The Joanna Gaines Approved Style That's Now Completely Outdated

Even decor ideas from expert interior designers are vulnerable to the ever-changing trend cycles, meaning some of these once-popular crazes can still go out of style just as quickly as they emerged. We've seen this happen to styles that have come from the biggest trendsetters in the industry. For instance, there are plenty of Joanna Gaines-inspired trends that people have come to regret, despite the pro's trustworthy eye for design. However, Gaines and other designers know that to remain relevant they also need to keep up with the latest shift in trends, and it's apparent when you actually take a look at the difference in their home makeovers from a few years ago in comparison to what they're producing today. Gaines, in particular, is a design superstar who has been credited for the rise in the popular "modern farmhouse" decor aesthetic. That said, the look hasn't sustained its relevance, and neither has one of the key styles found within the Gaines-approved look — barn doors.

While Gaines didn't invent the concept of barn doors, she definitely drew attention to the trend by using the doors in many designs on the HGTV show "Fixer Upper," dating back to episodes from the 2010s. Now in 2025, the barn door design is seen as outdated, and homeowners are ready to leave it behind in favor of more timeless or even trendier approaches. If you've been thinking about incorporating this style into your own home, there are a couple reasons you may want to reconsider and possibly opt for a more current look instead.

Although it once ruled the world of home design, modern farmhouse decor is now the iconic Joanna Gaines style that is outdated in 2025. It's no surprise that with this change comes a shift in attitudes toward barn doors, which were often a common feature of this style. Professional designers believe that these doors can now give your home an outdated appearance, and are best left behind in most cases. The fact that barn doors have lost their trendy status has also made homeowners more willing to recognize their disadvantages like the clunky hardware and extra space they require as well as poor soundproofing and less privacy.

When you look at the current trends in home design, it's clear that homeowners are leaning more toward warm and character-rich interior styles. While barn doors do have a rustic charm that could work with this shift, they tend to align more with an industrial aesthetic, which is largely seen as too cold and manufactured in modern homes. As people aim for personality in their decor, overly trendy elements are best avoided, as they come off as inauthentic choices that are dictated by what's popular rather than a home's true character. Considering barn doors are so closely associated with the 2010s modern farmhouse trend, it's tricky to separate them from this outdated style and make them feel like a thoughtful element of decor.

An outdated style like barn doors, even if it was once a fan-favorite in decor, can be a risky choice to incorporate into your home design. The good news is there are plenty of trendy alternatives to traditional barn doors to refresh your space and tons of timeless styles you can rely on long-term. Some designers suggest minimalist designs like frameless pocket doors instead, as their simplistic style makes them less likely to lose their appeal over the years, and they still maintain the space-saving benefits of barn doors. If you have enough room to use doors that swing open into the space, french doors offer a timeless style that you can customize with color choices or decor like curtains as your tastes change.

If you're still set on the idea of using barn doors in your home, it can be helpful to aim for more modern interpretations over the rustic designs that are seen as out of style.  More homeowners are showing interest in sleeker barn doors made from glass or even organic materials with warm, smooth wood textures over the once-trendy reclaimed materials. In addition to updating the materials of your barn doors, you can switch up the hardware or color palette with trendier choices that make the look feel refreshed rather than outdated.