HGTV's Nate Berkus Shares A Furniture Tip That'll Make Your Home Look More Luxe

If you have been following any of Nate Berkus' HGTV shows, then you know that he has a no-nonsense approach to interior design. He knows what he doesn't like and is unapologetic about it. Hence, it's no secret that there's a busy furniture feature Berkus avoids at all costs. Fans of bold design may not like it, but the television personality is not fond of printed furniture. "Prints are tough on large-scale furniture — keep your sofa (and other large-scale items) to the basics," he advised in an interview with MyDomaine.

For the celebrity interior designer, printed furniture can be difficult to style since prints date quickly, and they are unlikely to fit the changing trends. So while one may feel like they've made the right decision after buying a printed couch, they will likely regret it a few years later after seeing how it's become a design burden when trying to keep up with what's in vogue in the home design industry. Remember the chevron craze from the early 2010s? It was all the rage in clothing and furniture, but now it's largely out of fashion.

Berkus strongly recommends opting for furniture in solid, neutral fabrics or cotton to easily keep up with the times. "Linens and cottons in solids can be dressed up or down easily and tend to look expensive," he said. Such materials offer a sophisticated base for everyone's taste since they can match various accessories, including throw pillows in floral or geometric patterns, quirky side tables, and more.

Nate Berkus' tip about going for large furniture in linen and cotton is more than just smart advice. It's rooted in how solid colors can serve as a blank canvas for different stylish pursuits. Neutral, solid-colored sofas create a timeless foundation that is adaptable to fast-paced trends and impressionable preferences. They can also serve as a basis for the color palette of the room, which is a must-know design tip for creating a cohesive living room style. Plus, if you're thinking of putting your house on the market, these sorts of easily-outdated trends and living room design choices can make it harder to sell your home.

Large printed pieces tend to dominate any room visually, limiting the ability to change up the look without clashing with other design elements. On the other hand, neutral solids will work with various aesthetics without causing a visual train wreck. Want to go boho with woven textures? Or shift to a modern industrial vibe with metallic accents? A classic cream couch or simple wool rug will work in both cases — and that's the beauty of Berkus' advice.

Investing in the basics does not mean giving up on flair or personality. Other alternatives to printed furniture that give the same effect as linen and cotton in solid colors are textured fabric, like bouclé or velvet. They can inject just as much character in a room without restricting the aesthetics of curtains, vases, wall art, and more. They also look more luxurious, especially in the case of velvet sofas, with their soft and plush texture and shiny appearance. Also, velvet furniture is unlikely to go out of style.