Why Joanna Gaines Says Modern Homes Should Include Multiple Design Styles

Have you ever felt stifled by the mindset that just one design style should flow into every room of your home? That's an old-school way of thinking. Joanna Gaines, the unofficial queen of interior design, wants you to let go of those old rules and let your creativity flow with a few different styles inside your modern home, which makes the whole vibe way more interesting and representative of your personality.

From Target's Hearth & Home line to her Waco, Texas, Magnolia Home shop, Gaines solidified her reign years ago as the guru of interior design, home renovation, and the modern-rustic farmhouse decor style. She updates spaces most might overlook by turning them into something dreams are made of, like her stunning design choices from "Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse," where she emphasizes Spanish revival roots with a modern twist. Decorating your home like Gaines can mean mixing old with new styles and using elements like shiplap walls, sliding barn doors, fresh flowers, and statement antiques, but it's also refusing to restrict yourself to one theme.

The HGTV "Fixer Upper" host doesn't want to be put in a box with any one specific look, and neither should you, which is why she insists on incorporating multiple decor styles into not only her home but also the ones she renovates for lucky homeowners and then showcases for her fans. If you struggle to wrap your head around a multi-theme aesthetic, find out why Gaines says you won't regret following her advice.

With so many different home decor styles popular today, it's tough knowing which one to go with. What does Joanna Gaines think? You don't have to pick just one. She told Domino, "As all of us are continually evolving, there are new things that we're loving; there are new things that we're telling our own story about. It's that mix that makes it feel more like home. ... It makes it feel more like you if your home has three or four different styles." You have her expert permission to go and uninhibitedly explore them all.

Decorating in multiple styles isn't as easy as it might sound. But there are some clever ways to make those unmatched styles more cohesive. Say you're inspired by a popular home decor trends from the decade you were born – dive into its history to understand what works well together and what doesn't. Or, instead of a matching living room or bedroom set, mix it up with pieces in different textures and colors. Balance traditional patterns with modern tones, or add an interesting design element to an overlooked area. While some styles don't belong together, the key is knowing the basics of each one, what they have in common, and the home features that will never go out of style.

Although some experts say you shouldn't mix more than two different styles, at the end of the day, it's your home and you should lean into the elements that bring you the most joy.