Choosing Bedding for Teens

Defining a Look for Your Bed

teen girl's bed

For many teens' rooms, the bed is the focal point. It is usually the largest piece of furniture in the room so it is sure to be noticed. In addition, many people like to match their window coverings or other fabrics in the room (such as lamp shades) to the bed linens, so the bedding can be a defining theme for a teen's whole room. Also consider the style of the actual bed in the room. A romantic canopy bed in a teen girl's room will be suited to different bedding than a sleek loft bed.

Think about the style you want to convey: are you tailored or romantic? Do you want bright colors that jump out at you, or a soothing, calming environment? Your bedding can help you create whatever look most appeals to you…

Bedding Comfort

Teenagers spend an average of 8 to 10 hours per night in bed, so comfort is critical. Make sure not to sacrifice comfort at the expense of fashion. Look for cotton sheets with a high thread count. Right now jersey knit sheets – those made out of the same fabric as is used for t-shirts – is very popular with teens.

Hottest Teen Bedding Styles

There is great diversity in the popular bedding styles for teens. Some of the hottest looks in bed linens include:

Florals

Floral patterns are certainly classic, but do not have to look old-fashioned. While the shabby chic look continues strong, some of the newest florals are in bolder, more brilliant colors with pop art style designs. Isaac Mizrahi has a pop flower collection that brings a fresh twist to a floral décor. Or, check out the hibiscus quilt from the collection at Pottery Barn Teen.

Geometrics

Geometric patterns are strong sellers for both teen boys and girls. More visually interesting than solids, geometrics can work well with a tailored room style or can create a backdrop for a more eclectic look.

Of course, plaids, stripes and checks are all classic patterns that work well with nearly any décor and can be used to coordinate with a variety of themes, or to combine with other patterned fabrics.

Themes

Tropical Medallion Quilt from West Elm

Themes are not just for little kids' bedding. However, teen themes are more sophisticated and subtle than those found on younger siblings' beds. For example, most teens eschew characters for their beds or themes that are too "cute", such as animals, fairies, or fire trucks. What are popular with teens are more generally themed patterns, such as beach or surf, tropical, tiki or jungle prints, and camouflage inspired patterns. While traditional animal prints are considered passé, animal print inspired fabrics in bright colors are gaining popularity.

Places to Buy Teen Bedding

Where are some of the best places to buy teen bedding?

• Target has really improved their bedding selection in recent years. They have a large section devoted to teen style and include a large number of accessories to coordinate so you can design an entire teen bed and bath area.
• West Elm offers a high quality selection of classic styles, geometrics and hippy chic, appropriate for older teens.
• Pottery Barn launched an online store just for teens. Their teen designs are at the cutting edge of bedding fashions.