Joanna Gaines reveals surprising act of rebellion this holiday season as she cancels the family’s plans for Christmas

Interior designer and TV personality Joanna Gaines has opened up about the ‘rebellious’ way she takes control of her Christmas celebrations – and explains why she’s already taking it easy over the festive period.

The 47-year-old “Fixer Upper” star, who lives in Waco, Texas, shared how she unwinds during the holidays in the winter issue of Magnolia Journal.

She noted that she always prioritizes a “slow Christmas” so she can relax and spend some quality time with her family.

“I have learned that I will have to fight in the coming months as the tendency to keep rushing will, as it should, cloud my reach before Christmas.

“It’s not always so easy in a season that can pull us in all directions. Where the peace we long for, the time we’ve earned back, is constantly at war with the expectations of more,” she said.

She noted that she will go against the tide and choose a life of peace instead of continuing her usual hustle and bustle.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I’m generally a do-whatever girl. It’s in my nature… but Christmas? This is the time when I want to rebel against my own nature and the voices in our culture that tell me that if I don’t keep busy, it won’t be the day of my dreams,” she added.

And Gaines takes her relaxation time extremely seriously, so much so that she starts turning down invitations as early as November.

“For me, the slowdown starts in November – by saying no. No to the rush. No to the stress of doing things that don’t fill my cup. No to the temptation to do more. Because we know that time doesn’t double for those who run faster. It disappears,” the housing expert admitted.

The mother explained that she prioritized this mindset after overexerting herself during the holidays and missing crucial moments with her family.

“I spent the day I’ve been waiting for all year waiting for it to be over. I wondered why I let the moments that mean the most slip through overworked hands. … But Christmas stripped down is what I’m looking for,” Gaines noted.

During her relaxation, Gaines focuses on transforming her sprawling home into a winter wonderland fit for Mr. Claus himself.

“Early November is the longest I can wait. By then, I’m already longing for scents of cinnamon and nutmeg. For twinkling lights to catch my eye and Bing Crosby on the turntable. I long to unwrap every moment and memory of holidays past,” she said as she began her decorating journey.

And Gaines noted that you don’t have to worry about reusing the same decor as last year, noting that she rarely mixes up her trinkets.

“The way we decorate the hallways on the farm does not change much from year to year. For me, this season is not about introducing a lot of new, but about celebrating the old, the past, the patient waiting,” says the designer.

She also shared her secrets for decorating different rooms in your home, including your entryway, sitting area, tree, mantel, centerpieces, wreaths and how to set up a hot chocolate bar.

Of the entrance, she said: “I like my entrance to have a festive feel as it is the first thing you see when you walk into our house. Here I have kept it simple, yet sentimental, with a few wintry village houses that I found almost 15 years ago and a Norfolk pine wreath that I like to hang on top of our large vintage gate.”

“Our sitting area is one of the first rooms you see when you enter our home, so I like to keep it neutral but still very festive. The tree is always decorated with tinsel and my collection of mercury ornaments, and this year I was inspired by a sense of storybook nostalgia, so I enclosed vintage books and moss in a large cloche. The garland along the stairs is an annual tradition, and in recent years I’ve been loving the addition of velvet ribbon,” she added referring to the seating area.

When it comes to the tree, Gaines noted, “The family tree is the Christmas hero in our living room. Chip can get quite passionate about having a real tree, but when the day comes and I see him and the boys lugging a 14-foot pine into the house and putting it on its stand, I’ll be honest: I often think about how easy and efficient a fake one would be. Light – I’m always glad I put so much thought into this tree. Each ornament is a memory, and together they tell the story of our family over the past 25 years.”

As for the mantel and tablescape, she said, “The mantel is also a place I like to get dressed. Garland is a must, with its deep green hue and heavy pine scent. The layer of dried oranges is a nod to ‘Little Women,’ one of my favorite winter stories. Over a crackling fire, it adds to the feeling of nostalgia.”

“This will be our second Christmas dinner in our new dining room, and since we don’t eat there every night, I like to keep it decorated all season long with ribbon-wrapped tapers and a floral arrangement that is a little more dramatic than what I would normally display, but just right for the holidays.”

Although it seems small, Gaines noted that she has an “obsession” with wreaths, adding that they can really add to the festive atmosphere of a home.

“If you haven’t noticed, I have a little obsession with wreaths this time of year. I hang one pretty much everywhere: on a mirror, a window, a door,” Gaines said.

Finally, she talked about how you can transform part of your home into a delicious dessert stop.

“Ever since my kids were little, I’ve always had a hot chocolate bar ready. Making a cup of coffee is still their favorite thing to do when they get home from school or, honestly, at the first sign of a winter chill. I love seeing them make it their own. This year I got to set up the bar in our new butler’s pantry,” she said.

Gaines and her husband, Chip50, previously adopted Instagram to show off their upcoming series, “Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House,” which hit TV screens on October 28.

In addition to showing off the projects they would be undertaking, they also revealed that they would be joined by a special guest: their daughter Ella.

Speaking about the decision to purchase the Colorado mountain home, Gaines said, “Now we’ve been making this annual trek to the mountains for over a decade, and somewhere along the way Chip and I started wondering if Colorado was meant to be a bigger part of our family’s future.”

“As the kids get older and head off to colleges in different directions, we thought it was a great idea to have a central place where we could all come together, a place with the same comfort, intention and care as the farm in Waco.

“In addition to being a gathering place for our own family, this is where I could see our parents and extended families on weekend getaways, traveling with all their heart and soul. And friends who feel like family and at home.

“I could see this place outlasting us and housing our children and their families over spring break decades later. … From a practical perspective, the house had just the right mix of good bones and square footage that we love in a project — not to mention the classic, rustic, cozy cabin feel that we could easily sink into,” she explained.

And the mother noted that she was thrilled to share the experience with Ella, adding that it made the project much better.

“Over the past few years, Ella has really come into her own when it comes to developing her own personal style. I love her eye, so I asked her to design the little house next to the main house. It was so sweet to share this experience with her before she went to university,” says the mother.

While Gaines and Ella focused on the cottage, Chip and their sons focused on fishing behind the property.

“You can take the boys out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the boys. Chip and Crew love to fish together at home, but this river behind the property is the dreamiest place for them to practice a new hobby: the art of fly fishing,” she explained.

The Magnolia Journal Winter 2025 Issue hits newsstands Friday, November 14 and can be purchased now online at Magazines.com.