I was going to call this post “how to decorate a room for Christmas in the middle of a snow storm when the closest store is 25 ice covered miles away.”
But that seemed a little long.
And I was totally in the middle of a revelation about Christmas decorating…..where I have the tendency to over-share.
So I thought I would keep it simple and call it….
….”how to decorate with what you have.”
You see….I have a tendency to stroll down the Christmas decorating aisle and see something new and get inspired and let one thing lead to another and redesign all the rooms for Christmas and leave with a cart full of new decorations….
….when I already had boxes and boxes and boxes of holiday cheer at home.
*sigh*
Boxes and boxes.
I mean….seriously….I never met a Christmas decoration at a yard sale…..that I didn’t think could be spray painted into something wonderful.
And so when I started decorating the laundry room…..I determined I was going to work with what I have.
Actually the snow determined it for me….
…..but let’s not get mired down in details. 🙂
(okay….seriously….just between us…..at this point are you asking yourself….really….who even decorates the laundry room for Christmas?)
I know.
It’s a little over the top.
Maybe that’s why I’ve never really decorated the laundry room before….but it’s the first thing you see when you walk in the house….and I wanted to put my best foot forward in case a magazine stopped by.
So I wrapped some packages and found this banner I made last year that hung on the family room mantel two years ago and strung it across a wreath.
And added a jingle bell printable.
And stacked packages and hung monogram ornaments from yard sale wreaths circa 2000.
And added marquee numbers and reworked these Christmas trees with red and white ornaments.
And the most amazing thing happened.
Those yard sale decorations and chalkboard tags and wrapping paper and Christmas ornaments came together to create something wonderful.
Something that made my heart smile.
Something I’d never put together before.
Something festive and merry….
…..and beautiful.
There is such a lesson for me in these simple laundry room decorations.
Contentment.
Sufficiency.
Joy.
Joy for an attic stacked with boxes of yard sale ornaments.
Joy for a laundry room to decorate.
And joy for a snow storm that helped remind me…that sometimes the greatest gifts….
….were right there all along. 🙂
PS I think my favorite decorations in the laundry room….
….are the ones right outside the window. 🙂
I am smiling at this, KariAnne. The laundry room looks so festive. And, to think it never occurred to me to decorate my laundry room for Christmas. Hope to see you at Pink Saturday.
I think this a first for me to be the very first when actually I was the first - just say'in. Thanks for using joy over and over as that is my key word for this Christmas. Just a word of explanation: Someone once said pick out a word during the Christmas season and whenever you see or hear the word used it is to be a reminder to focus on the meaning of the season- my word is joy this year. I can't get to church today as the roads are still very dangerous but you have set me up for a very "joyful" day and I wish the same for your family and you - love you! Oh yes the laundry room is amazing and fun - almost makes you want to en"joy" laundry.
Love your decorating style and your energy, but just wondering, how many houses do you actually have? I probably missed a few posts that identified "the farm house" and " the gate house". Are these full time residences or rentals, and are there more? Keep up the good work and enjoyable narration.
Mary, LOL! Here's the house 411! We just have the main house....the farmhouse....and then the little house at the end of the driveway that used to be a beauty shop and now it's our craft house! Have an awesome day rock star! karianne
Hi!! love your laundry room, never know if a magazine editor might get stuck in the snowstorm and see shelter at your well decorated house and just HAVE to feature you! ;) Any chance you could share the printable or font for that gorgeous Merry Christmas banner? LOVE it and have cardstock and ribbon standing by!
Good advice KariAnne. I'm a firm believer in using as much as you already have too. By the way, I've always loved your laundry room. Too gorgeous to be a "real" laundry room. (smile) Happy holidays, Lisa
I love to decorate my laundry room for Christmas since use it as our main entrance I always like to decorate for a nice welcome. I love your laundry room, so full of Christmas cheer! Your whole house looks so wonderful so pretty and welcoming. Have a great day. Susan
Your laundry room looks so festive! An ice storm is a great way to make one creative! Your holiday home is so pretty and full of inspiring ideas for all of us! Thank you for sharing it!
Beautiful! Sometimes this is the most satisfying way to decorate! Happy Snow Day! :)
Lady, how did I manage to miss the big announcement about BHG? That's awesome! You are so famous. Pretty soon you'll be designing your own line of Christmas decor. Everyone will rush out to buy it and Target will run out, like they did with the Missoni striped stuff. I love this post. I had a similar experience last year when I didn't have any art money for 6 months. I went and shopped my studio to see what was there. It was actually pretty cool. Sometimes it's energizing to see what you've amassed for a rainy, or snowy, day. The Other Marian
Where in the rule book does it tell us not to decorate a laundry room...oh that's right...WE THREW OUT THE RULE BOOK!!!! Enjoy the snow! ;)
Cute post..I've managed to use my old stuff for the last few years..
Yes! Yes, yes and YES. Using what you have is more challenging to make it look new, but it's more gratifying when you do! Your room is beautiful!
Funny thing about your post is that I'm stuck at home (same storm) and stumped about what to do in my foyer. I figured I'd look at some of your rooms for inspiration. Guess I'll dig out more boxes and see what I can come up with. I love that used color in the farmhouse.
What a festive laundry room! Maybe if I decorated my laundry room for Christmas, it would make me want to do the laundry...Or it would make me not want to do laundry for fear that I would mess up my laundry room decorations...or maybe it would make my children want to go into the laundry room to do their own laundry... Merry Christmas! Melissa
Okay, fess up. That is NOT a laundry room. It looks too beautiful, neat, and clean. Mine has lint and spray starch marks all over and I do vacuum in there. I certainly couldn't invite some Lah ti dah editor to come over and photograph it let alone get a gander. If some bigwig came over , I'd bolt the laundry room closed :-)
Such a cute laundry room with and without the adorable decorations, and I love your posts. They're always both funny and touching. I'm just wondering - what is the color on the walls of your laundry room? They are such a warm buttery color. Thanks!
Cora, Thanks so much! The laundry room is one of my favorite rooms in the house! It's good that I like to do laundry! The color in the laundry room is Benjamin Moore Sandy Brown! karianne
It's so good to remember that so many beautiful things can be made from what we already have.
Funny. I have been Christmas shopping at my house....looking for things I can reuse. I have exactly the same wrapping paper that you have...all three of them....Hobby Lobby, right? I use that wrapping paper to wrap Christmas packages as well as wedding gifts and birthday gifts. I just use a different colored ribbon for occasions other than Christmas. I love your style. No wonder magazine people want to find their way to your house. Congratulations!
Love the decorations in the laundry room - I would be washing everything in sight. I did a lot of remodeling on my Christmas decorations as I was determined NOT to spend any money on more Christmas decorations when I had 20 plastic crates of stuff. So I ended up putting up three trees, when I wasn't going to do much. Oh well only comes once a year. Can hardly wait to see the rest of your beautiful decorations. Mary
Very awesome KariAnne, I have the most fun creating with what I have, and not buying anything, really challenges and the results are so satisfying! Of course, you always have such a stash of treasures!
Karianne, You ALWAYS make me smile with your words & eye candy to inspire me. Funny
Oh Karianne, I've got the giggles over 'Mary' asking you how many houses do you have. That was so cute and super funny!! I think your laundry room is very cozy looking. I even love the black dresser/cupboard. The white frames are curvy and cute with the jingle bell writing. Gosh, its just so adorable!!! I so wanted to tell 'Mary'that you call the little house in back that used to be a hair salon the Gatehouse. Ha! Funny stuff!
Yes, I do decorate my laundry room for Christmas...if I have to spend time in there I want it to be festive. Your post reminded me of the same thing, I have so much, lots of pretty and memorable Christmas ornaments, and I love using them in new and unique ways. Thanks for the ideas and the great reminder. Merry Christmas!
Love how black and white can look so good. Love the fact a great big success. We will all buy magazine next year, so hard to keep a secret. Laundry room, alas the garage lots of work to maje it inviting
I am so proud of myself…have not bought many new things this year…actually only one…my cotton garland…you show us that using what you have can turn your decor into something very special!
This is so very lovely! I'm smitten with the black and white polka dots and the red. Unexpectedly - and indisputably - festive! Happy holidays to you and your beautiful family
Just found your site. Love it. Can you tell me where you found your laundry room metal stacked basket piece. Love it. Thanks for helping inspire me for the holidays.
Okay. I admit it. Sometimes I skip a day and read the blog out of order. There. I've said it so, moving right along... I LOVE all your design ideas, Kari Anne, but most of all I love how you are so down to earth with such sensitivity and love for all and not to leave out your absolute perfect sense of humor (which may or may not be a little warped like mine), but that might be the best part of you! That "smiling thru tears" kind of person you are. Thank you for being you! Couldn't live without it!