish this by taping off the desired area before you paint. Or avoid painting altogether by buying temporary wall decals in patterns or designs that work with your tween's new design concept.

Furniture

• Ideally you want oversize heavy pieces in wood or cast iron. Look for furniture with intricate detailing or carvings. These are signature features of gothic interior design. If buying a new bedroom set is out of the question, use mahogany wood stains or black paint to give your tween's old furniture a new alternative feel. You can refurbish secondhand dining room chairs this way as well transform them into gothic seating for your child's homework desk. Alternatively, update chairs by covering them in simple red or black slipcovers.

Window Treatments

• You have two ways to go about window treatments. The first option is to decorate with multiple layers of sheer fabrics, which creates an airy mystical kind of feel. You can also find cheap panels at your favorite "mart" store. The other route is to select heavy, luxurious fabrics such as velvet to cover the windows, which is considerably more expensive. Either way, select colors that complete the new design's overall color scheme. Look to deep reds, grays and black.

Accessories

• Accent the room with heavy candlesticks for a more gothic feel. To up the "punk" ante, decorate the walls with framed punk band albums. Posters work well, too. For an even more dramatic look, use fine chain-links and studs (available at hardware stores) as accents throughout the room. Glue them along chair legs, headboards, mirrors and the like. You may also want to incorporate new storage space into your tween's room. Black shelving and storage units ensure your kid has a place to stash her stuff. Be they goths or girly-girls, just about every tween needs a place for video games, instruments, awards or art projects.