DECORATING TIPS FROM JOANNA GAINES

The Fixer Upper queen on family weekends and what it takes to make a house home.

The entrepreneur of Magnolia fame (the market, the housewares, the real estate company, the magazine) first came into our homes with husband Chip (she designed, he built) on HGTV’s hit Fixer Upper, where for five years the duo helped Waco, Texas, residents find and refine their dream homes. Now, Joanna Gaines is sharing her best work in her new book, Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave.

“It’s not about a specific style,” she says. “It’s about telling your story.” We caught up with the mom of five last month.

What’s a typical Sunday like at

your house? 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. Since bringing home [now nearly 5-month-old] Crew, I’ve noticed that none of us are in a hurry to be anywhere but there.

Do you make breakfast on Sundays? Breakfast is by far Chip’s

favorite meal. I love when breakfast [pancakes or biscuits and gravy] can be an all-hands-on-deck event.

What was your inspiration for your

new book? Home is my favorite place on earth, but I’ve learned that not everyone feels the same way. Some people feel immobilized when they try to make their home a place that feels significant and unique to them. But I want everyone to find a way to love the home they’re in.

Why did you include your Waco, Texas, farmhouse in the book?

Our farmhouse represents all that I’ve learned over the years—every design failure and every win that I’ve experienced along the way. I’ve tried to make it a place where everyone in our family feels wellrepresented and inspired, where Chip and I can truly rest and where our kids can create and their young imaginations can grow. Our home isn’t perfect, but it’s our story that you see all around us there.

Visit Parade.com/gaines for Gaines’ tips on styling your home without spending a fortune.