Helpful Life Tips from Joanna Gaines’ Lessons

Gaines starts by introducing the three-word concept. You need to set an intention for a space before diving in. “These words can describe how you want the space to feel, or how you want it to function, or the style you’re hoping to achieve,” she explained. “It takes people’s eyes off other spaces they’ve seen and focuses their attention on their own needs.“

For example, in your kitchen, you might think “bright, gather, family.” From there, you’ll know you want an open, welcoming space that makes hosting easier. This could mean warm-toned walls to avoid a sterile look, plus simple barstools for more seating.

These three words also guide Gaines’ paint color choices. “If I want a space to feel tucked away or moody, I’ll look for richer, darker tones. If my words were light or airy, I’ll focus on lighter or more neutral hues,” she explained.

Gaines knows picking paint isn’t rocket science, but the three words can quickly narrow down the massive color selection. If you’re still stumped between a few similar shades, gather swatches or take samples to see how they look in different lighting.

Gaines makes it clear that you’re the expert on your taste, family, and lifestyle. “As long as you design with those things in mind, you’ll create something beautiful and unique,” she said.

It’s easy to get lost in all the design noise. But don’t stress too much about getting it “wrong.” If you choose colors, furniture, and decor that you genuinely love, you’ve nailed it.

Gaines gets that new builds can lack that “been-there-50-years” charm. But she has a solution: architectural heroes. “The hero can be the texture on the wall, a pattern on wallpaper, or an old piece from your grandma,” she said. “One great hero can really tell a story.“

Adding things like shiplap or vintage furniture can inject tons of character without a full demo. It’s all about getting creative with what you have or can easily DIY.

Gaines loves adding character with vintage items, including using a special bowl to hold family mementos. “What is one thing in your space that tells your story?” she asked. Thrifting can uncover amazing display pieces with history.

Vintage items from brands like Culver Canella and Bordallo Pinheiro have great style and investment potential. So hit up local flea markets and resale stores to find one-of-a-kind gems.

Gaines starts by focusing on how she wants a space to “work” and feel, not the scale or layout. “I never think about, ‘Okay, how many sofas, chairs?‘ That’s not first in my mind,” she said. “What are the areas where I really want to create this place where people can gather and be together?” Keeping this in mind will help you make thoughtful decisions.

Gaines finds that starting with feeling instead of inspiration photos helps tap into the story you want to tell. From there, you can start making purchases and installations that support your vision.

“What I see a lot of times is people will spend a lot of money, and they think, ‘It’s gonna make me feel happier.‘ And it rarely works,” Gaines warned. Instead of the priciest option, go for what feels comfortable and interesting to you.

You can create an amazing home without blowing your budget. Scour thrift stores for pieces with character, and focus on function over sheer expense. Gaines’ tip? Authenticity trumps price tag.

“It doesn’t have to break the bank,” Gaines shared. “It’s stuff you already have. You just have to highlight it a little more and be proud of it. And then look, all of a sudden you’ve got story instead of stuff.“

Repurposing and rearranging what you already own is a game-changer. Swap pots, reframe art, and get creative to turn your existing items into beautiful new vignettes.

Don’t worry about what your mother-in-law or Instagram thinks. Your home needs to work for you. “One of the biggest mistakes is designing for other people, rather than designing for themselves,” Gaines shared. “We really want our spaces to feel interactive, we want them to feel down to earth, we want them to be livable.“

Embrace the colors, fabrics, and furniture that you genuinely love, even if they’re not “in” right now. Your home should serve your family’s needs and lifestyle.

What memories do you want to create in each room? “Every space is an opportunity to make [your home] work for you and your family,” Gaines said. “That’s the intention and the thought I want to put on the front end.“

As an example, Gaines envisions her living room on Christmas morning, with the family gathered around the tree and fireplace. This guides her layout and furniture choices to support those holiday gatherings.