Ask any little girl under eight years old what her favorite color is, and you’ll likely hear a resounding “Pink!” Before my daughter was born, I never realized just how many shades of pink there are in the world. It seems to permeate their lives to such an extent that you might think they’d burst into tears if they had to live without it. The reasons behind this phenomenon could be traced back to our early days as hunters and gatherers, but whatever the explanation, girls just can’t get enough of this vibrant hue.
I never aimed to raise Emily as a traditional girly-girl, with her love for purses, tutus, sparkling strawberry-scented dust, and glitzy nail polish. Yet, here we are—most days, she’s decked out in pink: pink leggings adorned with butterfly patches, a top overflowing with rose patterns, and pink beaded sandals gifted by a grandmother who indulges her every whim. It’s not due to a lack of choices; when I suggest other colors, she solemnly promises to wear them… tomorrow. So, when I decided to revamp Emily’s apple-green room (which was originally an office), it came as no shock that she insisted on pink.
“What about painting the walls a lively orange?” I proposed in that overly enthusiastic tone adults reserve for young children.
“I want pink!” came her emphatic reply.
“I know, but how about… Tangerine?” I suggested, adding a little shimmy in hopes of conjuring a lively image of dancing women in vibrant skirts. Emily was not impressed and had clearly decided I was hard of hearing.
“PINK!” she insisted.
Tip One:
When redecorating your child’s bedroom, treat it like a surprise and begin while they’re away—be it at preschool, Grandma’s, or a playdate. This way, you’ll have ample time to make real progress. Most likely, they’ll adore it, as even old toys feel new against freshly painted walls.
As we headed to the paint store, Emily declared, “I want my room to be The Enchanted Garden.” Her determination indicated she had been thinking this through.
Her big brother, Lucas, perked up from the back seat. “Do you want faeries in it, Emily?”
“Yes! Faeries and butterflies!” she exclaimed.
“What about a rainbow?” he suggested.
“Yes, and a rainbow!” After a moment, she added, “And I want a unicorn!”
“What else?” Lucas pressed, clearly caught up in the excitement.
I was beginning to lose control. “I can manage faeries, but a unicorn might be a tall order.” Luckily, Emily is both imaginative and agreeable, but now Lucas was eager to add his own ideas.
“I want a giant spider on my ceiling!” he chirped.
His room already sported purple walls with rocket ships and glow-in-the-dark stars, a design I had no plans to change until he reached middle school and became self-conscious. I mentally scrambled to think of a way to merge outer space with insects in a way that wouldn’t scare a five-year-old. As he described the giant spider with long legs reaching down the walls, a handful of faeries suddenly didn’t seem so daunting.
“Mom, can you do a praying mantis?” he chimed in.
So, back to pink—it’s a color spectrum that’s hard to comprehend. Hot pink, pale pink, peachy pink, Dusty Rose, Morning Glory, Magic Moments, Candy Stripes, Cotton Candy, Bubblegum, Ballet Slippers, Dog’s Ear, Pop, Pink Passion, Pink Fizz, Watermelon, Grapefruit, and the more whimsical names like Razzle Dazzle, Secret Rendezvous, and Sentimental Journey. I picked three sample jars to help narrow it down.
As the paint samples dried on Emily’s wall, she waltzed in to evaluate my progress. Stopping abruptly, she exclaimed, “Not that much pink! I want the whole wall pink!”
I attempted to explain that I just wanted to see how the different shades looked in varying light. Once we choose, we would paint the entire room. Sometimes I wonder what she thinks of my decision-making skills.
My husband, the minimalist, recommended a more subdued approach, hoping to balance Emily’s pink paisley rug and polka-dot duvet to prevent the room from becoming overwhelming. So, naturally, during our second visit to the paint store, Emily became enamored with a sample called Easter Bunny.
Tip Two:
Avoid taking your child to the paint store. There are far too many choices for their easily distracted minds, and children are naturally drawn to the loudest and most garish options.
“Oh look, Emily,” I held up a sample that was two shades lighter.
She waved Easter Bunny in my face. “This one!”
“But Emily, they have almost the same name! This one is called Easter Bonnet.”
“What’s a bonnet?” Lucas asked, his curiosity piqued.
As Emily and Lucas twirled in one of the store’s swivel chairs, I took advantage of her inability to read, slipped Easter Bunny back, and quietly grabbed a sample of Pink Peony instead. Unfortunately, Pink Peony turned out to be a dud. Within just three brushstrokes, it appeared more like a timid vanilla than a vibrant pink.
Tip Three:
Always start with paint samples. Colors never look the same on your walls as they do on a scrap of paper under the store’s fluorescent lights. This will save you money and help you avoid the disaster of living with an unfortunate color choice for years.
After three trips to the paint store and five sample jars later, we settled on Ballerina—a shade that was pale but not washed-out, sweet yet not overly saccharine.
“But where are the faeries?” Emily asked as her new walls began to dry.
“Flying,” I assured her, as fast as the US mail can deliver them. I was confident that when they finally arrived, they would find Emily’s Enchanted Garden as magical and delightful a place to live as she does—at least until her interests shift to turquoise and horses.
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Summary:
This whimsical journey into decorating a little girl’s room highlights the enchanting yet sometimes overwhelming love for the color pink. With imaginative requests from children, parents can find themselves navigating a sea of choices to create a space that sparks joy and creativity. Remember to approach the project with a spirit of fun, and don’t forget to rely on paint samples to ensure a color that delights for years to come.