Finally, a place where pinball machine and foosball table are appropriate suggestions! Beanbags are also making a cool comeback in my world. While it could be a nice surprise, I'd want his input into color / theme.

yeah...definatly somewhere he can lounge...saves the duvet! in here you need to put everything that he loves to do but you pity the rest of the house....eg...darts board....music stuff.....and.....why not get him to decorate one of the walls himself.....graffiti style....or just splat paint on the wall.....boys generally find making a mess great fun!

I think that right around now is when he would transition to having more people over, so the room becomes more of a "hangout" than anything else. Definitely lots of comfy, varied lounge seating. I'd imagine a flat screen TV mounted on the wall in there for sure (most teenage boys who are allowed to play video games), and some funky lighting that is a little different and playful. Some sort of sound system would be good too- either a nice sound bar for the tv or an ipod dock or something.

Cool prints or artwork from edgy artists like Banksy might go over well, depending on your child's temperament.

Thanks he does have a flat screen TV on the wall and of course gaming systems plus his desk - I am wanting to update it from kid to teen - and yes he does have friends over so fun seating is a must. thx

How about a couple of Ikea Ektorp arm chairs in Gray and two of their Stockholm swivel ottomans - which would be used as seating? I'm guessing a sofa is out as I cannot picture teenage boys sharing a sofa.

Perhaps throw in their Bjursta bench, which could be a coffee table or more seating?

Attached:

lol about the couch sharing! your right

What about a wall, or at least the upper half of the wall above his desk, being devoted to bulletin board?

DIY photo pillows - thecraftsdept.marthastewartliving.com.

love the pillows

Agree with dclostboy ... teen boys love those bean bag chairs for video games. Find 2-3 in fun colors in indestructible vinyl as boys can be really hard on furniture.

Zig zag curtains from C&B, ochre wall color, hanging chair from Amazon, and one more chair idea - Ikea.

Y'all are awesome such great ideas!

I am in love with egg and bubble chairs. They are irresistible to all ages. Luv sacks are also super cool. I would buy an Epson movie mate instead of a TV and get a big screen that you can also take in the back yard to show movies on the side of the house. I has a built in dvd player and can even run off an inverter, so you can take it camping. For art work take old uniform shirts and wrap them over canvas. You can also hang some equipment, like hockey sticks or tennis rackets. If gaming is his thing, you can get gaming posters from Game Stop and Gamerz. Michaels has simple poster frames fairly cheap. A mini fridge for sodas and a cabinet with munchies makes it a party.

Just did my sons room into a city theme room. Street signs and pictures of New York or Chicago. Anything goes.
However bean bags sound fun but if you know anything about gaming you know you really can't game in a bean bag. Get light chairs they can pull up to TV or move around easily. Let's face it. Like my son who is 14 doesn't care about decor. However when his friends came over to his updated room they were WOW.
I like the photo pillows but that to me is more of a girl thing.

This is a very cool DIY table . Tires and plexiglass Most teen guys are into cars. If he like music for example guitars, display them on the wall. Here's some inspiration pics. Good luck !

Ideas seem endless but you have to remember all teenage boys are not alike. I asked my son what room themes he wanted and tied it all together.

Loves Chicago where grandparents live.
Wants to go into architect school at ohio state
Loves the US military
Awesome drum player and loves music
Loves his video games

So I said why just go with one when we can go with all.
I redid his whole room under $500. Brick Paneled two walls. Built two platform beds. Turned into L shape. Looks like a sectional and the boys love it. I still put in one big comfy chair. Mounted old basement tv on wall above dresser (got from Craigslist) and did a
simple shelving unit around TV MYSELF! Home Depot cut the wood to my measurements of course. Painted it black and put and his games and DVDs on it. Put up a framed shirt from Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas with pins from others. Framed his Guitar between his two windows. Found old drums from craigslist and made end tables. Painted his desk black. Believe me. Best teen boys room I have ever seen and under $500.

Let's face it. Most of us live on a budget and can't hire designers. Google search ideas and look up images. Also a lot of ideas on here!

Another of my favorites...repurpose snow camouflage from military surplus as curtains.

Love that idea, dclostboy! What is that stuff made of?

Mix of nylon / polyester and cotton...it's actual camouflage netting used to cover vehicles and supplies. The new Navy / water camouflage is really cool too

Well, I already put the snow camouflage on my Pinterest board, so don't be surprised if you see me posting it on Houzz lol!

You'd be surprised what you can find at army surplus stores :)

Haha - last time I was in an army surplus store, my son was six and going through his "army" phase. We bought him a camouflage baseball-type hat, camouflage T-shirt, camouflage pants and camouflage belt. I think he wore that outfit everyday that it was clean until he outgrew it. Even to school!