How to Create a New York City Bedroom

How to Create a New York City-Inspired Bedroom for Your Teen

Our previous blog post on creating a ‘Swiftie’ bedroom was super popular and inspired a few of my daughter’s friends to redo their bedrooms. Rose Baker was one of them and she redesigned her own bedroom, so let’s hope these series of city-inspired bedroom makeover blog posts will inspire others!

I know my girls have been obsessed with New York ever since they started watching iconic TV series such as Gossip Girl and Friends. I’ve always loved peering at the screen when these are on due to the New York City apartments that they showcase. Some of the most famous sets in TV history have been apartments – a point of interest for interior designers around the globe. Personally, I’ve always been intrigued by how the urban feel of the city and its energy bleeds into the private and domestic spaces of New Yorkers’ interiors. Whether your teen dreams of the artistic lofts of SoHo, the bright lights of Times Square, or the cozy charm of a Brooklyn brownstone, you can bring the energy of NYC into their space. Here are some creative design tips to craft a New York City-inspired bedroom!

A statement wall is a great place to start. If you have any walls with exposed brick, that’s a good feature to highlight as a lot of New York apartments have one. If not, another option would be using brick wallpaper to avoid having to do any structural work!

To continue the industrial chic aesthetic, install a metal bed frame – the below example even has scaffolding touches, a really fun urban reference!

Pair these industrial features with warm-toned lighting to produce a cosier finish – brass-coated light bulbs are a great alternative to classic colder lights.

New York City apartments are notoriously small and have to be space-savvy, so if your teen complains of needing a bigger bedroom, this is a good way of reframing things! Compact furniture is a good place to start. A lofted bed with a workspace underneath, floating shelves, or a foldable desk all make virtues of a more modestly-sized space, and can make your teen feel like they’re in a 50th floor apartment block.

Having varied furniture is part of the New York way. The constantly-changing ecosystem means that there are many interior opportunities to hustle. I’m sure that just about every New Yorker has an anecdote or two about acquiring a stunning antique on a street corner, or inheriting a once-in-a-lifetime vase from a previous tenant. The constant coming and going of people from across the globe makes for a diverse range of tastes and styles, often within one single apartment. Don’t be afraid to mix styles – use your vintage armchair alongside a modern dresser to channel Manhattan’s urban glamour. There’s no such thing as too eccentric when it comes to New York apartments!

A statement piece of furniture is a great way to channel the cutting edge style and zest of New York. In a city where everyone is trying to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate a unique personal taste, now is a perfect chance to encourage your teen to choose something unexpected that speaks to them. Let them express themselves in a neon pink bedside table or a wild lamp!

Nothing screams New York City like the skyline, and there are so many wonderful mural examples on the market. NY street signs or a framed subway map, or a neon Broadway sign are other finishing touches. If your teen is into personalized touches, you can even consider a neon sign which spells out their name. Cosy urban textiles such as plaid blankets for New York’s freezing winters. Try graffiti-style cushions to add a fun, rebellious teen touch.

Teens love a space that feels cool and exciting, so add elements inspired by NYC nightlife, such as string lights or LED strips to mimic the city’s eternally glowing skyline. A record player with vinyls is a fun nod to NYC’s rich music scene. Lastly, posters from real-life past party events or exhibitions are an artsy reference to New York’s vast and inspiring cultural scene.

With these easy design tips, your teen can have a bedroom that brings the spirit of NYC right to their doorstep! Contact our design team to bring your vision to life.