Following simple home furnishing tips can save you money and stress, especially if you’re decorating your first apartment. When it comes to designing spaces that feel both stylish and lasting, few names carry as much influence as Nate Berkus. The celebrated interior designer has built a reputation for creating homes that combine personality with timeless appeal. Whether you’re furnishing your first apartment or refreshing a family living room, following Berkus’s approach can help you strike the perfect balance between trend and tradition.
Home Furnishing Tips
Here are five timeless home furnishing tips from Nate Berkus that will transform how you design your spaces.
1) Make a Statement
Berkus believes every room needs a bold element that doesn’t overwhelm. His go-to? Accent chairs.
“Accent chairs are a way to have fun with form,” Nate explains, “and they’re a low-risk way to make a bold statement without committing to an entire room redo.”
Adding a sculptural chair with interesting upholstery or texture instantly injects personality. It’s the perfect way to experiment without breaking your budget.
2) Keep Sofas and Sectionals Timeless
For bigger investments like sofas and sectionals, Nate advises against flashy prints.
“Prints are tough on large-scale furniture,” he cautions.
Instead, opt for neutral colors and classic silhouettes. Cream, beige, and charcoal create the ideal backdrop, allowing pillows, throws, or rugs to change with the seasons. By keeping these foundation pieces simple, you extend their life and ensure your room evolves gracefully over time.
3) Follow the 10-Year Rule
You don’t need a big budget to apply effective home furnishing tips that instantly upgrade your living room. One of Nate Berkus’s most famous rules is to ask yourself:
“Will I love this and still appreciate it in 10 years?”
This principle encourages thoughtful purchases. Instead of chasing the latest fad, choose furniture with enduring appeal—solid wood tables, balanced proportions, and versatile finishes. Coffee tables, sideboards, and entryway consoles that pass this test not only serve practical needs but also anchor a home with character.
4) Give Vintage Pieces New Life
Berkus is known for his passion for reinventing vintage furniture. He often hunts for secondhand finds online or in antique shops and gives them a modern twist with new fabrics or finishes. He also has a Nate Berkus guide on vintage items
“One of the things I’ve always loved to do is hunt for vintage furniture online, and then find fabrics and cover or recover them,” he says.
Tailored suiting, supple leathers, and textured suedes can transform a worn chair or bench into a statement piece. This approach is budget-friendly, eco-conscious, and guarantees one-of-a-kind design.
5) Revive Old Materials Like Black Leather
According to Nate Berkus, black leather is making a comeback—but in a more refined, elevated way. Far from the bachelor-pad stereotype, a single piece in black leather—such as a lounge chair or dining set—adds richness and dimension to any space.
“It’s classic and modern, regardless of era or style,” Nate explains.
By blending old materials with new surroundings, you create contrast, depth, and timeless sophistication.
Bringing It All Together
Nate Berkus’s five tips follow a clear theme: combine individuality with longevity. Accent chairs bring personality, while neutral sofas provide a timeless base. The 10-year rule keeps you focused on smart investments, vintage renewal adds soul, and old materials like black leather bring richness back into play.
The result? A home that feels personal today and will still feel fresh a decade from now.
Conclusion
Furnishing your home doesn’t have to mean chasing trends or starting from scratch every few years. By following Nate Berkus’s home furnishing tips, you can create rooms that express who you are, stand the test of time, and evolve gracefully with your lifestyle.
Start small with an accent chair, invest wisely in larger pieces, and never overlook the power of vintage. With Berkus’s approach, your home becomes not just decorated—but truly designed to last.
