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We're over-excited: Joanna Gaines reveals how her new Mini Renis show delivers 'fast and furious', budget-smart makeovers

The designer is setting her sights on smaller projects, using 'paint, trim, tile and furniture' to transform a space instantly

Joanna Gaines
(Image credit: Joanna Gaines x Magnolia Home Castle Collection)

Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines is synonymous with exactly that: fixing up large-scale renovation projects around her hometown, Waco in Texas. Recently, however, the Magnolia designer has been switching her focus to smaller projects, or 'Mini Renis', as she calls them.

'Mini Reni is a way to show how you can transform a space in less than a week. It happens so fast,' Joanna says. 'There's no demo day. We're just using things like paint, trim, tile, and furniture. It's a little more storytelling, a little more dramatic, and a little extra simple detail.' 

Mini Reni, which airs tomorrow, June 25, at 9pm Eastern time, 8pm Central time on her Magnolia network. We look at the preview, below.

As much as we (will always) love exploring Joanna's larger projects, we can't help but feel excited by these new pared-back projects – all of which (we expect) will offer accessible, budget-friendly tips for our small kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms. Finally, we can replicate her teachings without any significant time or cost investment – and if her first small space makeover is anything to go by, our homes have a bright future ahead.

'Anytime I look at design, I think about jeans,' Joanna announced at the top of her Insta video to announce her new show. We were hooked, but confused. Jeans? 'The wallpaper stopping at that point [the trim] accentuated the muffin top,' Joanna says in the footage – pointing at a papered wall in progress. 

Honestly, we'll watch it for metaphors like this alone.   

For her first Mini Reni, Joanna renovated a home for a friend – transforming three rooms in one week – with fresh new furniture, wallpaper, and a fresh paint palette. 'It was fast and furious... with a ton of simple and affordable ways to transform an outdated space,' Joanna says.

We already spent time admiring Joanna's first Mini Reni when she shared photos back in February – including the controversial graphic wallpaper which divided fans at the time. The project was a reminder of exactly what we can achieve  – without a huge investment – in a small amount of time – and we can only expect the upcoming Mini Reni's will be just as inspiring.

'I've been designing homes for the past 20 years, and one thing I know to be true: Sometimes all you need is a few days or a few key pieces to turn a room into a space you love,' Joanna adds in her blog.  

If you need us, we'll be taking notes on Joanna's Mini Reni's until further notice. 


Can't wait for tomorrow? For more advice from Joanna, you can shop her book below. 

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave | $20.79 on Amazon

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave | $20.79 on Amazon
Joanna Gaines walks you through creating a home that reflects the personalities and stories of the people who live there. Using examples from her family farmhouse and a range of other homes, this comprehensive guide will help you embrace your authentic design style. 

Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.