Nate Berkus’s Tips for Refreshing Your Home Decor The interior designer offers 6 easy tips on how to revamp your home without a complete overhaul “I don’t recommend making big, rash changes at the beginning of the year—this is when everyone’s still stressed about losing weight and other resolutions. With Jeremiah [Brant, his husband] and I, we’re constantly moving things around our home throughout the year. It doesn’t have to be about a season or event, it should happen when inspiration strikes. Also, I don’t focus on trends because I don’t think you ever achieve what you’re looking to do—it always feels like a version of something you saw in a photograph.” “When you lay out a room, it needs to be practical, first, then beautiful. So see if you can make a room function with things you already own. Is there a new energy and juxtaposition that can come from using a side table as a nightstand? Or is there a console that can be used to set up a bar? The best designed rooms are the ones that feel layered, assembled over time, and beautifully edited. To get there, you have to be prepared to experiment.” “Sometimes the smallest things can make a huge impact. Take the lamps off the nightstands in your bedroom and try them on the console in the living room. Or move your mirrors around the house—if one’s been hanging above your fireplace, try it in the entry and see how it affects the light. Moving artworks, pillows, and rugs is also an extremely effective way to change the feel of a room.” “Look at every piece in your home and ask yourself, ‘Is this contributing to the story I want to tell in this space? Does it have sentimental value? Does it remind me of something that makes me smile?’ Or is the item just crammed onto a bookshelf or side table because you’ve been too lazy to take a hard look at things with a discerning eye? It’s important to donate or sell these items because you have to give the pieces you do love room to breathe.” “Texture is a bullet train to a sophisticated neutral palette. Woven pieces, hand-knotted rugs, fringed accents—these invigorate and add dimension to any space. They pair nicely with crisp contemporary pieces, as well as with antique furniture and vintage items. And then plants and flowers make a space feel alive. They just make you breathe a little different. We keep fresh flowers in our home constantly—always similar species, white roses or hydrangea, packed tightly in a short vase.” “In 20 years of working with clients, I’ve found that when we get to the guest room, they tend to feel exhausted from making decisions and don’t really care about the space. But the truth is, if you care about somebody enough to invite them to stay in your home, you should have a beautifully appointed room for them. Think beautiful linens, flattering light, a great chest of drawers so people have somewhere to put their things away. And don’t stop there: Pull accessories from elsewhere in the house so that the room feels like an extension of your home.”
