Nate Berkus's Affordable Tip To Add Personality To Your Home Is So Smart

HGTV's Nate Berkus' priority has always been to make interiors look unique to the person who inhabits them. There are countless ways to achieve that, but the designer shared one of his favorites in a June 2025 Instagram post. In the caption, Berkus talks about the power of bookshelves to inform a home's soul and, by extension, its style.

"Bookshelves are one of my favorite parts of any project," he wrote, adding, "They're where your life story lives." As for what kind of objects you can use to tell that story, Berkus mentioned "pieces collected from travels, photographs," and "the things you carry with you from home to home." 

To successfully add personality to your space, bookshelves should feel layered and curated over time instead of heavily styled. Most importantly, they should feel authentic to you and yours, so the chief rule when decorating this piece of furniture is to find your voice, your interests, and your style, and then follow them. Of course, there are simple visual tricks to use when styling decor on a bookshelf that can make it look more elevated and interesting as you incorporate your personal effects. Luckily, Berkus shared some of these tips, too.

In a later social media post, the "Foundations" author expounded on how to create a balanced, visually rich bookcase that simultaneously showcases your essence. His first tip is to alternate between stacking books vertically and horizontally. For the latter, a great way to accentuate them is by placing a decorative item on top. This can be anything from a stunning crystal to a vase or souvenir from your travels. 

Berkus also suggested interspersing book-filled shelves with emptier, decor-focused ones to "give the eye a break." In his home, the television host outfitted his decor-only shelf with a painting hung on the back wall, as well as pottery and sculptures in different finishes. He also added a gift from a friend to make it all the more personal.

Taking Berkus' lead, there are other brilliant ways to transform your bookshelf from an eyesore into a showstopper. For the dinnerware enthusiasts who have run out of space to store their latest whimsical finds, this can be a great place to display part of your collection. For music lovers who have hung on to their '90s and early '00s CDs or treat their vinyl records like children, choose your favorites to place on a shelf. The same goes for film and TV buffs, but don't overdo it. Vintage items, board games, baskets, and wallpaper are only some of the many other ways to decorate bookshelves without books. If you remember to avoid excessive symmetry and clutter, the rest will come naturally.