After Years of HGTV Renovations, Joanna Gaines Says This Design Mistake Is the 1 Thing To Avoid

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Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
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If there is one thing you'll hear from every HGTV celebrity designer you adore, it's that your home must have personality. At the end of the day, your home is a reflection of you. Whether it's through the design elements you choose or the decoration you place throughout your home, if your home lacks meaning and impact, your renovation may be all for naught.

After years of renovating clients' homes and embarking on her own deeply personal projects, Joanna Gaines claims that the design mistake that never feels right is decorating just to follow a look. She warns homeowners, "Don't design your home with meaningless elements simply to get it decorated." It's a logical piece of advice, but have her fans who flocked to redesign their homes inspired by her farmhouse-chic style been ready to heed her advice?

Joanna Gaines Advises Using Personal Items to Decorate

In 2016, the Fixer Upper host spoke with Architectural Digest about some of her key tips for homeowners. When discussing the key design elements that tie a room together, Gaines was adamant about finding purpose in decorating. "Take your time and gather pieces that mean something to you," she revealed. "Whether they're framed family photos, a beautiful antique clock that speaks to you, or a knick-knack that reminds you of your grandmother. Take care in the process, and don't rush." As Gaines pointed out, these elements make your house feel like a home.

Gaines strongly believes that a home can lose its emotional pull when people prioritize aesthetics over meaning in decorating. A space must be personal, rather than just filling a room to make it look complete. Rather than copying a look wholesale, Gaines encourages homeowners to be selective and intentional—even when they admire a particular style. She has acknowledged that while trends can offer inspiration, they should never dictate how a home comes together. A designer’s aesthetic can be a starting point, but it’s the personal edits—what you keep, what you skip, and how you adapt it to your daily life—that make a space feel authentic. As Gaines often emphasizes, meaningful design happens when function, comfort, and personal history guide decisions, not the pressure to recreate a picture-perfect room.

During her chat with Architectural Digest, she cautioned against designing to meet outside expectations. "Throw the idea that your house has to look a certain way right out the window," she said. "What sets a home apart is when you focus on your family's story, rather than a style design." Comfort and authenticity are more important than keeping up with the trends. "Find pieces that speak to you, and give yourself the freedom to tell your story in your own unique way," she revealed. Speaking to Better Homes and Gardens, "Good design is about storytelling," she commented. "You are the expert of your story, and you should design with that in mind."

Her greatest tip for home designers that she uses with her clients is to find three words that describe one or more of the following: "how they want the space to feel, how they want it to function, or the style they hope to achieve." She believes this approach takes people's attention away from the spaces they want to emulate and focuses on their needs, wants, and wishes. Of course, budget can be a major factor in why you may not be able to achieve your dream decorating style. Gaines reminds her fans that they should "work with what you've got." If you shop around your home and swap items to different locations, it can be a cost-effective way to bring new life to your space. At the end of the day, this is your home, and you'll be the one looking at it daily. If your house doesn't feel like yours, it's not truly your home.

Fixer Upper is available to stream on HBO Max.