Joanna Gaines' new series focuses on the small details that will make the biggest impact in your home – it's inspiring proof that you don't always need a huge renovation to change your space

Joanna Gaines' new series 'Mini Reni' pivots away from the big overhaul projects she's known for and focuses on the smaller makeovers that can still have a huge impact

Joanna Gaines
(Image credit: Alamy)

Joanna Gaines' new series, 'Mini Reni', is the renovation series I have been waiting for. Of course, Joanna is known for her large-scale, total gut renovation projects, and I love to follow along with those, but this new series felt closer to home, more relatable, and more achievable. And that's the whole point.

In the trailer for the new show, Joanna opens by saying, 'What I always like to tell my clients is, as your home evolves and as the story of your family evolves, you want to make these spaces work for you. The idea of Mini Reni is this is where I can feel a bit more freedom to try new ideas and end with these fresh finished spaces that didn't require months of work.'

The premise of the show, which premiered last night, is not to rip everything out and start again; it's to work with what you've got, get creative, and not overspend. And I think that's something so many of us can relate to.

'What I love about Mini Reni is the freedom to go all-in on just one or two smaller spaces,' says Joanna. 'These aren’t whole-house renovations, so the heart behind the show is to inspire people to design their home gradually, and thoughtfully, so that instead of having to wrap your mind around the million details that go into a bigger renovation, you can enjoy the process of creating beauty by narrowing in, flexing your creativity, and embracing the small details that really tell your story.'

So this show won't be about doing up a whole home. It's not the huge projects we saw with The Castle, The Hotel or The Lakehouse, it's small-scale projects in real homes belonging to the real local people of Waco, Texas.

Each episode sees Joanna take on a 'mini reni', right in her own hometown. The focus is on just one space, not the entire home. The turnarounds are quick and the budgets are realistic, and the results are beautiful. Each project begins with three words that describe how the homeowner wants the space to feel.

'At Magnolia Network, we're always seeking stories that are both inspiring and approachable, and Mini Reni embodies both,' says Allison Page, President of Magnolia Network. 'Joanna has a remarkable talent for making design feel relatable and engaging, and this series reflects those strengths in a fresh format.'

When Joanna announced the new series on Instagram, it got a lot of love from her followers. Clearly, we were all ready to see something like this from Joanna, the same iconic modern-farmhouse style she creates in her massive reno projects, just on a smaller, more accessible scale.

'Our goal was to capture Joanna’s creative vision and bring her design process to life in a way that feels true to who she is,' says Jarrett Lambo, Executive Vice President of Blind Nil, the Gaines' production company. 'Having collaborated with Jo on numerous Magnolia Network productions over the years, our team has developed an understanding of her unique approach to storytelling. Projects like these have always grounded Jo after large-scale renovations, giving her the chance to reconnect with the heart of what inspires her most.'

'You’ll see in Mini Reni, we focused on the magic Jo creates – it wasn't about extensive rebuilds, but about meaningful spaces and the dynamics between how people live and where they spend their everyday lives with their loved ones.'

Shop Joanna Gaines' signature style

Luckily, Joanna has made her style so simple to shop with her Magnolia store, and the new summer collection is perfect for some quick and easy updates. Here's what I am picking out to give a mini update to my home.


I am already invested and feeling inspired by Joanna's new show, and it's definitely got me thinking about the three words I want my spaces to feel like and the little tweaks I can make to get there. The first episode of Mini Reni aired last night (15/04) on Magnolia Network and Max, and there will be nine episodes of the series, airing each Wednesday through to July 9.

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Hebe Hatton
Head of Interiors

I am the Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens. I started off in the world of journalism in fashion and luxury travel and then landed my first interiors role at Real Homes and have been in the world of interior design ever since. Prior to my role at H&G I was the digital editor at Livingetc, from which I took a sabbatical to travel in my self-converted van (not as glamorous as decorating a home, but very satisfying). A year later, and with lots of technical DIY lessons learned I am back to writing and editing, sometimes even from the comfort of my home on wheels.

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