This Iconic Joanna Gaines Style Is Outdated In 2025

The HGTV show Fixer Upper was beloved for its complete renovation overhauls and bringing the good bones of a home back to life with a totally new style. But while the shows co-star, Joanna Gaines, was once a trend setter with her 'can-cover-in-shiplap' attitude, the style that ruled the home design world for over a decade is finally getting phased out. What exactly would that trend be you might ask? The answer is farmhouse — or more specifically modern farmhouse.

This style has been pervasive in home renovations across the country and appeared in the form of barn doors, rustic elements, and often lifeless, colorless palettes — just some of the outdated farmhouse trends that are being replaced in 2025. With that said, the farmhouse trend doesn't have to be something that you totally abandon — especially if you live in a rural area on a farm. But the elements that made it so recognizable as a Magnolia design may be something worth tweaking if you want it to feel more personal and current, rather than like you're stuck in the Hearth & Hand aisle at Target. 

When you think of the farmhouse trends — especially those overused by the Gaines '— there are a few key elements that you may wish to avoid. Besides just a black, white, and gray color scheme overall, more specifically, this style often features harsh black hardware. From matching cabinet handles to faucets, this black and often matte hardware is generally in stark contrast to the lighter counter and wall colors around it. The farmhouse trend was also frequently almost devoid of color. Though some designs did incorporate some earth tone combos, the bold were not considered the beautiful, which led many of these spaces to feel sterile, impersonal and like replications of the same space. 

Wooden elements like shiplap and heavy wooden beams are also prevalent in the farmhouse style. Now, there is nothing wrong with having wood in your space, and there are even many ways to add or upgrade wood paneling on your walls. The issue here is that when there is too much unfinished wood, it can lean out of rustic and into rough — and end up feeling less like a house and more like a wannabe barn.

If you like the simple and basic style of farmhouse inspired designs, you may wish to lean towards its cousin — Scandinavian inspired interiors. This style still leans into the rustic and functional feel, but it also embraces warmth through brighter colors and a lot of light wood. If you are concerned about going all in on a color, leave your walls neutral and bring in some brighter, more patterned elements through your art and accessories. Not only will this keep it from feeling overwhelming, but it's also easy to switch out if your tastes shift in the future. 

A great way to explore updating your farmhouse style home (if that's what you're already working with) is not necessarily to completely rip out anything that resembles the style, but instead replace certain elements while keeping others. Mixing different styles can not only help your space feel more updated, but it will also bring a much more personal feel to it. Plus, if you update over time it won't feel so easily outdated, and you won't have to drop a ton of cash at once.