Room Makeover for a 13 Year Old Girl
The best room makeover for a 13 year old girl is one she plans and does herself, step by step: clear out the old stuff, pick a three-color palette, refresh the bedding, set up a real study corner, swap harsh light for lamps and add personal touches. Whether you have almost nothing or a real budget, the order is the same, and the first steps are free.
If you're 13 and staring at your room thinking "where do I even start," RoomMaxx scores it for tidy, light and vibe and gives you one small fix a day, aimed at whatever's pulling your room down most. Scan my room
Start with a clear-out
Every good makeover starts by taking stuff out, not bringing it in. This step is free and makes everything after it easier.
The three-pile method
Go through one area at a time (bed, desk, shelves, closet floor) and sort everything into:
- Keep out: things you use or love seeing every day.
- Keep stored: things you want to keep but don't need on display (old toys, trophies, crafts).
- Let go: things you've outgrown, broken items and stuff you don't like anymore. Donate what's still good.
Tips:
- Do one zone per day so it doesn't feel huge.
- Ask a parent before donating anything that was a gift or cost a lot.
- Make a "memory box" for sentimental things so you don't feel pressure to toss them.
Our guide on how to make your room less childish has a full checklist of what to retire.
Choose a palette together
If you're doing this with a parent, the palette is the best thing to decide together. It keeps shopping focused and stops arguments later.
How to pick:
- Look at what's staying: wall color, carpet, furniture.
- Each person saves five room photos they love. Look for colors that show up in both sets.
- Pick three colors: one main, one secondary, one accent.
Popular palettes for a 13-year-old's room:
| Vibe | Main | Secondary | Accent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft and cozy | Cream | Sage green | Blush pink |
| Clean girl | White | Beige | Gold |
| Cool and calm | White | Sky blue | Silver |
| Moody | Warm grey | Forest green | Brass |
| Bright but grown up | White | Lilac | Butter yellow |
Our guide to choosing a color palette for your bedroom explains how to make it work with stuff you already own.
Bed and bedding
The bed is the biggest thing in a bedroom design for a 13 year old girl, so it sets the whole mood.
- Base: white or cream sheets go with every palette.
- Duvet or comforter: your main or secondary color, solid or a small pattern.
- Pillows: two to sleep on, two or three decorative ones in your accent color.
- Throw: folded at the foot of the bed.
- Headboard hack: no headboard? Stack pillows against the wall, or hang a fabric panel or a row of frames above the bed.
Make the bed every morning. It takes two minutes and it's the biggest single thing you can do for how your room looks.
Study corner
At 13, your desk matters more than ever. A good study corner is simple.
Must-haves:
- A clear desk surface (only what you use today).
- A desk lamp with a warm or neutral bulb.
- A comfy chair at the right height.
- One organizer for pens and supplies.
- A spot for your charger that keeps cables off the desk.
Nice-to-haves:
- A pinboard for your schedule and a few photos.
- A small plant.
- A shelf above the desk for books and binders.
Keep makeup, snacks and random stuff off the desk. They sneak back fast, which is why a daily reset helps.
Lighting
Most kids' rooms rely on one bright ceiling light. Upgrading the lighting is one of the easiest room ideas for a 13 year old girl, and it changes how the room feels at night.
- Bedside lamp for reading and winding down.
- Desk lamp for homework.
- Fairy lights or a warm LED strip for vibe (set strips to warm white if you want it to look older).
- Ceiling light off in the evening.
Here's the thing: after all this work, it's hard to know if the room actually looks better or if you just think it does. And a week later, it's easy to slip.
RoomMaxx keeps track for you. Scan before you start and after each step, and your score history shows exactly what worked. A streak keeps the daily reset going, and a share card lets you show off the before and after. Scan my room
Personal touches
This is what makes it your room, not a catalog photo.
- Photo wall: print your favorite photos and hang them in a grid or on string with clips.
- Framed art: your own drawings, concert tickets, postcards or prints.
- One collection, displayed well: books, records, crystals, plushies, on one shelf only.
- A mirror with a nice frame.
- A vanity or jewelry tray to corral small things.
Rule of thumb: pick three to five personal things to show off and give each one space.
Budget tiers
Here is the room makeover for a 13 year old girl at three budget levels. Every tier starts with the free steps.
Tier 1: Free
- Clear-out and memory box
- Rearrange furniture
- Make the bed daily
- Ceiling light off, use any lamp in the house
- Photo wall with printed or old photos
- Flip the duvet to a plainer side
Tier 2: Small budget
Everything in Tier 1, plus:
- Warm bulbs
- New pillowcases in your palette
- Fairy lights
- Two or three thrifted frames
- One desk organizer
Tier 3: Bigger budget
Everything above, plus:
- A new duvet cover and throw
- A desk lamp and a bedside lamp
- A rug
- A pinboard or small shelf
- One statement piece: a mirror, a big plant or a chair
Room ideas for a 13 year old boy
The same plan works for a room for a 13 year old boy. Swap in a palette like navy, grey and olive or black, white and wood, focus on a strong desk and gaming setup with hidden cables, and use framed prints of teams, bands or places instead of taped posters.
Once the basics are done, explore styles in our list of bedroom aesthetic types.
Start your room makeover for a 13 year old girl with one scan
Snap a photo of the room as it is right now. You'll get a Room Score out of 100, split into tidy, light and vibe, with a short verdict and one small fix aimed at your lowest score. It runs in the browser on a laptop or phone, and you pay once with nothing to cancel.
FAQ
How do I make over my 13 year old's room on a budget?
Start with free steps: a clear-out, rearranging, making the bed and switching to lamp light. Then spend small amounts on pillowcases, warm bulbs, fairy lights and thrifted frames in a chosen palette.
What should a 13 year old girl have in her room?
A comfortable made bed, a desk with a good lamp, storage for clothes and small things, a mirror and a few personal touches like photos or art. Keep the rest stored so the room stays calm.
What colors are good for a 13 year old girl's room?
Popular choices include cream with sage and blush, white with beige and gold, or white with sky blue. Pick three colors she loves that also work with the walls and furniture you're keeping.
How long does a teen room makeover take?
A full makeover can take a week if you do one step a day, or a weekend if you go all in. Doing one small fix a day is easier to stick with and less overwhelming.
Can a 13 year old plan her own room makeover?
Yes, and it usually turns out better. She can do the clear-out, pick the palette and handle the styling, while a parent helps with budget, painting or anything heavy.