Bonn - There comes a time when teddy bear wallpaper, toy boxes and colourful furniture no longer seem right in a child's room. That's when most teenagers feel the desire to have a clear-out and redesign their surroundings.

Transforming a room can be expensive and a total revamp may not be necessary because with a little handy work and some creative ideas, a boring nursery can be transformed into a stylish room.

Flea markets are good sources of inspiration. "The retro style is very in at the moment," says Silke Schoen, an interior designer from Berlin.

An attic or grandparent's cellar can be a useful source of new elements in a teenager's room.

"Old chairs, stools, and odds and ends cost hardly any or no money at all and you can happily spray them a different colour or cover them with material," says Schoen.

Where your child used to play with Lego and plastic bricks, there's place for a corner to sit and spend some hours relaxing with friends.

Chairs and tables can often be easily painted over or covered with materials or wallpapers. "Even your old pair of favourite jeans can be used to cover a chair," suggests Schoen.

Horst Seipp from Germany's Association of Creative Interior Decorators suggests trying bean bags, if there's not enough space for a table and chairs.

"Bean bags are easy to re-position," he says.

Wardrobes that appear too childish can be given a new look with a few licks of paint or sheets of wallpaper. "Large maps are also good for covering big wardrobes," says Schoen.

To do that, cover the furniture with glue and carefully place the map on the surface so no air bubbles form.

In 2003, Neele, who is a student, decided to remodel her bedroom and got a bucket of paint.

"I felt the walls were just too boring," says the 18-year-old.

She painted everything blue at first. "But very quickly it began to feel too cold," she says.

Another bucket of paint followed six months later, this time in a tender shade of pink. "And that's the colour the walls are now," says Neele. Pink is not just a discreet colour, it's also very relaxing.

Posters and pictures from Neele's childhood are nowhere to be found in her bedroom today. "I bought myself some real pictures at IKEA or made a few myself."

Then, Neele took an old hot water bottle, put a few plastic flowers inside, and hung it on her wall.

Along with new colours, materials and wallpapers, changing the lampshade can also cast a room in a new light.

"Modern desk lamps, bedside lights and reading lamps don't have to be expensive," says Gunda Siebke, an editor at the Hamburg-based magazine Schoener Wohnen.

She recommends considering ways to darken a room. "After a weekend partying, it's a good idea to have a way to sleep without being disturbed by light. Lined materials on the windows are a good idea."

They do not have to be black, but in dark colours. You might be able to use a pair of old curtains that have been stashed away somewhere.

INFO BOX: Dividing a child's room into areas

A teenager's room has many functions: It's a place to sleep, to do homework, meet friends or just read a book. "It's a good idea to divide the room up into spaces," advises Maja Schacht of the Hamburg-based magazine Living at Home.

"Simple, homemade wooden platforms with drawers or storage spaces are good for separating a teenager's room. That means you don't have to look at the pile of papers on the desk while relaxing and listening to music." (dpa)