Nate Berkus Shares A Simple Tip To Instantly Make Any Small Room Look Bigger

Nate Berkus is known for creating timeless home interiors, and his designs go beyond just style. It's the thoughtful choices he makes — from materials, layouts, and textiles — that turn a space into something fresh and welcoming for years to come. That said, he swears by the "anti-trend" decor approach, often going against popular decorating rules in favor of staying true to a home's character. One of his latest tips does just that, by taking a common interior design myth for small spaces and sharing why he does exactly the opposite. It comes from his recent Instagram post, where he addresses the question of whether a rug should be small to make a space feel bigger, saying (via Instagram) "that is absolutely the opposite — rugs should be large to make a space feel expansive."

Whether you need tips for choosing your living room rug or want to pick the right size carpeting to open up a small studio space, Berkus' advice can come in handy. While opting for a smaller rug in order to save space might seem like a smart idea, rugs actually play a key role in defining a room. In many cases, designers like Berkus would suggest going for a larger piece to get a greater impact that can visually expand the look of your space. It's a simple nugget of design wisdom that can truly transform the square footage in your home, no matter how much you're working with.

Although much of Berkus' design advice leads back to doing what feels right to your personal style, his tip of choosing large rugs is well-backed by various professionals. Some expert designers note that when a rug is too small, it translates to the rest of the space. So, to make the room appear larger, you should always choose a style that is big enough to act as a frame for your furniture — especially when it comes to seating. Smaller rugs tend to create awkward visual gaps in the floor space, whereas larger models can prevent this and instead draw attention outward to create a more spacious, unified feel. Not only does this method visually enlarge a room with more inclusive coverage, but it also helps you avoid the complicated song-and-dance of finding the right proportion between rugs, furniture, and flooring.

Moreover, Berkus has shared that you can further elevate your rug choice by opting for a neutral, textured style that contrasts with your flooring or furniture. This contrast works to lift the area, allowing it to highlight the design for a bigger impact. If you're stuck between a large, neutral rug that expands your space or something smaller with a bold, busy pattern, you can get the best of both worlds by layering your area rugs. A big area rug not only makes your space feel bigger like Berkus suggests, it also opens up your decor scheme to more possibilities.