Youth rooms and spaces

Take seriously all the advice in the manuals and books to have spaces that are appropriate for the occupants and for the activity. In other words, a room that youth actually will like being in. Don't postpone this for a rainy day.

• Discussion space looks different from a study space which looks different from a recreation space. Either the room needs to be flexible or you need 3 or more spaces (sections).
  
• Approach the room from the view of a new youth entering for the first time – when you have a new youth ask for the suggestions for making the space better.
  
• There is a balance between keeping things the same for the sake of tradition (“we've always had that awful painting in here – we sometimes add a mustache or other decorations”) and dingy, rundown and out of date.
  
• Out of date happens quickly. Every few years you have a new group. Create a new youth room.
  
• Do fill it with leftover hand-me-downs. I've experimented with this and run down furniture, besides being off-putting is quickly destroyed since it is not valued. New furniture will be valued and taken care of.
  
• But do get hardy furniture.