Joanna Gaines Shares How Son Crew’s Daily Gifts Brighten Her Home

Joanna Gaines has a knack for turning simple moments into meaningful memories, and her 6-year-old son Crew plays a big role in that. The Fixer Upper star recently spoke with PEOPLE about her passion for “sit-abouts,” small trinkets that hold sentimental value and remind us of the things we love.

For Joanna, her favorite sit-abouts are the thoughtful treasures Crew collects for her each day. “Every day Crew brings me something he discovered outside,” she shared, “and at this point, he knows I’m going to put it on display somewhere around the house. So I have his collections everywhere — a lot of acorns and shells and flowers we’ve picked together.”

These heartfelt gifts often find their way onto shelves, tables, and corners of her home, serving as tiny reminders of Crew’s thoughtfulness. Recently, Joanna shared one of Crew’s sweet gestures on Instagram: a handwritten note alongside a small bouquet of flowers. The note read, “Just because I love you mom, love Crew.” 

Joanna captioned the post, “Just because… 🧡🥹.”

The 46-year-old also cherishes her personal collection of miniature brass sit-abouts, which she proudly displays in her living room. But it’s the gifts from her youngest child that truly light up her day.

In addition to Crew, Joanna and her husband, Chip Gaines, share four other children – Drake, 19, Ella, 18, Duke, 16, and Emmie, 14.

Joanna’s role as a mom doesn’t stop at gathering treasures. She recently helped her oldest son, Drake, settle into his college apartment. While Joanna’s signature farmhouse modern style might have made the space picture-perfect, Drake had his own ideas. During an October appearance on Today, Joanna revealed that Drake personalized the décor with bold blue LED lights, creating what she jokingly referred to as a “club” vibe.

“This is all about lighting. He wanted more lighting. He bought some lights on Amazon and strung them throughout his whole apartment. Now it looks like a club,” she stated.

Joanna’s recent collaboration with MasterClass also highlights her love of creating spaces that feel warm and personal. Through her course, she teaches viewers how to design their dream homes, incorporating meaningful touches like sit-abouts that make a house feel like a home.