I had a serious case of bedroom envy as a kid. When I'd watch my favorite TV shows or movies, I was always distracted by the the characters' rooms. I loved to see the little details, and if a movie showed me a flashy montage of someone primping in their room, I was instantly pulled in. In reality, I was sharing a bedroom with my older sister for the first decade of my life, and she set the rules, which made me even more desperate for a fabulous space of my own.
There's just something so personal about bedrooms; it's where you go to be alone (or not...) and, for most people, the only place where you can completely do your own thing. For teenagers, I think bedrooms are even more important because they serve as both a sanctuary and a display of who you really are or want to be. I still find myself critiquing the homes from TV and film, wondering where my couch would go or how I'd rework a kitchen for optimal storage. You know, the important stuff that is totally not irrational at all. Here are a few bedrooms that have a special place in my heart:
Clarissa's Bedroom in Clarissa Explains It All
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| Is it just me, or is Sam totally staring at Clarissa's boobs in this picture? |
I think most young ladies (and I'm sure some gents) of the early 90s wanted to BE Clarissa. First of all, she clearly knew everything, as demonstrated by her ability to "explain it all." Second, her fashion was 100% bonkers, 100% of the time and we were all drooly-faced over her clashing patterns and super-bright everything. Her room was really just an extension of that - she played with color and pattern, and her parents were completely okay with her painting random sections of her wall in a checkered pattern. She was living the dream! She also had her own computer, which was incredibly chic by 1992 standards, and her hat collection proudly hanging on the wall. Toss in her pet alligator Elvis and a ladder-accessible bedroom window for her BFF Sam and you have the perfect teen bedroom.
Cher's Bedroom in Clueless
Cher's bedroom is the quintessential object of desire from most of our childhoods (and perhaps adulthoods). We all wanted her closet, with its computerized clothes-finding system and rotation abilities. Many reasonable people left the film wanting a computer to dress them - something which is decidedly unreasonable - and I think we all kind of assumed that would've happened by now. That is how powerful this closet was. Note to the universe/manufacturers: WE'RE STILL WAITING. Her closet's fame often distracts from how great her bedroom is otherwise, with its spacious layout, huge windows and fireplace. Not many teens get a fireplace in their bedroom, but Cher was not an average teen.
Punky's Bedroom in Punky Brewster
Punky's room was a colorful explosion of paint and repurposed goods that, as Henry noted, "could blind a Smurf." I was so jealous of her rainbow room, but now I'd say she deserved it since she was abandoned in a supermarket by her mother. What a heartwarming tale! When she moves in with Henry, she decides to do a surprise makeover on his study - montage alert! - which he is not super pleased about, if you can imagine. The best parts? A bed made from an old flower cart and a smiling sun painted on her window, which is covered by a painted moon shade at night. She really thought of everything!
Not only did Punky get this badass room, she also got her own treehouse - montage #2 alert! This chick has a dream about a tree house, draws up a sketch, and Henry is like, "hey, let's do this!" so they get all their friends and their teacher (?!) to saw and paint and whatnot all day just to build the treehouse she dreamed about. Must be nice, Punky, must be nice.
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| Please note the "dog-a-vator" for Brandon. For a 6 year-old, she's really good with details. |
I don't want to sound bitter, but I must point out that she later got HER OWN RESTAURANT as well, because Henry wanted to "give into Punky's dream to run her own teen hangout/burger establishment," according to Wikipedia. Of course, the restaurant was also colorfully fabulous and spunky (due to copious amounts of Punky Power, I'm sure) and aside from that time they thought a customer died at his table (Phew! Just narcolepsy!) everything went swimmingly there, too. Okay, okay...she did get totally orphaned in a strip mall so I guess she deserved it. Still, though.
Enid's Bedroom in Ghost World
Enid's bedroom was the dark, angsty retreat of my dreams! From a practical POV, I loved that she had her own bathroom, sizable closet and enough room for people to simply lounge. My room had no lounging opportunities! I was clearly missing out. Her vintage accessories and quirky style were right up my alley, and I'd daydream about having an area just to listen to records or the privacy to dye my hair green at will. Also, those square yellow shelves are something I'd still love to find at a flea market!
Lisa's Bedroom in The Simpsons
From a young age, I looked up to Lisa Simpson. She was like me in many ways, and she managed to excel in her less-than-perfect circumstances while also maintaining an adorable, colorful bedroom. I felt we were kindred spirits and I really wanted to get into her bedroom (but not, like, in a pervy way). It was simple and always neat: just a bed, nightstand, bookshelf and vanity (later a desk) were needed to make the perfect pink-overload heaven. She seemed to only show flair on her walls, with posters of saxophones and the Happy Little Elves. She kept it simple and I respected that. At one point, you could see a real-life recreation of the Simpsons' home, where you'd find Lisa's bedroom in all its color-inaccurate glory.
Kat's Bedroom in 10 Things I Hate About You
At a certain point, I thought there was nothing cooler than bedroom walls covered entirely in posters and band photos. I dipped my toes into this world around '96, when my sister finally left our room for her own place and I got to splash my walls with every single picture of Gwen Stefani that existed within a 10 mile radius, as well as sleep under a poster of Shirley Manson. When I saw Kat's bedroom a couple of years later, it only fueled me to "express myself" further. Cue collages, furniture makeovers and painting random checkered patterns around my room (thanks, Clarissa!). My freshmen dorm room was more like Kat's room and I even got a fire hazard warning, which is so Kat of me, right?!
The Girls' Bedroom in Full House
This room is so delightfully late 80s/early 90s that it warms my heart. I thought their red furniture was so classy and cool, and since I had red bunk beds (top bunk represent!) that I shared with my sister, I felt the same way by extension. Let's also not forget Michelle's pencil bed, as noted above. I always wanted a cool "modern" desk, and thought DJ's was AMAZING. Now, I recognize it as the type of cheap desk/chair you can get at, like, Big Lots or whatever, but back then my tiny bookworm self saw it as a proper study/writing/pretend-to-be-a-banker space. Yes, I used to pretend that I was a banker. For fun.
The original bedroom on Full House was everything I thought I wanted in a bedroom...until I saw their bedroom makeover! The new room was so colorful and modern (HAHAHA) with its aqua dresser and table set and pastel walls. That giant puffy "MICHELLE" floating on the wall definitely spoke to me and I would have killed for that bay window. I always wanted a window seat (which they had, but never used!) so I'd put a pillow on a tiny ledge next to my window and teeter there while reading, pretending that I was super comfy, and definitely not about to fall over or get a splinter in my ass.
Do you have any bedroom envy? What was your favorite TV or movie bedroom growing up? Can you believe we're still waiting for our own Clueless closets?
