Joanna Gaines reveals the surprising inspiration behind her signature style
This is the image the interiors guru has in mind when she shapes her schemes


Joanna Gaines has gained global acknowledgment from her series Fixer Upper, but there is one thread that runs behind all her successes.
Joanna, who is known for her contemporary industrial style, revealed her interior design tips, where she shared the story behind all her home remodels. The memory, Joanna shares, dates back to New Mexico, where she found her signature style whilst traveling with her husband Chip. In her blog, Joanna described the picture she always has in her mind when designing.
‘Ten years ago, Chip and I were taking a road trip to New Mexico. My Magnolia Boutique was up and running, and I distinctly remember trying to figure out what my specific design style was. I found what I was looking for when Chip and I stopped in a small town on our way to the mountains of New Mexico,’ Joanna shares.
The designer continues: ‘I saw farmland and silos – the lush green fields combined with the industrial galvanized cylinders, and chippy white paint spoke to me. From that point forward, everything I did from a design aspect was inspired from that picture in my mind’.
Touches of Joanna’s farmhouse style are visible in almost all of Joanna's designs, including in this rustic-chic living room from Fixer Upper (seen above). Many of Gaines’ designs include monochromatic wrought-iron light fixtures and hardware features that are a signature of the Waco-based expert.
These modern farmhouse ideas make for a striking contrast to the magnolia color palette Joanna favors, and pay homage to Joanna's memories of New Mexico.
However, while the designer revealed that memories of traveling sparked her living room ideas, she is not alone.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Martin Waller, Founder of Andrew Martin, similarly shared an experience close to Joanna’s. While Mrs Gaines found her design inspiration in New Mexico, the founder of the global design label found his further east in Thailand.
‘Design has always been about more than just attractive patterns. It is about reflecting a personal view on a subject,’ Martin shared.
‘For me, this has often been about describing a love of various places or people. It was in Thailand that I first saw the miracle of silk yarn production and the laborious work of Ikat weaving, which can take a day to produce just a single meter,’ he adds.
These escapist decorating ideas will bring hints of faraway shores to your living room, wherever you are in the world.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.
-
I’m redesigning my bathroom to look like something straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie – here's the expert advice I'm following to get the look
Everything you need to know to achieve that cozy, classic Nancy Meyers bathroom aesthetic
-
9 beautiful outdoor table lighting ideas for summer hosting
We've rounded up the experts to share their outdoor table ideas to bring ambiance to your summer evening gatherings
-
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
-
I struggled for 10 years to redesign my living room until I saw Joanna Gaines's 'quiet luxury masterpiece' – she's totally reinvented '50s style
I was never a fan of '50s style until I saw this perfect room
-
I'm calling it: Joanna Gaines and Victoria Beckham's favorite color will top trends in 2025 – designers and color forecasters agree
Soothing, bold and rich, our love affair with this sumptuous shade is far from over
-
Joanna Gaines designed a sentimental 'tiny museum of springtime' in her kitchen – it's a seasonal feature you can recreate for under $100
The designer released a shadow box display that is perfect for storing dried flowers and photographs – and it comes in a gorgeous brass frame
-
Joanna Gaines has given her Magnolia store a spring makeover – these are the 3 simple decor tips that are so easy to replicate
As spring draws near, interior designer Joanna Gaines has decorated her homeware store with farmhouse-style decor that's both elegant and uplifting
-
Joanna Gaines' new spring collection at Magnolia has just launched – and it's filled with vintage-style pieces to refresh your home
Joanna Gaines has launched her line of spring-inspired homeware that's affordable, rustic and timelessly chic
-
6 unexpected lessons we've learned from Joanna Gaines' rental property
Joanna Gaines' Hillcrest Estate is rustic yet modern and teaches us a thing or two about mixing the old and new
-
Joanna Gaines' new collection with Target has just dropped – it's filled with affordable pieces for a refreshed space for the new year
A new year has begun which means it couldn't be a better time to refresh your home with timeless pieces designed by interior designer Joanna Gaines