Joanna Gaines Doesn’t Think You Should Buy a New House — Here’s Why
Binge-watching HGTV is enough to make anyone think twice about moving. It seems like so many shows, from House Hunters to My Lottery Dream Home, stress the importance of upgrading your home to suit your needs and wants. But Joanna Gaines has a different idea about how to achieve true bliss at home.
The former Fixer Upper host insists that when it comes to houses, bigger isn’t always better and sometimes a small-scale or even a DIY renovation might be enough to make you fall in love with your current house all over again. Here’s why Gaines says you might be happier fixing up your current home instead of finding a new one.
Joanna Gaines is surprisingly down to Earth
You’d think that an ultra-successful millionaire like Joanna Gaines would be a little snobbish when it came to home design. But instead, the exact opposite is true. Gaines has gone on record saying that her favorite home was the tiny first house she shared with her husband, Chip.
Gaines also admitted that she’s a total homebody, which explains the title of one of her best-selling book. “Home is my favorite place on earth, but I’ve learned that not everyone feels the same way,” Gaines told Parade magazine in an interview. “I’ve realized that it’s not uncommon for some people to feel immobilized when they try to make their home a place that feels significant and unique to them.”
She continued, saying, “There’s nothing I want less than for people to look wistfully at other people’s ‘perfect’ homes and feel defeated or wish that they were theirs.”
Gaines believes in improving the space you’re in
Some people believe they need to move to find the house of their dreams. But Gaines insists that design inspiration can happen anywhere, for any type of home.
“I truly believe that this doesn’t have to be the case, and there is something in me that wants everyone to find a way to love the home they’re in,” Gaines advised.
“Design can be intimidating, but the good news is, it’s actually not rocket science,” Gaines, who has no formal degree, said during the interview.
Good design doesn’t have to cost a lot
Furniture and décor can be expensive, but Gaines insists it doesn’t have to be.
“I think there are some misconceptions out there that lead people to think that in order to create spaces you truly love you have to spend a fortune or have flawless taste,” Gaines told Parade.
“When all is said and done, I think what matters the most is that you surround yourself with things that tell your story. It’s also important to remember that in design, just like in life, we try and fail and then try again, and eventually we figure out what works for us.”
Want proof that Gaines practices what she preaches? Even with her millions, she’s never moved or even expanded her modest farmhouse. “I think Chip would agree that we’re both homebodies, and that there’s no place we’d rather be than at home with our kids. Over the years, we’ve managed to create five little homebodies too,” Gaines said.
It makes total sense to us!
