Mary Smith

The time has finally come to decorate your teenager’s room. Not too long ago, stuffed animals and Barbie/Spiderman bedding were the order of the day. Now suddenly, your child is all grown up and a new and modern room is necessary. But if times are tough and money is a problem, have no fear. There are quick, easy and cheap ways to spice up your teens’ room without breaking the bank.

Clear out the room

Firstly, you have to get rid of all the old things that are no longer being used – toys, books, furniture, bedding. Sort out the items into boxes labelled ‘keep’, ‘sell/giveaway’, and ‘junk’. Your teen may be too old for these items, but there are thousands of less fortunate children who would appreciate it. Make a child happy and donate old toys, books and bedding to a local charity shop or shelter. If you feel you want to make some money back, hold a garage sale and sell all items that are still in a good condition.

Bedroom furniture

Now is also a good time to spruce up old bedroom furniture, or perhaps purchase some new ones. Check the bedroom furniture and see if it just needs a new coat of paint, or if it needs to be replaced completely. Make sure the room has enough space for your teens’ clothes, accessories, and not forgetting a study desk. Also, make sure your furniture colours match.

Paint just one wall

Make this wall the ‘feature’ wall and paint it a bright and bold colour. You can now feel free to paint the rest of the room a paler shade.

Take a look at the floor

Is your teens’ floor carpeted, wooden or tiled? Think of a practical solution. If the floors are awful it could be re-done, but this will be expensive. An alternative would be to get some funky, bright rugs, obviously matching the theme and colour scheme of the room.

Dress the walls

Decorate the feature wall with a cool white shelf, funky posters and photos, which add a personal touch. However, this is an activity you may want to include your teen in.

New, fresh bedding

You will be amazed at what new, fresh bedding can do for a room. Get plain, non fussy bedding and decorate with some fun scatter cushions.

Turn the lights down low

Down lights are always great to have, but if you can’t afford to have them installed, get some fun lamps for various lighting options.

Author bio

This article was written for The White Company and offers great solutions to decorating your home with bedroom furniture

Many of us are guilty of wearing one of those completely ugly shoe trends and footwear, whether for comfort so some distorted idea of style. Or maybe you are just trying to be the centre of attention by wearing completely hideous fashion trends a la Lady Gaga? No matter what the reason; there really is no excuse for bad fashion, even on your feet. Here we look at some of the worst shoe trends ever.

10. Doc Martens

These heavy set military style boots were a hit in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and even enjoyed a revival in the noughties, but it will forever remain one of the worst shoe trends in history.

9. Clogs

Clogs are usually associated with the Netherlands or Sweden, and how we wish it stayed there. Traditional clogs were made of wood, but have been updated to suit the more modern woman.

8. Topless (strapless) sandals

Imagine looking like you are walking barefoot when you are not? This amazing feat is possible with topless sandals. They attach to your feet with an adhesive, making it look as if you are barefoot. If you wanted to be barefoot, wouldn’t you just take off your shoes?

7. High-heel sneakers

Why not take a traditional, modern shoe like a converse sneaker, combine it with some heels and a pointy front, and voila – an impractical, pointless and just plain ugly shoe trend. When you think sneakers, shouldn’t comfort come to mind? Perfect for those ex-tomboys who are finding the transition from girl to woman a bit difficult.

6. Ugg Boots

OK, Ugg boots can be hot, but it really depends on how you wear it, and most people wear it horribly wrong. Firstly, despite popular belief, Uggs are not meant to be worn in winter. It was actually created for surfers as a comfortable shoe to wear on the beach. It has however, become a permanent fixture during cold winter months as it keeps the feet warm and toasty. Unfortunately, Ugg boots doesn’t seem to be going anywhere fast.

5. Jelly Shoes

These transparent shoes were designed in Europe thanks to a rather inconvenient leather shortage during World War II. How they managed to creep into modern society and live to tell the tale we will never know.

4. Clear heels

While some may find the appeal in these sexy shoes, unless you want to be mistaken for a lady of the night, steer ‘clear’ of clear heels.

3. Platform sneakers

Hot on the ‘heels’ of high heeled sneakers come platform sneakers, made famous by the once popular Spice Girls during the late 90’s. Keep in mind that the Spice Girls were not exactly high up on the best-dressed list – they thought Union Jack mini-dresses and glittering hot pants were hot.

2. Furry Boots

Take Ugg boots a step further with furry boots, your answer to wearing a yeti on your legs.

1. Crocs

Possibly the worst shoe trend of the decade, crocs became popular due to their comfort, practicality and wide array of colours. But thankfully, it seems this trend has reached its sell by date with declining sales reported worldwide.

Author Bio:

This article was written by Gray and Osbourn and relates to  Van Dal shoes, boots and general footwear.