“We’d have nyonya prawn sambal, sometimes a roast,” she recalled, describing the beautiful mishmash of her multiracial upbringing.
But these days, Lynne, a recording arts graduate, is no longer just a participant in holiday cheer – she’s its chief architect. Lynne is the founder of Klaushaus, a bespoke Christmas home decorating service that transforms living rooms into festive wonderlands.
Whether it’s a classic tree, a whimsical theme, or an all-out festive explosion, Lynne, 38, has one mission: to bring back the magic of Christmas.
The seeds of Klaushaus were planted during a bittersweet chapter in Lynne’s life. In 2022, her close friend encouraged her to test out the idea of a decorating business. “She hired me to set up seventeen trees in her hallway! She wanted an entire Christmas-forest vibe. It was wild!”
The effort was monumental. Joni and her friend spent a whole year sourcing for cheap trees in addition to the vintage trees her friend had collected since her younger days. It took her four days to get all the trees up and another three to decorate them.
“We really enjoyed our hangouts and this was basically one long hangout once a year,” the PJ-based Lynne recounted.
However, her friend passed away shortly after. Yet her unwavering support stayed with Lynne. By October last year, Lynne knew it was time to honour her friend’s memory and officially launch Klaushaus.
At Klaushaus, Lynne caters to all kinds of holiday dreams. “I’ve got three packages,” she explained.
The Ultimate Christmas Kit is for those who want her to handle everything – tree, ornaments, lights, and installation.
Santa’s Starter Kit is about adding pizzazz to existing decorations, while Elf Essentials is where she works her magic using only what’s already in the home. Her packages start from as low as RM350.
Every project is a mix of creativity, fun, and a little bit of chaos. “I had one client ask for a snowy pink tree with pink ornaments … yes, the snow would have been pink too! We didn’t get to materialise this pink tree. I was lowkey looking forward to the potential of it though – would’ve been fun for the ‘gram!”
But what truly sets Klaushaus apart is her personal touch. “The kids in the homes I set up trees tend to be really into the whole process. A lot of times they really want to be involved,” Lynne said.
“They’ll check if the star is straight or pick out baubles. One kid even drew me as the ‘Best Christmas Decorator’ in his diary and gave me the biggest hug. It was the sweetest thing ever.”
Running Klaushaus isn’t just about spreading festive cheer; it’s also a way for Lynne to indulge in her own Christmas obsession. “I get so excited about the latest Christmas designs and ideas each year,” she said. “Basically, I’m living vicariously through all of my clients!”
And she loves that her passion for decorating Christmas trees has helped create beautiful memories, especially for this one family who she visits every Christmas. “One year, I did a ‘Cinderella’ tree, and we made a fun before-and-after video. The younger brother thought his older sibling had turned into the tree! It’s these little moments that make it all so worth it.”
When Lynne isn’t sprinkling Christmas magic, she’s busy with her main job as a bridal makeup artist. Balancing the two roles means her Klaushaus bookings are limited, but she cherishes every moment of it.
“I want to bring back the Christmas spirit into people’s homes, especially after the past few whack years we’ve all had,” she enthused.
“I also want to slowly gather all my Christmas-crazy people – I know you are all out there ready to start Christmas in October. I just need us to find each other and be merry together in 2025!”
So, if your halls need decking or your tree needs topping, Klaushaus is here to make your festive dreams come true, one twinkling light at a time.
Follow KlausHaus on Instagram.