My exuberant teenagers want to take over the basement of the family house as a place to hang out and entertain their friends. We are happy for them to do this, but we want a say over the decor. The rest of the house is minimalist in style. Can you suggest a scheme and furnishings that will keep everyone happy?

Decorating for small children is easy (murals! wigwams! a bed shaped like a castle!). As we all know, teenagers can be tricky.

Your aim should be not only to create a space that expresses the personalities of your brood, but also one that is highly practical and can withstand things like spilt drinks and flying ping-pong balls. Yes, the rest of your house is decorated in a minimalist style, but this teenage room should be a space for creativity and invention.