The Decor Rule Nate Berkus Sticks To For Timeless Decor In Your Space

Decorating your home can feel overwhelming, with every little choice making you worry you might regret it later. It's often difficult to tell the difference between timeless and trendy in your home, with some designs feeling invincible one day, but slowly fading out of relevancy the next. Our home decor tastes are constantly changing, whether we realize it or not, and big design commitments don't always have lasting power. To make sure you pick the right pieces that you can love for years to come, it's helpful to let some professional advice guide your decision. Nate Berkus is one interior designer who is truly an expert in timeless design, with decades of beautiful interiors to back it up. It's not just because of his natural eye for style, even a pro like Berkus abides by certain rules to keep his interiors looking timeless. He shared the one rule he always follows to his social media audience, saying (via Instagram), "Have something old with its original character and patination in the space. There's no substitute."

Even if you love to keep your interiors looking modern, a bit of antique charm won't derail your design — according to Berkus' advice, it might actually help keep it feeling fresh. There are plenty of styles to explore within the realm of vintage decor, so you can find the right touch of timeless charm to bring into your home.

Antique items have the special ability to bring a sense of deep, experienced character into a space. Unlike sleek, updated interiors, these pieces feel a bit more personal and lived-in to give your home a cozy, charming personality. The best part is, you're spoilt for choice whether you're finding your piece at a thrift store, vintage marketplace, or even your family member's old storage. Aside from the original character, Berkus stresses the importance of choosing a style with patina. Many materials will develop a natural patina as they age, giving you a decor investment that only gets better with time. Patina is a natural, time-worn finish that adds character to your antiques, but be careful not to confuse this with a buildup of dirt or grime, which is not worth preserving.

It may seem difficult to bring a decades-old piece of furniture into modern interiors without it looking out of place, but the contrast is actually what makes it work. The key to styling patina-rich furniture is creating balance by pairing light and heavy furniture or old and vintage pieces together — as long as the proportions aren't too drastic, the look will feel cohesive and intentional. This might look like an antique dresser styled with a modern table lamp or taking an opposite approach with a patina brass lamp on a sleek, contemporary sideboard. To make vintage items like couches or chairs feel a little more updated, you can reupholster the fabric while leaving the rest in its original form.