Fixer Upper goes on hiatus every year, but thanks to near-constant reruns on HGTV, it's kind of like the show never leaves our screens to begin with. While episodes tend to lose their sparkle after about, oh, seven viewings, the lessons stay behind. It's not hard to see why: Joanna Gaines may cloak each house in a different theme — midcentury modern! farmhouse! nautical! — but she relies on the same ideas to bring them alive. Thankfully, they're super easy to copy.
Word Art
Jo's own kitchen is famous for the oversized supermarket sign that hangs over her farmhouse sink, and she brings a similar touch to nearly every house she decorates. You'll see it in the form of a chalkboard list, a hand-soldered inspirational quote by the one and only Jimmy Don, or a vintage sign.
Dramatic Range Hoods
You'll never see a cookie cutter hood from some big box hardware store if Chip and Jo are involved. More often than not, the pair fashions something one-of-a-kind, like wraparound wood panels or a copper duct, to match the look of the entire kitchen, but sometimes Jo's able to track down a noteworthy vintage-looking piece.
Pendant Lights
They're always in multiples, and they're always showstoppers. The Gaines duo seems to see kitchen lighting as art rather than just a functional necessity. If Jo doesn't have something perfect tucked away in her storage unit, she'll scour flea markets and local vendors until she finds it. One takeaway: What seems too bold in your hand will look more striking than overwhelming when it's hanging from the ceiling.
Open Shelving
This is Fixer Upper 101: Don't shy away from open shelving. It's a hot topic for home decorators (will it look beautifully minimalist or just collect dust?), but Jo has at least one exposed shelf in every kitchen. She often styles them with plants, monochromatic dishes, or space-hogging kitchenware you don't often use, like cake plates or pitchers.
Farmhouse Sink
Even if the homeowners' style leans way more modern than Chip and Jo's country ways, they never miss an opportunity to carve out a big ol' hole in the countertops for a giant farmhouse sink. That means sometimes it's the traditional ceramic basin, and other times it's a sleek black-fronted one or a stainless steel version.
Casual Seating
Not every family wants — or has room for — a formal dining room. That's when Jo turns to counter-height stools. She often tries to squeeze in three or more so kids can belly up to the counter for a snack or tuck into a textbook while dinner is being prepared.
