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Good room colors for teenage guys


7 Best Paint Colors for a Boy’s Room

A guide to colors that will wow boys from toddlers to teens and in between

By

Kitty Lascurain

Kitty Lascurain

Kitty Lascurain has been writing about home design and home lifestyle topics for over 10 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 02/23/21

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Whether you’re pulling together that first big-boy room or designing something with a teen in mind, finding the right paint color for your young man's room can be a challenge. Looking for a modern shade that will stand the test of time—not to mention the wear and tear of an energetic boy? We’ve got you covered.

Take the guesswork out of color selection with this roundup featuring a handful of our favorite no-fail shades for boys. These stylish colors come complete with our best advice on everything from undertones to accent pairings, making it easy to pull together the perfect palette. So go ahead—try a fresh take on a traditional blue, or a deep, dramatic neutral, like charcoal or navy. With boys' room colors like these, you can’t go wrong.

Overview

 Here are nine of the most delightful paint colors for a young boy's bedroom.

10 Best Blue Paint Colors for the Bedroom

Watch Now: 4 Tips for Picking the Perfect Paint Color

27 teenage boys' bedroom ideas young adults will approve of

There’s a surprising amount to consider when it comes to teenage boys bedroom ideas. You're having to juggle costs, function, and aesthetics in what's generally a fairly small room of the home. Not only is a boy's bedroom for epic lie-ins and gaming sessions, but it also needs to double up as a study space. And, of course, it’s got to store all his clothes (hopefully without descending into a jumble of dirty laundry and damp towels). 

There are loads of ways to make a space your teen will never want to leave, and we think it's important to involve them in the process as much as possible. Our teenage years are a period of transition, so bear this in mind when brainstorming your growing kids room together. 

Whether you stick to a blank canvas and swap out colourful accessories, or go with the flow and accept that they may well get tired of their graffiti wall or skateboard wallpaper after a couple of years.

Teenage boys' bedroom ideas

'When it comes to decorating teenage boys bedroom ideas, our answer is to be smart,' says Jane Rockett, Co-Founder, Rockett St George . 

'Tackling teenage bedrooms can be an intimidating task. However, there are a few key elements that help to create a space that works for both you and them. ' Jane says these are storage, wallpaper, art and a desk.

1. Think vertically with practical storage

(Image credit: IKEA)

Use the walls, and less will end up on the floor, right? Make sure your teenager plenty of space to put his stuff with some affordable open bedroom storage ideas, like this unit from the IKEA IVAR range . 

For teenage boys bedroom ideas, consider open wardrobe for shirts and jackets with shelving and baskets for folded clothes. This will mean that everything's to hand when getting ready in the morning, helping them get up and out the door on time. Giving your teenager their own laundry basket and large bin will help keep the space tidy and calm.

2. Set the scene with a statement lamp

(Image credit: Furniture And Choice)

A floor lamp is a practical addition to any bedroom, creating an ambient glow and cosy feel. Go oversized with a cool movie-style floor lamp to make a big statement, and layer it with bedside lights and a ceiling light so your teen can adjust the level of lighting whether he's reading, gaming or hanging out with friends after school.  

Talking of bedroom lighting ideas, why not stick battery-powered LED strip lights to the underside of shelves for an extra layer of light? These can be picked up cheaply at places like Primark and IKEA. Position one under a desk and it'll make it look like it's floating.

3. Hang artwork

(Image credit: Rockett St George)

'As with any other space in the home, artwork has the power to add interest and personality, so for me it is essential for any type of teenage boy’s bedroom ideas,' says Jane from Rockett St George. 

'Take time with them to find affordable pieces that they love and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. You can frame pretty much anything, from album covers to books, posters, postcards and t-shirts.' 

4. Build an inspiring workspace with personal trinkets

(Image credit: Future PLC / Joanna Henderson)

Incorporate a colourful desk area into your young man's or teenage girls bedroom with bright filing boxes and folders. Transform basic shelving with a lick of paint and look for stationery storage options in matching colours. Use leftover wallpaper and paint to add depth inside the shelving.

Shelves are also handy for displaying treasured items. Ideal Home Decorating Editor and mum of teenage boys Nicky Phillips recommends creating an area of open cube shelving to transform favourite trainers, baseball caps and trophies into display pieces.

5. Carve out a chilled corner

Jenson Waffle Beanbag Chair, at Dunelm

(Image credit: Dunelm)

If your teen wants a calm and minimalistic look, go for a pared-back and modern scheme with neutral tones, comfy seating and houseplants. This will enable you to create a calm chill-out zone within teenage boys bedroom ideas to retreat to when needed. 

Laid-back seating options like beanbags or even floor cushions are great for making a den-like area for watching TV, reading or gaming. They can easily be moved around the room when friends come over, too.

6. Embrace industrial materials

(Image credit: IKEA)

Look for mate rials with a more industrial vibe to toughen up the look and create visual interest, from copper to concrete. In this space, the chipboard walls are a fun feature that brings texture, contrasting beautifully against the smooth steel of the loft bedframe. 

Add lots of hooks for hanging headphones, hats and bags to free up floor space and encourage tidy habits.

7. Add personality with fun wallpaper

(Image credit: Image from Extraordinary Interiors by Jane Rockett & Lucy St George of Rockett St George, £19.99, Published By Ryland, Peters & Small, Photography by Debi Treloar)

'There are amazing bedroom wallpapers available that can totally change and transform a whole room,' comments Jane from Rockett St George. 

'For teenage boys bedroom ideas, we love simple industrial designs such as concrete, brick or tile effect wallpaper patterns that they won’t grow out of. '

8. Make room with a high-sleeper

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

A high-sleeper bed is a design must-have if your teen is working with small bedroom ideas. This multifunctional piece of furniture can double or triple up as somewhere to sleep, somewhere to study and somewhere to relax. Go for a metallic tone such as chrome to give a more grown-up feel.

9. Chalk it up with a blackboard wall

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

Be inventive with your wall space and create a DIY chalkboard for your teenage boys bedroom ideas or 'chill out' space. Start with one feature wall painted half-way in a chalkboard paint, then add a white storage shelf above to keep chalk and stationary to hand.

Continue the laid back and creative vibe with a macramé hanging chair (mounted to a secure structure) and an atmospheric fairy light idea. You could also use chalk paint to upcycle existing furniture. 

'Why not try painting a wardrobe door in chalk paint for a useful notice board, so you can subtly nudge them to do their laundry or tidy their room!' says Nadia McCowan Hill, Resident Style Advisor, Wayfair ’.

10. Furnish with stylish designs

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

Choosing furniture that doesn't feel childish is an easy way to make your teenage boy's bedroom feel like a grown-up space. By using statement furniture pieces that feel welcome in a living room helps to make their bedroom evolve into a social space.

A comfy leather swivel chair is ideal for providing a cool place to hang out and relax. A side table with a removal top is the ideal storage solution for keeping their favourite magazines and books to hand, while they enjoy some chill time in the comfort of their own room.

11. Design a kid cave

(Image credit: Dunelm)

Sometimes, we all need peace and 'alone time' so create a cosy snug in their teenage boys bedroom ideas by adding a curtain around the bed. This one is attached to a rustic beam but the effect can easily be created by installing a curtain rod to the ceiling. You don't need much space, so this will work even in rather small kids rooms.

Fun fairy lights will frame the nook and add a whimsical atmosphere. Finish the enclosure with eye-catching posters taped to the wall for a look that is laid-back and relaxed.

12. Make a big statement with an oversized map

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

Maps provide a great motif for bedroom wall decor, with charted murals or map prints making a great impact on a large expanse of wall. They're also a handy tool for coaching (you and) your kid through their geography homework.

Keep the look graphic and edgy by adding a Union Jack rug or bed linen and stick to a simple colour palette of two or three primary colours for a smart, cohesive scheme.

13. Go from kid to teen with a theme

(Image credit: Furniture And Choice)

Make the move from nursery ideas to a teen-ready space with a grown-up theme like this celestial scheme, ensuring the teenager version is 'in a galaxy far far away' from nursery-style rockets and aliens.

Start with a monochrome two-tone effect as your backdrop, then choose a sturdy white wooden bed (or bunk bed) to give a NASA-designed spacecraft feel. Accessorise with lots of astronomer-style wall art such as 'moon prints' and galaxy maps. Vintage science-fiction books would make interesting finishing touches.

14. Make tidying simple with oodles of storage

(Image credit: Wayfair)

The easiest way to encourage tidy teenage boys bedroom ideas is to offer bundles of storage that creates a home for absolutely everything. 

Kids can accumulate a lot of belongings, so avoid a cluttered scheme by choosing coherent bedroom furniture like this modern light-wood and curvaceous range. It has as many components as you could think of including a funky sliding 'over-bed' desk.

15. Enhance independent living

(Image credit: IKEA)

Teenagers spend lots of time in their bedrooms so plan the space well to make them feel they have their own 'home within a home' with a cosy grey bedroom idea. Start with grey shiplap on walls to create a cabin vibe and install Anglepoise-style lamps on the walls for a space-saving lighting solution that's adaptable, too.

Give the bed a cool 'corner sofa' twist by adding additional ottoman seating to the side then finish by marrying the two with matching throws and bedlinen.

16. Paint a wall effect

(Image credit: Furniture And Choice)

Be inventive with your wall space and create a bedroom accent wall that highlights and envelopes your teen's sleeping space. Start by painting walls a pale tone then measure from the corner of the ceiling a diagonal line on each wall to the floor.

Mask with tape and fill in the pyramid with a contrasting paint shade. Remove the tape whilst the paint is still damp. Decorate the area with artwork and lights.

17. Inject energy with orange

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

Deep orange will inject a feeling of energy and creativity into any space, making it ideal for a boy's teenage bedroom.  

Limit the orange to alcoves or one wall and choose a cool monochrome scheme for the rest of the space to balance the look.

18. Get grown up with a four-poster bed

(Image credit: Cuckooland)

Investing in a double bed is ideal for teenage boys bedroom ideas as it won't be long until they'll want the extra space to spread out more. Win extra points by making a four-poster bed the focus of the room by stringing LED festoon lights around the top of a black metal-framed bed.

A blackboard feature wall continues the industrial style and encourages creativity. Offset the strong black backdrop with an injection of colour using rugs and bed linen.

19. Be inventive with space

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

If your new loft conversion was built to accommodate a growing teenage son, make the most of sloped ceilings and alcoves. They'll love the hide-away spaces.

This teenage attic bedroom idea has a low-level bed slotted into the eaves space, while cut-out shelf storage showcasing colourful books makes the most of the small square footage. A futon sofa bed adds to the intimate and inviting feel.

20. Welcome a vibrant accent colour

(Image credit: Future PLC/Valspar/ Werner Straube)

Play it safe with traditional blue and grey shades as a background and add a splash of vibrant colour as an accent shade throughout. This smart grey room welcomes an acid yellow ladder, bedside table and soft-furnishings in a similar shade to lift the scheme.

This double bed is perfect if you are looking for shared bedroom ideas and wanted to keep the room as neutral as possible to please both parties without looking dull. If you've just one teenage son taking advantage of this room, they can easily turn the lower level into a spacious sofa to hang out with their friends. 

Emma Anthony, Design Manager at Dunelm recommends adding lots of cushions to create a space for lounging and gaming. So if the bed is against the wall they can be positioned to create a seating arrangement with something soft to lean against. Alternatively, if another family comes to stay, this set up makes a great temporary guest bedroom idea.

21. Add extra seating options

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Brittain)

A comfy chair or a couple of beanbags are a must for a teenage boys bedroom ideas. The last thing they want to do is hang out with their friends in the living room, with siblings and parents walking in every five minutes. Create their own private haven within the home which feels like more than a just bedroom.

Extra seating is the easiest way to make the room feel more like a social space. A high sleeper keeps the bed out of the way, creating more space to accommodate a comfy chair or beanbag for their friends to lounge around on after school.

22. Start with a blank canvas that's easy to change

(Image credit: Future PLC/Oliver Gordon)

If you're not keen on the idea of making a trip to a DIY store every year for a new pot of paint, accommodate your teenagers changing tastes by keeping the walls of the room a blank canvas using the best white paint.

White walls might not be the trendiest option for a teenage boys' room, but you can easily adapt to your teenagers changing interests with framed prints on the wall and patterned bedding.

23. Stamp style with accessories

(Image credit: Future PLC/Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)

If getting creative on the walls is a bridge too far, let your teenager express their style through accessories instead. A statement patterned duvet set is a great way to do this. It makes an instant impact in a room and is quick and easy to change if and when your son gets bored of a look.

Navy blue is a reassuringly masculine shade and makes an ideal backdrop to practically any colour scheme when balanced with fresh white. Wall stickers are practical, too, as they can be easily peeled off when it's time for an update.

24. Show off cool collections

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)

If your son has a favourite hobby or collection, why not incorporate it into his teen bedroom design scheme? The caps in this bedroom make an interesting storage solution and talking point. A plain white backdrop lends the bright and colourful appliqué details on the headgear extra impact.

It's also a good idea to think about their hobbies when choosing furniture for teenage boys bedroom ideas. 

'Ensure there is enough room for their hobbies and activities. If they like to read, include a cosy armchair in the corner of the room with a blanket and reading light; if they like to do art, ensure there is a desk in a part of the room with plenty of natural light,' comments Ann Marie Cousins, Founder, AMC Design . 

25. Hang a peg board

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Simon Whitmore)

Teenage years can be dominated by school exams, so a tidy and organised study area in a teen's bedroom is a must. Invest in a good quality desk and chair and fit a funky pegboard above the desk area so your teen has plenty of space to store notes and reminders. It's actually a great small home office idea for a grown up, too.

26. Go back to school

(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

For a fail-safe scheme that boys will love, try this fun take on schoolroom style for your teenage boys bedroom ideas. Choose 'uniform' navy blue as your backdrop, teamed with weathered wood boards on the floor. Then add personality with school room-inspired furniture, from locker room metal cabinets for storage to an old school desk.

Top it all off with fun accessories from the classroom, such as a bright metal chair, Anglepoise desk lamp and wooden cubbyhole storage. Dedicating a desk area away from the view of the bed goes a long way to motivate study, rather than sleep or socialising.

27. Opt for a classic navy blue and grey scheme

(Image credit: Wayfair)

Choose navy blue and grey bedroom ideas that will look great for years to come. 'A neutral colour palette of navy blue and grey will never date, adding sophisticated style throughout their teenage years,' says Wayfair ’s Resident Style Advisor Nadia McCowan Hill. 

'Add interest with bold geometrics and introduce faux greenery to suit even the most novice of houseplant owners!'

How can I personalise a teenage boy's bedroom?

'Tailor teenage boys bedroom ideas to be all about them,' says Rachel Homer, interiors blogger and writer, and mum of two boys. 'An interesting and colourful pinboard gives them a place to show some personality, where they can pin up whatever makes them happy.

'From music posters and family photos to school certificates to be proud of, this is the pace for them to celebrates what matters to them.'

What should be in a teenage boy's room?

'For a teenage boy, his bedroom is like a fort, protecting him from the outside world,' says Rachel Homer. 'It's a place where he can go to get some private space or hang out with friends and siblings'.

'It's also a place where he can start to express his own identity separate from the rest of the household. This could be by putting up posters, showing off collections, choosing a striking duvet cover or using his favourite colours on the walls.'

That said, teenage boys bedrooms ideas also need to be practical, especially if your teenager is at the age when he needs to study for exams, so good storage and a desk area are both key.

How do I tackle the changing tastes of teens?

When choosing teenage boys bedroom ideas, bear in mind that young teenage tastes will change as they get older so it might be a good idea to go for a wall colour that's easy to live with and update the look with accessories, rather than having to redecorate every couple of years.

Of course if you're happy to redecorate – or, better still, your teenager is happy to do it themselves! - then let them be as adventurous with paint colours as they like. After all, it's only paint and easy enough to paint over when the time comes for a more grown-up scheme.

Room for a teenage boy [2021] - 83 photos (Design + Furniture)

There is a catch:

In order for a room for a teenage boy to be both functional and stylish, and most importantly, both the guy himself and his parents would like it, it must be done according to quite different rules .

Stop.

But the first 2 rooms are cool and beautiful. Yes. But something is very wrong with him - now we'll figure it all out.

The design of the teenage boy-3 approaches

may be 3 opinions on the final design of the boy's teenage room. She may like:

  1. Parents.
  2. Designer.
  3. To the guy himself.

Returning to the photo from the beginning. nine0003

Fashion style, cool chandelier, The Avengers mural from the Marvel comics universe is trending right now. But I continue to argue that although most adolescent boys only dream of such a thing, it can be done right. Patience. Let's look at an example that a designer would like.


Even I, as a lover of modern design trends, have to admit that this interior is very balanced. Selection of furniture, a combination of pastel colors, perfectly seasoned light Provence. nine0003

But who needs it? Is this a boy's room or a designer's portfolio? All this perfectly seasoned style will not allow you to make any changes, will not allow you to adapt the environment to your taste.

Teenager wants his own room , not someone else's cool picture.

Therefore, here is the ideal design of a children's room for a teenage boy :

There are no decor and accessories in it - the decoration was left to the boy himself. Therefore, the first 2 are bad - in them, the parents entered the territory of a teenager. nine0003

The good news is that parents still have to take responsibility for the most important things.

  1. Competent planning. And in a nursery for teenagers, this is harder than in any other room, and therefore the whole last point of the material will be about this.
  2. Plan all electrics: sockets, switches, lighting (the latter is very important).
  3. Select furniture.
  4. Do all the finishing.

In short, everything except decor.

But what if you know your son's tastes and interests and can immediately make a cool themed design? nine0003

You don't know and no one knows. Today he is interested in one thing - tomorrow another. Interests change very quickly. Therefore, by the way, I do not recommend using photo wallpapers. Then you can’t hang anything on the wall with them - too risky and aggressive design option.


Finishing must be such that anything can fit into the interior:

  1. Posters and posters.
  2. Musical instruments or sports equipment (yes, this is also decor for a teenage boy). nine0016
  3. Any rubbish that has a history and is therefore valuable.

And this 3rd point is very important. It is these things with history that make you feel your corner, your cozy lair.

And since these unpredictable accessories can have the same colors, the initial design background should be made, firstly, neutral (gray, white, black, wood), and secondly, contrasting. Those. that example above and this photo below are perfect nursery backdrops for teenage boys. nine0003

These options are also good, but they lack contrast a bit: from the interiors for those who are older (16 years old) and then I get to those who are younger (12 years old). And there is a reason for this, which you will understand in the end.

If you haven't read the material "Children's room for a boy" - check it out, there are a lot of cool photos. nine0003

In this case, examples will be straight boy designs, such brutal dens of guys and all that. But you do understand that the interior of the nursery at this age is no longer required to reflect the gender of the child. You can do it in a neutral style - read my material about the design of a room for a teenager. There are neutral photos without gender distortions. Like this:

15-16 years old

At 16, we forget about the phrase "children's room" and already make a bedroom for a teenage guy. And we build it around a full bed with a good mattress. Not a double, of course, one and a half is enough. nine0003





Okay, about the layout later in the paragraph about furniture. 3 room design ideas for a 16 year old boy :

  1. Gray, white, black are the main colors. No, it won't be gloomy and boring. the interior will leave on another. It is in childhood that everyone likes bright colors, for young men compatibility and balance are already important. Accent colors are added dotted, not finished and in a small amount - small details will be enough anyway.
  2. Lighting is the main decor. And I'm not talking about the upper main light. Hidden LED strips in the shelves, behind the bed and at the table; single color yellow garlands; wall sconces; floor lamps in industrial and high-tech style - with these things you can turn an ordinary interior into a dream of any teenage boy.
  3. Quality plain textile. Bed linen and curtains are now needed by adults and without any drawings and patterns. Curtains in the room of a teenager boy, I would take a blackout (completely opaque). In general, read 2 of my articles about the Bedroom in a modern style and the Bedroom in a minimalist style - there are a lot of ideas that you can borrow. nine0016







After voicing these 3 things seem obvious. But most make the design as if it were for a child or some elderly uncle, and not a 16-year-old guy.







14 years

The most unstable period for a teenage boy. Interests change every day, the toys you loved yesterday are no longer interested, they are already starting to think about fashion, although ideas about it are, to put it mildly, strange. Difficult. nine0003

Children's room for a teenager ceases to be at the age of 14. Therefore, it is important to understand the idea here:

For a child, an adult design will be quite comfortable, but for a teenage guy, the interior is too childish - no.

I would follow the same principles as for 15-16 year olds.










12 years old

Let's start right away with a photo of the rooms for boys 12 years old:







They differ decently: different colors, different furniture, different approach. That's why I put them in that order. Painlessly transforming such a nursery into a teenager's room will not work.

Ready for refurbishment in 2-4 years? Therefore, if he is now 12, then it is time to move away from the nursery and equip it in a normal adult style. You can redo it for every age, but I am a supporter of doing it right away with high quality and for a long time.

If you really want a themed children's room, choose long-playing options: Star Wars and space in general, comics, sports, cars (not cars).



And do not take these small beds of incomprehensible size, under which there are no good mattresses.

Modern Style

Fact:

Guys rarely like classic design styles. In addition, they are expensive, better suited for large rooms, do not tolerate deviations and are very conservative. nine0003

Besides, the room will still change after you move in. In the photo below, the decoration is not done in a modern style: a cool crystal chandelier and a ceiling with steps. Oh well. What will the typical young man do? Hang up a funny clock with a walking man, put a magnetic board with stickers from the Simpsons on the table, a chair with upholstery stylized as a comic book and stick some stickers. And he will be right. Eclecticism? OK.


Therefore, we make the design of a teenage room for a boy in a modern style . Look here for a list of interior design styles and choose the right one for you. For a guy, I would choose either a loft or a Scandinavian one.

Both options are now in trend: brickwork, concrete, wood - what else do you need. I would even lean towards the loft.

Ideal wall materials: decorative plaster and paint. Wallpaper is possible, but only one-color or paintable. No patterns. But in general, wallpaper only if you save is not the most relevant finishing material.




The good news:

You don't have to worry about matching any particular style at all and just go for a neutral modern finish. Give the design to the youngest person - let him do as he likes.





If you stick to a neutral color scheme from white to gray and modern style, then the interior of the room for a teenager boy will come out at least good. The main thing is not to overdo it. the functional load is huge. About this further. nine0003

Furniture for a teenage boy's room

We've reached the fun part.

Layout and furniture for a boy's teenage room is the most non-trivial task in all repairs. Why?

I already wrote that we are no longer making a nursery, but a bedroom. A very busy bedroom. What should be in the room of a teenage boy:

  1. Normal bed with an expensive mattress. At the age of 12-16 years, the posture is formed in boys. Therefore, I am against changing baby beds. It is better to choose a quality one at 12 at once. nine0016
  2. Desk and chair . The chair should not be beautiful, but comfortable. No need to choose those trendy wooden legged designer chairs and the like. Take a normal leather chair with armrests. Posture. The table must be large. Make sure the monitor is far enough away to accommodate the speakers and accessories. Usually, guys like to concentrate their prey around the workplace.
  3. Complete wardrobe. It has become fashionable for teenagers to be fashionable now, even for boys. Suddenly, but true. nine0016
  4. Closed storage areas for other things. Without it, the mess is guaranteed. Let the mess be better hidden from view.
  5. Horizontal bar . Good physical shape, fortunately, neither adults nor young people went out of fashion. If you add another punching bag (pear), it will be even better.









Despite the fact that children's rooms are usually small, it is not so easy to accommodate. And here I have no advice for you. Not all the same for you to invent - improvise. nine0003

Although there is 1 - raise the bed up and make a wardrobe and / or table under it. The loft bed really helps to free up a piece of space on level ground.







The sofa is not needed - it just takes up space. The bed is much more important. And the bed on the windowsill is a dream.

Your task is to make cleaning as easy as possible for a young person. The most problematic thing is furniture on small legs and legs in general, under which dirt is always clogged. Either we hang it, or vice versa we lower it to the very floor. Beds and bedside tables do not need these legs. nine0003



I don't know if a teenager-boy needs a mirror in his room - better ask him yourself.

Good luck in your hard work!

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