The ins and outs of decorating the bedroom for teenagers

April 29, 2000

There are so many ways to make a statement - and one of the best ways to convey your personality is through the way you decorate your bedroom. It really says so much about who you are. But how should you do it? Mark Montano has the answer to that and much more!

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CosmoGIRL: Welcome to our chat with CosmoGIRL! Cool Room Guru Mark Montano. He's here to give you affordable decorating advice and ways to transform your room into a stylish pad! This chat is sponsored by CosmoGIRL! --a magazine for REAL girls with REAL issues. Log on at www.cosmogirl.com! Welcome Mark!

Mark Montano: Hey guys and girls! Thanks for tuning in.

Rachel: I have heard in a bedroom, it is a good idea to put your bed at a 45 degree angle. Is that right and why?

Mark Montano: Well, I think it's nice not to have your bed up against the wall, and then you can get out of bed on both sides, which is always nice.

Designer: How did you get started in interior designing?

Mark Montano: Well, Atoosa, the Editor-in-Chief of CosmoGIRL! is a friend of mine. She had been to my apartment, and had liked it very much because it was very colorful and fun. And she asked me if I would like to work with her, and I of course said yes. Atoosa has the BEST taste!

Decor: What can you do to 'space save' when decorating a small room so it doesn't look cluttered?

Mark Montano: Well, you can start by buying some under-bed storage boxes. You can throw away everything you are not using anymore, and store the things that you had from your younger days in the garage or in the closet, just in case you want them back in your room at a later date. Shoeboxes are also a great way to keep things, and you can decorate them all kinds of ways. And, if you take a picture of the things that are inside, and stack them in your closet, you always know where your things are.

Dom 99: I want to decorate my bedroom. How expensive can it be?

Mark Montano: Well, it can be anywhere from 25,000 dollars to as little as a hundred dollars. Sometimes, just one can of paint can make all the difference in a room, just changing the color. If you keep reading Cool Room, you will learn how to make frames from just plain cardboard, and really inexpensive pillows, and things you can find around the house to redecorate your room. You can find ways to make changes for almost no money, if you are smart and creative.

Bethany: I have a small bedroom - what colors should be good for it?

Mark Montano: I really like color, so the brighter the color the better. Bright pinks and light yellows and light lavenders and light blues, colors that make you happy, and a very light shade of your favorite color are always a good choice to paint a room. Also, you can use lots of mirrors.

Sunshine952: Do you think it's a good idea to paint a bedroom with a sponge, and with 3 colors? Will it give a marble look?

Mark Montano: I don't think that is a good idea. It is always best to do a pattern on the wall, or paint each wall maybe a different color, or paint one color halfway up the wall, but sponging can look a little muddy.

Jennifer: What's the cheapest thing I can do to make my room look cooler?

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