Ask any young girl under eight what her favorite color is, and it’s almost a guarantee that she’ll respond, “Pink!” Until my daughter was born, I had no idea just how many shades of pink exist. To young girls, pink is everywhere, and their love for it can be so intense that it feels like a scream for more. Various theories suggest that this fascination might harken back to our early days of hunting and gathering, but whatever the reason, they simply adore it.
I never aimed to raise Amelia as a stereotypical girly-girl, adorned with purses and tutus, fragrant strawberry-scented body dust, and sparkly nail polish. Yet, here she is, like many other days, clad in pink: pink leggings embellished with butterfly appliqués, a shirt bursting with floral patterns, and pink sandals adorned with beads gifted by a doting grandmother. Despite the array of colors available, trying to steer her towards anything else results in a solemn promise that she’ll wear those options tomorrow. So, when I decided to revamp Amelia’s bedroom—which was still a vibrant green from its previous life as an office—I wasn’t shocked when she insisted it be pink.
“How about we paint your walls a cheerful orange?” I proposed, using that overly enthusiastic tone adults often reserve for children.
“I want pink,” she replied firmly.
“I understand, but what about…Tangerine?” I added a little shimmy of my shoulders, hoping to evoke whimsical images of tropical landscapes filled with dancing women. But Amelia’s patience was wearing thin, and she was starting to think I wasn’t hearing her.
“PINK!”
First Tip:
When redecorating your child’s room, treat it like a surprise, starting the project while they’re away—be it at preschool, with Grandma, or on a playdate. This way, you’ll have enough time to make a real difference. Chances are, they’ll love the result, as even old toys seem fresh against newly painted walls.
On our way to the paint store, Amelia announced, “I want my room to be The Magical Meadow.” It was clear she had given this a lot of thought. I caught a glimpse of her big brother’s eyes lighting up in the rearview mirror. “Oooooh, do you want faeries in there, Amelia?”
“Yeah, faeries and butterflies!”
“What about a rainbow?” he asked eagerly.
“Yes, and a rainbow!” She paused to think, “And I want a unicorn.”
“What else?” her brother encouraged.
I quickly realized I was losing control of the situation. “I can do faeries, Amelia, but a unicorn might be a stretch.” Fortunately, Amelia is just as agreeable as she is imaginative. Meanwhile, her brother chimed in, “I want a giant spider on my ceiling!”
He had purple walls with rocket ships and glow-in-the-dark stars, none of which I planned to change until middle school when he would no longer fear ridicule from friends. I mentally began to brainstorm how to harmonize outer space with insects in a way that was simple, cost-effective, and not too creepy for a five-year-old. As he elaborated on the giant spider and how its legs would drape down the walls, a few faeries didn’t seem like too much trouble after all.
“Mom, can you add a praying mantis?” he asked.
As I was saying—pink—the range is astonishing. There’s hot pink, pale pink, purple-tinged pinks, peachy shades, Dusty Rose, Morning Glory, Magic Moments, Candy Stripes, Cotton Candy, Bubblegum, Ballet Slippers, and many more uniquely named hues like Razzle Dazzle and Secret Rendezvous. I picked up three sample jars, hoping to narrow down the options.
As the sample patches dried on the wall, Amelia skipped in to check on my progress. She halted, eyes wide, “Not that much pink! I want the whole wall pink!”
I tried to explain that I was merely seeking to see how different shades looked in various lighting. Once we decided, we could paint the entire room. Sometimes I wonder what she must think of me.
My husband, a minimalist, suggested a more subdued approach rather than the playful direction I envisioned. Considering her pink paisley rug and polka-dot bedspread, we hoped to avoid overwhelming the room. So, of course, when we returned to the paint store for round two, Amelia immediately gravitated toward one sample aptly named Easter Bunny.
Second Tip:
Avoid taking your child to the paint store. The multitude of choices can easily overwhelm their fickle minds, and they are naturally drawn to the loudest colors.
“Oh look, Amelia,” I said, holding up a sample that was two thousand shades lighter.
She waved the Easter Bunny sample in my face, “This one!”
“But Amelia, it has nearly the same name. This one’s called Easter Bonnet.”
“What’s a bonnet?” her brother chimed in.
While Amelia and her brother spun in one of the store’s swivel chairs, I took advantage of her inability to read, returned the Easter Bunny sample, and discreetly purchased a sample of Pink Peony instead. However, Pink Peony was not worth the tantrum I faced in the parking lot. Within three brushstrokes, I realized it was too subtle—more like an embarrassed vanilla trying to fit in at a pink family reunion.
Third Tip:
Always start with paint samples. Colors don’t appear the same on your walls as they do on a scrap of paper beneath the store’s fluorescent lights. This will save you money and help you avoid being stuck with an unfortunate color for the next five years until you feel that enough time has passed to justify a new paint job.
After three trips to the paint store and five sample jars, we finally settled on Ballerina. It was pale yet not washed out, sweet but not overly saccharine.
“But where are the faeries?” Amelia asked as the new walls dried.
“Flying,” I reassured her, “as fast as the US mail can deliver them.” When they arrive, I’m sure they will find Amelia’s Magical Meadow a delightful place to dwell and play—at least until she develops a new obsession with turquoise and horses.
This article was originally published on May 15, 2011.