10 Clever Ways Nate Berkus Incorporates A Gorgeous Green Color Into Any Design Space

HGTV star Nate Berkus may be best known for his sophisticated neutral interiors, but when it comes to color, he often gravitates toward green. Perhaps it's a knowing nod to the biophilic interior design trend that shows no signs of slowing. Or maybe it's his long-standing love for earthy hues, what he calls "non-color" colors that bring richness and depth without overwhelming a space. From the phthalo upholstery fabric and jade ceramic glazes he introduces into client projects to the muddy green paint Berkus chose for his own kitchen cabinets, the famed HGTV interior designer incorporates gorgeous green colors into a variety of design spaces, proving how versatile and elevated the color can be.

"The best palettes and materials come from nature," Berkus wrote on Instagram. "Design can start by looking outside and finding ways to bring the outdoors in." To keep the look elevated, it's important to pick shades of green that provide a grounding sense of calm. In Berkus' designs, you're far more likely to find muted hues reminiscent of moss, nori, and pine than saturated greens veering into mint, sea foam, or chartreuse. Think sage instead of shamrock. Lichen instead of lime. Berkus frequently pairs his favorite green colors with natural textures like wood and stone, often using small doses that feel extremely controlled and intentional, to create spaces that are luxurious but livable and stylish yet serene. 

"Yes, I DO use color," Nate Berkus assured his Instagram fans last year. The HGTV interior designer went on to call the color he and his husband, Jeremiah Brent, used on the kitchen cabinets of one of their stunning homes one of his "all-time favorites." The 'Nitty Gritty' shade from Portola Paints is a cool, smoky green. Available in an eco-friendly Roman Clay plaster finish, it's an ideal color and texture choice that can add depth to your kitchen. Berkus paired it with heavily veined marble and organic wicker, a look you can recreate in your own home. 

Since they tend to be delicate, Zellige tiles can be tricky in a bathroom. But that didn't stop Nate Berkus and his team from using them on a niche shower wall to create a stunning statement. Create a similar look by setting a product like Zia Tile's 2x6 Racing Green Zellige Tiles in a herringbone pattern. If you're on a budget, a peel-and-stick option like Art3D's Heavy Duty Backsplash 10-Pack from Amazon may not be waterproof enough for a shower, but it could save you money if used to cover a wall behind your vanity or toilet.

"To live in the city and open your eyes first thing in the morning and just be sort of in this moody, cool forest feels really right," Nate Berkus said during an Architectural Digest tour of his newly renovated family home via YouTube. The primary bedroom is enveloped in green thanks to its wallpaper, the Bellagio GLX38 pattern from Italian wallcovering company Glamora. For a similar look in your own home, try hanging more affordable options like the Toolhom Hazy Forest Landscape Wallpaper or AFZEVEB Tropical Jungle Murals from Amazon on a single wall behind your headboard.

When Nate Berkus designed The Katherine, a residential redevelopment of a woman's boarding house in Greenwich Village earlier this year, he added just a few green accent pieces to transform the pre-war building into something exquisite. A cozy olive green throw like the LONG CREATE Chenille Throw Blanket from Amazon elevates a neutral living room sofa. A lumbar pillow in drab Army green velvet adds just a hint of color to an elegant bedroom. And, malachite green urns sitting on stone tables throughout the space add just the right connecting thread.

In a recent project completed by his eponymous interior design firm, Nate Berkus created a simple but stunning seating area by pairing two chairs upholstered in bottle green velvet with a small glass-top side table. Wooden chair frames and a soft taupe carpet keep the entire look earthy and grounded. You can get a similar vibe by flanking a slightly coastal piece of furniture like the Ysar Boho 19-inch Round Coffee Table with seating like the Christopher Knight Home Modern Velvet Upholstered Accent Chairs in Green and Brown from Amazon.

When you think of super chic accessories that feel at home in a Nate Berkus-designed bathroom, hand soap probably doesn't immediately come to mind. But even when he's committed to a neutral color scheme with marble countertops and traditional brass hardware, the designer knows exactly what he's doing by adding a structural olive green cube of Savon de Marseille soap to lift the entire look. It couldn't be easier to do in your own bathrooms, especially if you place your cubes inside an earthy soap dish or next to a glass vase full of delicate greenery.

HGTV star Nate Berkus is a master when it comes to mirrors. One of the designer's most effective ways to incorporate gorgeous green color into any design space is to carefully hang antique mirrors with rich patinas to reflect vases full of lush greenery or verdant landscapes right outside the windows. Even if you don't have a great view, you can mimic the look by setting unique-looking houseplants that work as statement pieces in front of leaning mirrors like the Anpark Bronze Windowpane Mirror from Amazon.

It's hard to find a Nate Berkus design that doesn't incorporate marble in a major way. The HGTV star is a huge fan of the timeless stone and often opts for richly veined slabs that make a statement, including in his own kitchen. "I tend to pick stones with less greens ... but when I take a risk, I'm always happy that I did," Berkus said on Instagram. Green marbling is typically caused by the presence of serpentine or jasper that creates intense hues, an inspired choice for countertops, backsplashes, or even flooring.

From a set of sleek pocket doors to bold dining room chairs, Nate Berkus loves some dark green leather. The look isn't for the fainthearted, and the key to nailing it is to carefully curate every other element in the room. Think airy silhouettes, gold hardware, and light wood floors. Before investing in an enormous piece of furniture or installing a custom addition, experiment with leather pillows like the MAMAILUCKY Lumbar Set in Blackish Green or the apartment-sized CraftThink MCM Leather Loveseat in Army Green from Amazon.

"Investing in vintage lighting is one of the best ways to avoid trends and fill your home with pieces that will last a lifetime," Nate Berkus said on Instagram. While scouring your local flea market, vintage shop, or antiques store, keep an eye out for quirky jade green sconces or pendant lights. You'll nail the Nate Berkus look if the fixture hardware is a slightly dulled brass. Consider repeating the color with large-scale abstract artwork or glazed ceramic vases.