I'm a big old traditionalist with most things in life and that includes Christmas decorating. I didn't think I liked pink as a general rule, let alone for Christmas decorating. Then I saw my niece's pink Christmas room.
It was seven years ago that I almost choked on a piece of gum and died. Almost. At the very least I was winded and had to sit quietly for a moment.
I remember the day like it was yesterday. Ironically I can't remember my "actual" yesterday. I was visiting my niece's house to see how her Christmas decorating was coming. My niece is the chucker by the way. I've mentioned her before. She chucks stuff. Not cabers or anything ... household items mainly. If something's in her way, she chucks it out, if she can't fit something in a cupboard she chucks a bunch of stuff out, if her garage is messy ... she chucks it all. Chuck, chuck, chuck.
So I'm not sure how she's managed to hold onto Christmas decorations or her children, but she has. It was her little girl's room decorated for Christmas that made me almost choke on my gum and die by the way.
My niece had 2 boys before she finally had a girl. The second the girl was born, it was all pink all the time, and Christmas is no exception. Behold ... the pretty pink Christmas bedroom that almost ... took my breath away.
I mean seriously.
The sad thing is, her room isn't like this anymore. Because this toddler is now a big girl. She's like 7 or 8 or something. I can't be expected to remember the exact ages of all my relatives. Unless you are over 100, I will not remember your age. I'm looking at you 104 year old Aunt Jean.
Everything pink, pretty, frilly and tiny.
I'm not sure what she's looking at in this photo but that's the same look an old Uncle used to get when he spotted an unattended beer.
Pink. Honestly. I never would have believed I could like it let alone for Christmas.
And at this point you're rolling your eyes thinking, AS IF. A crystal cake plate in a toddler's room? Bullshit. But it's true. This is how my niece had her toddler's room throughout Christmas and everything was fine. It's how she herself was raised by my sister. Nothing "good" was ever put away so that it didn't get broken. Instead the kids were taught certain things couldn't be touched or you had to be gentle with them.
As far as I know nothing was ever broken other than a pair of crystal candlesticks, 12 teacups, 5 saucers, 2 televisions, a rare and unreplaceable Beatles album, countless dishes, a set of Royal Doulton china and an arm. So there you go.
This is the Met Gala Barbie. She just shoved Kim Kardashian out of the way.
Under the tree even more pink. It was a relentless swath of pink.
As every Christmas decorator knows, when in doubt or out of money, put out some Christmas balls for instant festive.
O.K. I know that's a LOT of pictures of a toddler (who is now like 17 or 18 years old I think) you don't know, so thank you for being so patient. To be quite honest with you I'm not sure how mommy bloggers only post 1 or 2 pictures of their children. It must take hella self control.
I hope this quick break from all the Farmhouse Christmas inspiration that's out there was a bright spot in your decorating day. Nothing against Farmhouse Christmas decorating of course, I love it.
By the way, I have no idea how I ended up taking pictures of only one side of the room.
The other half of the room was quite nice too. Really. Honestly.
I'm lying. There was nothing on the other half of the room. My niece chucked it all.
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I remember these photos from before - I REALLY wanted that pink striped rug but it was discontinued! (sob!) I love this room and I'm crazy about the Christmas balls. They look so fancy, but I think they would be easy to make. I'm going to have to try some!
I re-edited all the photos, sharpened them up and made them bigger. They're so much better now and definitely worth revisiting. Sorry 'bout the rug, lol. :) ~ karen!
I see you didn't mention the poor kid's name. How much did she pay you to leave that out. Imagine the humiliation if those pics got around high school. My SIL was a relentless chucker. Her three (now adult) children have gone through years of therapy.
What a lucky little girl. My late sister-in-law lived in a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. She decorated it in shabby chic and her Christmas was always pink and silver. It wasn't right for everyone, but it was exactly right for her. Your article reminded me of her and how much I loved her and her Christmas. Thank you Karen!
Cutest room ever! But what I really want to comment on is Aunt Jean - you haven't mentioned her in a while. My time flies - 104!!!! How great for her and your family to still have her. As for pretty things out like that in a room and not get broken with kids - both my daughters were like that growing up - even when toddlers - the oldest would only point at "pretties" and say exactly that. My younger would pat them but not pick up - in malls when other kids were having tantrums, my younger would cover her ears and ask me why the kid was crying and ask me to make it stop. Now she's 16 and I cover MY ears and ask her to stop! Ugh. Love pink - painted my bedroom a soft pink like this a couple years ago - it lasted a year and now it's not. Pink in small doses as an adult only (or short stints) - unless you have a little girl and can close the door on it now and then.
If I could use the color palette of the picture of just balls - pastel coral, pink, mint, and tons of sparkle white - I would make the most gorgeous crocheted blanket for all seasons. I think I will. That last picture of sweet thing looks either like she drank the beer she found or more likely, she is REALLY tired of you taking pictures.
Being Jewish, we don't celebrate Christmas. But when I saw a PINK CHRISTMAS TREE last year at my local nursery, I thought hmmmmmmm.....
I have plenty of Jewish friends with Hanukah bushes. Just do it. ;) ~ karen!
aaaaack....sugar overload......
I didn't think I would but I really, really like this pink room, especially the wall colour - so peaceful and calming.
I was surprised enough by my own reaction to the colour that I looked up the effect of pink and this is what I found.
"Pink is thought to have a calming effect. One shade known as "drunk-tank pink" is sometimes used in prisons to calm inmates. Sports teams sometimes paint the opposing teams locker room pink to keep the players passive and less energetic."
Kudos to your sister for choosing this colour for a toddler! She may be wiser than you think.
I'm now considering redoing my own room in the same shade. I could use the calming effect. And all the chucking involved in the prepping too.
Thank you, Karen, for this blast from the past.
Karen, did your niece's sons get their own trees as well? I'm picturing a camouflage theme!
They did! But the tree was blue and red with a tiny bit of a hockey theme. And a sock monkey! ~ karen
Beautiful pictures Karen your niece has a very photogenic face just like her Auntie. The room was decorated beautifully for her. I am not a pink person but I could not hardly wait to see the next photo.
I do however understand the teachings of little ones to be careful with certain things, an not hiding away the good stuff. As it is what I did with my own children, an yes there were a few ops, then again we all learn more from our ops’s.
My youngest has a 1 year old this year and she is afraid to decorate.... I told her she needs to teach him is all. As sometime during the season he will be somewhere that’s decorated and he will need to know the do’s and don’ts so he might as well learn them at home. Rather than have him try and pull on some one else’s tree.
I love the Christmas ball made up of Christmas balls. It's like a Starbucks across the street from a Starbucks - bizarre but beautiful. Would you make a tutorial on how to create one?
My head just spun around counter-clockwise... This means that either Pink Toolbelt Or Fish Pedicure is a Grandma?...
💣🤪🕢
LOL. Yes, Pink Toolbelt is. She got married when she was 18 and started having kids right away. And her daughter got married at 23 and also started having kids right away. Because of the age difference between myself and Pink Toolbelt and how early she started having kids, I was an aunt by the age of 9. It's all very confusing. ~ karen!
Yes yes yes bring on the pink!!!! I dream of owning a white Christmas tree with pink ornaments. Luv this!!!