The question then is how to pick your colors. A great place to start is with your own preferences. Think of place or things that please you and the colors they have or evoke. The inspiration may come from a fabric, food or place. Color is everywhere, pay close attention and you can find ones that excite, or calm you.

You can also make a trip to the paint store where there are hundreds of paint chips to choose from along with small sample cans for purchase. These small samples allow you to try the color at home on a larger area and can be a great way to test your final choices before committing to them.

Designers use a storyboard to create a mock up design of a room. Create your own storyboard using pictures or clippings from magazines that illustrate designs and colors that you like. Add to this your paint chips, fabric swatches, floor plan, photos of accessories and any other decorating and remodeling ideas you would like to use in the space. Pooling these items allows you to see how they will all work together.

In this economy, though, who can afford to give their teenager the room decor of his or her dreams? Actually, you can – if you get your teen involved in the planning and execution of her room redesign.

What’s more, involving teens in redesigning their own rooms teaches them valuable budgeting and home improvement skills that will serve them well when they own homes someday. Focus your teen room redesign project on teaching a handful of important skills, including:

* Budgeting – Allowing your teen to update her decor is a great way to teach her budgeting basics. Start out by deciding how much cash you’ll contribute to her efforts and how much she’ll have to come up with on her own. Help her allocate her funds by deciding what she most wants to change about her room. Can she live with the carpet if she wants to buy a pricier bed? Is the wall color OK as long as she can have new linens and drapes?

* Painting – It’s the simplest, most cost-effective way to give a room a completely new look and if your teenager learns how to paint well now, he’ll never fear the job later when he has to tackle it in his own home. If you’re not confident about your own painting skills, sign yourself and your child up for a class in the basics at your local home improvement store.

* Flooring – Installing, hardwood floors, tile and vinyl can often exceed the cost of the materials. Learning how to install carpet yourselves can be a great money-saver, allowing your teen to stretch his budget and acquire a valuable skill at the same time.

* Wallpaper murals –Unexpectedly easy to install, wallpaper murals are a great, cost-effective way to make a bold, personalized statement in any room. Look for a company, like Environmental Graphics, that offers teen-friendly images and complete online instructions for installation. Visit www.DecorPlace.com to learn more.

* Linens and drapes – The lesson here can be twofold – either how to shop for and find great linens and drapes at discount prices, or how to make your own at a fraction of the cost you would pay to buy them. If you possess basic sewing skills, you can easily help your teen tackle making his or her own drapes and linens. Or, you can both enroll in a sewing class at your local community college to perfect your skills.

Helping your teenager redecorate her room can be a great way to teach her valuable skills, refresh your own abilities and enjoy a memorable experience together.