Joanna Gaines' Genius Hack For Picking The Right Hard Finishes

When you have designer's block, there's arguably no better source of inspiration than interior design expert and HGTV star Joanna Gaines. Between her various shows and two decades of design experience, it's easy to see why she's a go-to professional for many looking to elevate their style, especially when working on tricky details. As far as choosing appropriate hard finishes goes, Gaines shared a simple yet brilliant hack in her home design MasterClass that she uses to produce reliable results — working from the ground up, starting with choosing flooring before moving onto the walls, trim and ceiling, and, finally, the light fixtures. 

There's a lot that goes into choosing the perfect design style for your space, one reflecting your personality with interior details that capture a specific feel for the home. What kind of aesthetic do you want to establish? Does it lean sleek and contemporary, or are you more into rustic decor? Consider the kind of story you want to tell. Your flooring can help convey that message. Warm wood floors make a space feel cozy and inviting, for instance, while marble tiles evoke simple elegance. Deciding on the colors, textures, and types of flooring that establish the vibe of a home can make the process of deciding the type of wall covering, molding styles, and finishing features a lot smoother.

The ground-up approach is Gaines' tried-and-true hack that she's used in many of her renovations to bring a room together. Many experts start with flooring before wall finishes because, whether you're painting or installing paneling or wallpaper, you're less likely to damage your walls. As it's a key element that often ties one room into the next, it also makes sense to get exactly the floor style you want without feeling limited by the other hard finishes. Plus, the method helps you better visualize what textures, shades, and movement will complement your specific flooring. You can see the value in Gaines' approach as it unfolds, as in Season 1, Episode 5 of her Magnolia Network show "Mini Reni" (detailed on her Magnolia blog), where she designed a mudroom and art studio from scratch. With "moody", "functional", and "charming" in mind, she started with the flooring, using cement tile with a checkered pattern for a timeless feel.

From there, Gaines tackled the tall cabinetry lining the walls, using a blue paint shade for a dark and moody space. A contrasting creamy floral wallpaper adds a light, laid-back quality to offset the deeper finishes. While the room is full of rich shades, the overall space remains charming and feminine. Finally, she decided on accents, including a striped bench, antique brass pulls for the cabinetry, and a soapstone countertop. By addressing the more challenging installations to create a base, Gaines gives herself the freedom to test easier-to-change finishing touches, like paint colors, hardware, and decor, for a cohesive and stunning layout.