Joanna Gaines-Inspired Home Decor Ideas You Can DIY On A Budget

When it comes to styling a home, no one does it quite like Joanna Gaines. The design star has revamped everything from bachelor pads and lake houses to an actual castle. This also means that she's shared some versatile and innovative decor ideas with followers and viewers over the years. However, what if you don't have the budget (or patience) for a full-blown, Gaines-inspired fixer-upper at the moment?

Well, you're in luck, because you can still add decorative touches that are inspired by the star's iconic style, starting at just a few bucks. From tabletop art to accent walls, it's possible to inject a Magnolia-like vibe throughout your home using just a handful of low-cost materials and a bit of DIY prowess. And, these projects are all customizable, allowing you to put your own personal spin on the final result.

Gaines has been known to integrate animals into her products, from wallpaper to art prints. So, why not create your own custom animal-themed art piece to add charm to your walls? Pick up a low-cost frame (or reuse one you already own), grab a piece of scrap paper for the background, and add a metal animal silhouette as the centerpiece. If you'd like added dimension, leave the glass off and use a corrugated shape like Wicked Chick's Corrugated Metal Pig. Then, customize the piece with a ribbon that matches your room's color scheme with greenery or floral stems for a pop of color.

It's no secret that the Gaines couple loves shiplap, and their use of it has been truly trendsetting. However, shiplap boards can cost a pretty penny — around $1 a linear foot, which really adds up when you're covering a wall. Instead, mimic the look with more budget-friendly plywood cut into about 6-inch strips and installed on the wall with small gaps between them. The beauty of this project (besides the lower cost) is that you can fully customize the look. Stain the plywood for a warm natural look. Or, use thicker boards cut into thinner strips and install it vertically to emulate "skinnylap," a shiplap alternative that Gaines loves.

Gaines has used striped pillows in many of the spaces that she's styled and loves the pattern so much that it often pops up in her own Magnolia line. Luckily, creating your own striped pillow is easy and cost-effective. Simply pick up some inexpensive fabric placemats and slice open the ends. Stuff them with a product like Fairfield's The Original Poly-Fil and seal them back up using a sewing machine or a hot glue gun. Or, use an adhesive, no-sew tape like HeatnBond UltraHold Iron-On to close the opening with an iron. Then, to create a "Fixer Upper"-worthy pillowscape, mix and match striped pillows in the same color family.

Plants are a big component of the farmhouse style, and Gaines is known to style greenery in every area of the home, from the kitchen to the laundry room. Metal containers are a choice she often reaches for to hold her foliage. And, while these come at many price points, few beat creating a whole set for just a few bucks. Grab inexpensive plastic containers in the size you want, and coat them in a base coat of Rust-Oleum's Hammered Spray Paint or another similar product. Then, use layers of acrylic paint to make the finish as smooth or textural as you'd like. To put your own twist on the project, switch up the base coat color. Gold will give you a glam farmhouse vibe, while white will be perfect for the ultimate cottagecore decor look.

From mantles to ceilings, Gaines loves a good wood beam moment. But, of course, these come with a big investment in labor and a hefty price point. In fact, having one installed can cost anywhere from about $60 to $400 per linear foot. However, you can DIY one at a fraction of the price (and weight) and adhere it right to a doorway or your existing mantle. This TikTok creator made one for just $11 using hardware store supplies, spray adhesive, and a nail gun before scoring and staining it to create a wood look. To take the guesswork out of creating a lifelike finish and try a product like Retique It Liquid Wood.

Gaines loves to use risers to make essentials like dish soap and dry goods look more polished. And her line has featured several riser styles over the years, allowing buyers to create a similar look in their homes. To make a subtly detailed one of your own, all you need is a few low-cost materials. Using some inexpensive pizza pans and beads like these Thyssen 300-Piece Nation Round Wood Beads, you can build your own riser that gives off iconic farmhouse vibes. Of course, if you'd like a smaller riser for nestling by the kitchen or bathroom sink, simply use a smaller pan as the base.

From oversized wall clocks to vintage street signs, Gaines loves dimensional decor. This includes wood shutters, which she's even used as a statement piece in her own interior. However, getting your hands on a salvaged set can be tough. Luckily you can create your own custom ones using low-cost supplies. All you need to build them is a few inexpensive wooden signs, paint stirrer sticks, and a glue gun. Then, allow your creativity to make these your own. You could even coat them in Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Chalk Style Interior Paint in one of the design icon's formulated hues.

Gaines rarely leaves a surface without a statement-making centerpiece, but stoneware can be pricey. However, you can copy the pedestal bowl silhouette that she loves with some basic and readily-available materials. Glue the base and bowl together, and coat it using a baking soda paint technique for a textural look, followed by a light layer of spray paint. Go with white like this DIYer, coat the piece in black for a more modern result. Or, use an orange-ish base for a terra cotta-like look.

Lighting is both a functional and decorative part of design, and Gaines is an expert at integrating it beautifully. She uses wall-mounted lights in many of her designs, saving space and highlighting specific features in a room. However, you don't have to pay an electrician to see similar results. A pair of Victogate's Modern Farmhouse Wall Sconces run about $50 and a pair of GE Puck Lights is less than $20. This strategy is ideal for flanking a mirror, creating mood lighting in a bathroom, or illuminating portraits like this DIYer. Installation will only take you a short amount of time, but it will pay off with a statement-making impact.

Gaines has a huge fondness for mirrors and wooden framed ones have seen moments in her Magnolia line and her Hearth & Hand collaboration with Target. To steal her look for less, use a low-cost mirror as a base and frame it using inexpensive fence pickets. Grab a product like General Finishes Water-Based Wood Stain in Whitewash if you want a coastal farmhouse look similar to this TikTok user. Or, use Varathane's Premium Wood Stain in Kona or Ebony for a deeper, more modern finish.

Tiered trays are really versatile, and can be used for everything from serving brunch to displaying seasonal decor. Gaines has featured different styles in her lines that work with various aesthetics. But, DIYing your own allows you to create a look that works best for your home and saves you some cash. All you need is a few dishes in a style you love and inexpensive candlesticks to assemble them. Choose supplies in all one color for a sleek piece, or use dishes in different shades of the same color family for a subtle ombre effect.

Gaines has used birdcages in her own decor and even has a beloved chicken coop in her garden. So, why not add a little avian flair to your own space with a low-cost birdcage DIY? Using simple wire cages as a base, and other low-cost materials, you can craft a statement piece for an entryway table or nightstand. Fill it with plants for a quaint feel like this TikTok crafter or use a sleek metallic paper for the base material and add LED candles, like this set of Artmarry Flameless Pillars, for a more modern feel.

Matte black light fixtures in various silhouettes are used in multiple of the Gaines' own homes, as well as in projects for clients. However, you don't need to swap out your current chandelier to get the modern farmhouse style that these add to a room. All you need is a can of spray paint and some new accessories to dress it up. Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Matte Black Spray Paint will give your old fixture a new, sleek look. Then, you can swap out the dated glass, or use a decorative bulb option like this set of KarlunKoy Half Chrome Dimmable LED Bulbs.

The Gaines homestead has plenty of plants both inside and out, and the Magnolia line features a diverse mix of decorative planters, perfect for dressing up your foliage. So, get inspired by Joanna's creative mix of plant homes and craft your own budget-friendly option. All you need is two planters with similarly-sized bases and a tool to adhere them, like Romech's Full Size Glue Gun. What's great about this DIY is that it's simple, yet highly customizable. Use planters in the same color family for a toned-down look or mix and match bold colors for a bit more attention-grabbing contrast.