The Trending Design Choice Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Absolutely Adores

If you've been wanting to decorate your home like Joanna Gaines, you're not alone — her thoughtful, comforting designs have inspired many homeowners, and it's easy to see why. The "Fixer Upper" star has a charming way of maintaining her signature style in every home she designs, while also keeping the looks relevant and personal to each unique space. She isn't afraid to embrace trends, but she always incorporates them in a way that feels authentic to her style — and more often than not, she ends up setting trends herself. That said, a current trending design choice that Gaines absolutely adores is one that you can easily incorporate into your own home style in a variety of ways: arched designs.

Arched details have been a chic element in many of Gaines' "Fixer Upper" designs, appearing in everything from inviting case openings to classic doorways and stunning window frames. She often uses arches as an unexpected style to define boundaries between spaces with a touch of personality. As the arched design trend is rising in popularity in 2025, there are plenty of reasons to consider it for your own home while drawing inspiration from Gaines' beautiful interiors.

Gaines isn't the only one who sees the stylish potential of arched designs. Professional designers are noting a recent shift in home trends, with arches making a comeback for their ability to connect spaces and add an elevated touch to make any room stand out. This year has also seen a change in form within interior design, as people are straying from stark edges and opting for softer forms, like curved furniture pieces and round lines throughout the home. Instead of the typical four-cornered frames, an arched detail adds contrast into the room and even draws attention upward to convey a sense of height in smaller spaces. The interest in organic interiors also aligns with the arches trend, as many designers feel that they reflect the soothing forms found in nature.

One of the most trend-worthy things about arches is how flexible they are. Their gentle, curved shape can instantly soften interiors to create a more inviting feel the moment you walk inside. Arches also have deep roots in traditional design, which allows them to convey a sense of sophistication and timeless style — all with a single, arched shape. This simplicity also allows them to work well within both classic and modern design styles, as well as different places from large doorways or windows to furniture and décor. It's no surprise Gaines loves to use them in a variety of homes; they're a surprisingly simple choice that can have a dynamic impact.

We may not all have the same keen eye for design as Gaines, but the good news is that she has shared plenty of her home designs over the years to draw inspiration from. When it comes to arches, it's a trend you'll see in many of her interiors, as she's shared that it's a great way to add character in otherwise bland, open spaces in between rooms. For instance, one of her designs updated a case opening into an arched style to create a visual boundary between the living and dining space, using a soft, contrasting blue shade for the trim for even more definition.

However, she doesn't limit herself to only using arches between rooms — she frequently uses them as clever details in designs that typically have sharp angles, like a reading nook with an arched opening for a softer, cozy feel. You could even recreate her stunning but understated "Fixer Upper" fireplace, which has an arched design that nods to the history of the home's Spanish-style architecture. To capture Gaines' stylish approach, it's all about using arches to create connections within the home — whether it's linking spaces together or blending traditional details with modern touches.