Creating a Cozy Home with a Minimalist Neutral Color Palette

Ultimate guide on how to use a minimalist neutral color palette, natural materials, and a touch of color to nail a cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper inspired home // www.tantrumsandtools.com

Creating a Cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper Style Home Using a Minimalist Neutral Color Palette

If you’re wondering how Joanna Gaines creates the most inviting homes using a minimalist neutral color palette, you’re not alone. There’s something truly magical about the way she transforms spaces into cozy, inviting homes. At the heart of all her designs are the right color palette.

If you’ve ever dreamed of recreating that inviting ambiance in your own home, you’re in for a treat. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper inspired design, where neutral color palettes are used to create a timeless look.

Here’s how to pick the perfect color palette, natural materials, and a touch of color to nail a cozy minimalistic look.

Starting with Neutral Paint Colors

Ultimate guide on how to use a minimalist neutral color palette, natural materials, and a touch of color to nail a cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper inspired home // www.TantrumsandTools.com

Neutral colors, such as whites, grays, and earthy tones, serve as the foundation for the Fixer Upper style. This monochromatic color scheme creates a serene canvas that allows other design elements to shine while setting the stage for a tranquil haven where you can unwind and rejuvenate.

These hues form the heart of her interior design. The beauty of her approach lies in the balance she strikes among these shades. While there is no strict formula to stick to, one paint color should serve as the primary canvas, while others play the role of harmonious accents.

Minimalism in color choices encourages a clutter-free environment, which is essential for your home to feel cozy and welcoming. Neutrals also evoke a sense of timelessness, ensuring that your home’s design remains appealing for years to come.

The Perfect Backdrop: Tranquil Whites

The main color used to create a cozy inviting home is white with warm tones. This purest of neutrals, often takes center stage in Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper designs. It acts as a calming force, creating an atmosphere of openness and lightness.

White walls, ceilings, and larger furnishings provide a canvas for the magic to unfold. This primary color choice ensures that the space remains bright and welcoming, allowing the other colors and textures to shine vibrantly.

The Depth of Grays

To add depth and sophistication, incorporate soft grays into your interior design. These subtle, elegant hues are a great way to prevent the space from feeling stark. Gray can be found in furniture upholstery, accent walls, and even in decorative elements.

When selecting gray shades stay away from cooler tones so your overall look remains cozy. Layering different shades of gray brings texture and dimension to the forefront, offering a visual feast for the eyes.

>> Want more on how to pull off a Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper Style home? Learn how to seamlessly blend farmhouse charm, modern elements, and neutral colors like Jo right here in this Ultimate Guide to Design a Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper Style Home.

Earthy Tones: A Soulful Pop of Color

Soft colors, like warm beiges, olive green, and gentle taupes, are complementary colors in a minimalist design that uses a neutral palette. These warm shades add an organic feel and bring the great outdoors in.

Earthy tones are often introduced through textiles, decor items, and architectural elements like wooden beams or flooring. These accents provide a perfect contrast to the whites and grays, giving the space character and balance.

Accenting with Purpose

While neutrals are the stars of the show, successful neutral color palettes include subtle pops of color to prevent monotony. Soft pastels, muted blues, and gentle greens make occasional appearances, acting as accents that infuse personality and charm.

These accents are carefully placed – a delicate blue vase on a distressed wooden table, or a pale green throw blanket draped over a neutral chair – to create focal points that enhance the overall aesthetic.

Neutrals aren’t just colors; they’re powerful tools for making a room feel simultaneously soothing and captivating. Creating a cozy minimalistic space starts with a primary color, followed by thoughtfully layering different shades, and lastly purposefully adding accent colors.

As we continue our journey into re-creating Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper style, let’s explore using neutral textures, furniture choices, and decor elements to create a cozy home.

Neutral Color Palette Furniture and Textiles 

In true Joanna Gaines fashion, focus on selecting furniture and textiles that embrace simplicity and comfort. Opt for pieces with clean lines and a touch of rustic charm. Weathered wood, distressed finishes, and simple hardware add that quintessential Fixer Upper character. 

To prevent a neutral color scheme from falling flat, incorporate texture into your design. Textured materials such as jute rugs, woven baskets, and distressed wood accents are a great choice. They add depth and dimension to your rooms.

Joanna Gaines often uses texture to create interest and visual appeal, making your home feel lived-in and inviting. From shiplap walls, beadboard ceilings, or different furniture fabrics, texture plays a pivotal role in achieving the Fixer Upper aesthetic.

Incorporate plush sofas and chairs upholstered in a neutral shade made from natural materials like linen or cotton, adding coziness to your living spaces.

Don’t forget to accessorize with throw pillows and soft blankets in varying neutral tones. These add the perfect combination to enhance comfort and style simultaneously.

Accentuating a Neutral Color Scheme with Texture

To prevent a neutral color scheme from falling flat, incorporate texture into your design. Textured materials such as jute rugs, woven baskets, and distressed wood accents are a great choice. They add depth and dimension to your rooms.

Joanna Gaines often uses texture to create interest and visual appeal, making your home feel lived-in and inviting. From shiplap walls to beadboard ceilings, texture plays a pivotal role in achieving the Fixer Upper aesthetic.

Layering for Depth in Minimalist Spaces

The art of layering neutrals creates both depth and delight. Combining various shades within the same color family adds visual interest without overwhelming the space. For instance, pairing a creamy white sofa with textured gray throw pillows and a soft beige area rug introduces layers of richness into the design. Each layer adds a new dimension, making the space feel cozy and inviting.

Adding Pops of Subtle Color

While the heart of the Fixer Upper style lies in neutral palettes, you can infuse subtle touches of color to prevent monotony. Soft pastel colors like pale blue or muted green complement your neutral base without overpowering the space. 

Consider using these colors sparingly through decorative elements such as ceramics, artwork, or floral arrangements. This approach will maintain a soothing atmosphere while adding a hint of personality to your home.

Bringing the Outdoors In

Ultimate guide on how to use a minimalist neutral color palette, natural materials, and a touch of color to nail a cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper inspired home // How to use plants as decor // www.TantrumsandTools.com

Incorporating elements from nature into your design is another key component in decorating a cozy neutral home. Add potted plants, fresh flowers, and botanical prints to bring the outdoors in.

Greenery adds vibrancy to neutral spaces and contributes to a welcoming ambiance. Additionally, it’s an opportunity to infuse your home with life and energy.

Strategically place plants in areas that draw the eye, turning them into natural focal points. From hanging planters cascading gracefully from the ceiling to potted plants adorning shelves and tables, these botanical artworks add visual interest that captivates and soothes.

The textures of plants also contribute to the tactile richness of a space. The juxtaposition of soft, velvety leaves against rustic wood or smooth ceramic surfaces creates a delightful tactile experience. Choose textured planters and woven baskets to enhance the tactile dimension and add to your cozy ambiance.

Additionally, plants offer a subtle splash of organic color. Lush green leaves and earthy tones introduce a refreshing burst of nature’s palette into the interior, adding depth and balance. This gentle infusion of color prevents monotony and complements the overall design aesthetic.


Creating a cozy Joanna Gaines Fixer Upper-style home with a minimalist neutral color palette is about embracing simplicity, texture, and comfort. You can capture the essence of Gaines’ signature style by carefully selecting and layering neutral shades, choosing furniture with rustic charm, incorporating texture, and adding subtle pops of color. 

Remember, the heart of this design approach is to create a space that exudes tranquility and invites you to unwind. So, channel your inner Joanna Gaines because you’re ready to transform your living spaces into a neutral haven of coziness and elegance.


Hey Girl!


Stop piecing together information from different sources and get everything you need in one place.

Save time, avoid costly mistakes, and achieve the transformation you’ve been dreaming of.

Grab your copy of the Ultimate Furniture Makeover Guide.


Every successful DIY project starts with a plan. That’s why you need the Project Planner Pack.

Complete your project on time and on budget.

Unleash your creativity with a click, download your Planner Pack and start your DIY journey today!

project planner pack
furniture flipping // diy projects // home renovations // modern farmhouse decorating ideas