20 of the most relaxing reality TV shows to watch right now

10. Fixer Upper

I promise this is going to be the last show involving real estate and home renovations for the rest of this list. That said, it’s hard to collect all of the most relaxing reality TV out there without mentioned Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Like many HGTV shows, Fixer Upper follows a tried and true format. Homeowners secure the real estate, then meet with Joanna to work out the kind of design that they want for their updated home. That’s followed by demo day, the part where everything gets torn down and there is drywall dust and debris everywhere. Then there’s the renovation process, followed by a big reveal wherein the Fixer Uppers lead people through their new home.

It’s a pretty standard format, but one that’s elevated by the married couple at the center of the proceedings: Chip and Joanna. Joanna typically handles the design work of the proceedings. She’s also a huge proponent of shiplap. Don’t ask me what shiplap is, please. All I can tell you is that it now haunts my dreams, considering the number of times that it’s been mentioned on the show. Anyway, Joanna is the more focused and introverted of the two stars.

Meanwhile, her husband Chip is the extroverted lead contractor on their work. That means he’s the one tearing down old bits of the house in question, as well as the one working to install the new parts with his team.

Just last year, the pair announced that they would no longer be filming Fixer Upper, citing their need to balance business interests and their family life. Still, there are plenty of old episodes to watch. And something tells us that, with their highly successful Magnolia venture, things will work out just fine for them.