The Top 10 Design Tips According To Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines is the popular co-host of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”. Joanna and her husband, Chip, find homes that need a lot of love and fix them up for clients. Joanna and Chip have been remodeling homes for 12 years, and they have shown us amazing things that can be done on a budget.

Joanna and Chip Gaines are both graduates of Baylor University and reside, with their 4 children, on a farm in Waco, Texas. In 2003, Joanna opened Magnolia, a home accessory store filled with items that inspire her. For the Gaines’ real estate business and for their HGTV show, Chip finds houses in need of renovation, the two work together to develop a plan for the home, Chip handles the carpentry, and Joanna brings her unique and creative designs into the home. Chip and Joanna work closely with clients to create space that is both functional and personal. The results are amazing. Joanna’s designs are both rustic and modern. She loves to repurpose antiques and add texture, color and character to the home.

Here are the top 10 design tips according to Joanna Gaines.

Start with Color

One of the first things Joanna Gaines considers when designing a fixer upper is color. She says that color can create the look of a room and can help create the illusion of more space in a small room. Her tip is to keep the color pallet neutral. Another tip with paint color: use white with one bright color to make a statement. Joanna’s favorite Sherwin Williams paint colors include Alabaster, Silver Strand, Oyster Bay, Repose Gray, and Mindful Gray. She used Alabaster in her own home because it is clean looking, neutral and easy to add other colors to. Silver Strand is a muted gray/green shade that looks great with white trim and hardwood floors. Oyster Bay is a greenish/blue shade great to create contrast with built-ins, bedrooms and bathrooms. Repose Gray is a combines cool and warm tones. Mindful Gray is a bit darker than Repose Gray and looks great with white wainscoting and shiplap.

Repurpose

Joanna Gaines’ favorite design tip is repurposing to bring out the original character of a period home or to add a rustic touch to a more modern home. She loves to use reclaimed wood for built-ins. She also likes distressed wood in an older home. Joanna visits flea markets and antique stores to find vintage items for a good price to add to a home. For example, old metal bins can be hung on a wall and hold faux florals to create a unique focal point. Old window frames can be used as unique headboards or placed on a wall above a sofa. Washboards, antique scales, and antique baskets are just some things that can be repurposed to restore character to a home.

Small Kitchen? No Problem

Joanna has many great tips for making a small space look bigger. With a small galley kitchen, her advice is to keep the focus eye level. Create a focus point that has character such as a unique vent hood. She likes to use cabinets that go up to the ceiling. This adds more storage space and creates the illusion of higher ceilings. Always use lighter paint from the counter up to the ceiling to create a light, airy look.

Storage

A main focus when designing a fixer upper for Joanna is storage. Particularly in a small home, storage space is a priority. Joanne likes to find creative ways to make storage. She can find storage use with many antique store or flea market finds. Vintage baskets and bins create a unique storage space and can be used as accessories throughout the home. Old desks can be used as unique dressers that also provide more storage space. Storage will help declutter a room and can also add character.

Built-ins and Mantles

Built-ins and mantles are a main focal point of a room. Joanna likes to create texture and keep these areas simple. Cabinetry can make a room appear smaller. Simply removing the cabinet doors and painting the shelves of a built in creates a more open look. To decorate the shelving, keep a theme such as books, some potted plants and candles. For mantles, add texture such as wood or rocks but keep the color neutral. Keep accessories simple yet layer to add dimension. Also, use the “3-2” rule by grouping items in different numbers.

Less is More

One main design tip of Joanna Gaines is “less is more”. Keeping things simple will keep out clutter and create a clean, neat look. One focal point in a room is important. Each room should not be distracting. One pop of color is enough. One piece of interesting artwork is enough. A few accessories are enough to create depth and texture.

Playrooms

As the mother of 4, Joanna knows how difficult it can be to keep the playroom neat. Containing the clutter of toy is important in the children’s space, and it should be fun and practical. Joanna has many creative ways to contain toys in the playroom. She likes to add create function and creativity. Colored pencils in jars placed on shelves adds depth. The jars can come down when mom says. Blocks and other toys can be stored in cute baskets. A basket of crayons creates color. Magnetic boards and hanging baskets are useful. The most important thing when designing the playroom is to make sure every toy has its own place. Not only will things be easy to find, children will find it easier to clean up the room so it is always left organized.

Table Settings

Like other things in the home, Joanna believes the dining table should be kept simple. She likes to place simple glass vases on the table and fill them with a simple large leaf. She likes to change the contents of the vase to match the season. This can be as simple as cutting some greenery or flowers from the yard. For Christmas, cut sprigs from the yard or pine cones. Another way to make the table unique is to mix eclectic glassware and napkin rings.

Personalize

Joanna believes personalizing your home is one of the most important aspects of design. Rather than rushing to accessorize, take time to bring unique elements into the home that represent your family’s taste. If you and your spouse or roommate have different tastes, decide how to compromise and bring both looks into the home to compliment each other.

Texture

Joanna Gaines loves to add texture to every room to add dimension and character. Natural materials including wood, stone and metal add texture. Accessories such as rug, throw blankets and pillows are an easy way to add texture and depth to a room. Everything else in the room can be kept simple, but the room will have instant character with texture.