Spikes and graffiti are hallmarks of the punk look.
Punk rock -- an aggressive, loud form of rock music -- started in England in the 1970s as a reaction to the mellow "flower child" music of the 1960s. Fans wore spiked hairstyles and ripped clothing adorned with safety pins. Punk started out as a radical antiestablishment movement but, as it became more mainstream, it grew less anarchistic and more fashionable. Tweens, teens and young adults will enjoy the colorful, nostalgic look of punk d cor. Does this Spark an idea?
Motifs
Punk decorating motifs are evocative of its anarchistic roots, so choose a theme such as skull-and-crossbones, tattoo art or the British Union Jack flag. Strike an "urban streets" note with spray-painted graffiti on the walls; you can even buy peel-and-stick graffiti if spray paint is out of the question. Paint a mural enlargement of your favorite punk band's breakout album cover in place of a headboard and accessorize the rest of the room to match.
Colors
Almost any color will fit into a punk decorating scheme as long as you position it against a black background. Stark black, white and gray make bright graffiti tones stand out. Red, white and blue make a good backdrop for a British Union Jack theme. Make a large pink skull painting the focal point of a tween girl's room, and pick up the pink color in fur pillows, throw rugs and trim paint.
Furniture
Solid-color bedding, furniture and draperies will keep the focus on the room's accessories. Modern furniture with clean, uncluttered lines suit the punk style best. Choose metallic finishes or black -- matte or shiny -- for an edgy, industrial look. Don't be afraid to repurpose items for a trendier look; a stack of weathered bricks can hold a bedside lamp, and a large, battered wooden speaker will serve as an end table.
Accessories
Pay homage to your favorite punk groups with large and colorful band posters, either framed and hung singly or papered solidly over the walls. Buy large silvery safety pins and use them to adorn every fabric surface from sofa pillows to shower curtains. Add textural contrast with a shaggy fake fur in a neon color or an animal print. Every punk room should contain at least one skull, so have some fun with skull-shaped light fixtures, skull-shaped candles or a skull statue covered with rhinestones.
Tags: your favorite punk, British Union, British Union Jack, favorite punk, safety pins, Union Jack, your favorite