12 Nate Berkus Decor “Mistakes” That Make Your Home Look Priceless

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Decorating is a game of trying to hit a moving target, and if you’re trying to do it on a budget, you’re trying to hit a moving target that’s moving a little faster. Interior designer Nate Berkus has become known for creating chic rooms out of every day spaces. He has helped countless homeowners, from bringing a cozy living room makeover to life to giving a whole home’s style a boost.

Even with his expertise at our fingertips, some of us flub common decor ‘mistakes’ that prevent our homes from looking as fabulous as they could. In this post, we’re going to jump lightly into some of these errors and how you can turn them into style moments that make your home look absolutely priceless.

Oversized Furniture

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Have you ever walked into a room and felt it was trying to swallow you whole? That’s the oversized furniture trap. Big, plush couches or sprawling sectionals do look luxurious, but they need lots of space to breathe. Nate Berkus recommends the furniture should be the right scale for the room, and that there should be enough negative space around each piece to let them shine on their own. It’s all about balance. Don’t fill the room with a single massive couch instead try several smaller pieces of seating such as a loveseat and armchairs. That way, you can have the comfort without the room ending up feeling cramped.

Matching Sets Going Overboard

Overusing Matching Sets
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If your living room looks like it was picked straight out of a catalog, you might be guilty of the matchy-matchy syndrome. Berkus says matching furniture sets give a room cohesion but a more eclectic approach lends a room personality and dimension. Bringing layers to your space with mixing furniture from different sources or styles can give your space a feeling of having evolved over time rather than purchasing everything in one shopping spree.

Never Leaving the Walls Bare

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Wall decor is something that some people are afraid to do, because they don’t want to make a mistake, but leaving walls completely bare can make a room feel impersonal. A ScienceDirect study found that people feel more connected to a space when there is art or photos in the room. And Nate Berkus is a fan of a little mix of wall art, mirrors, and even personal photos to add character to a room. Don’t let your walls be blank! Your walls are a canvas.

Having Many Lighting Layers

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A single ceiling light doesn’t give a room much to go on, especially when a whole room needs to be lit. Lighting has a huge impact on how we experience a space and Berkus always stresses the importance of having a number of different sources of light at different levels. This is about table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces that can make cozy, inviting zones within the same space. You can easily change the mood with a layered lighting approach.

Mixing a Lot of Texture

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Even the most well designed rooms without texture can feel a bit sterile. The addition of depth and warmth comes via a mix of textures; woven rugs, plush pillows, leather accents and wood furniture. Berkus likes to stress the importance of mixing textures that do contrast and complement each other. Imagine a living room with velvet sofa and jute rug, marble coffee table and all. Texture is the magic ingredient that brings a room to life.

Lots of Greenery

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If you’re not planning to include plants in your decor plans, you’re missing out on one of the easiest ways to bring life into a room. In addition to improving air quality, plants ground and invite a space. Even one leafy green in a beautiful pot, Berkus suggests, would bring warmth and vibrancy to your space. In fact, a NASA study even found that some plants can purify indoor air — another reason to bring some greenery home.

Pushing Furniture Away From the Wall

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Shoving all the furniture into the corners of a room to make it feel more open is tempting, but it’ll make the room feel awkwardly spacious and not inviting. Nate Berkus recommends using ‘floating’ furniture, like placing a couch away from the wall with a console table behind it creating cozy zones in a larger room. As an arrangement, this can make your space feel more thoughtfully designed, making it easier to have conversation and to be comfortable.

Lots of Area Rugs in Small Spaces

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Most people think that small spaces don’t need rugs, but that’s not the case. An area rug well chosen will anchor the room, provide warmth and delineate the room. Berkus is often a proponent of rugs that stretch all the way under all the main furniture pieces, which can give even a tiny room the impression of being larger and more connected. Don’t make the mistake of going for the tiny ‘postage stamp’ rug look, it just turns the space choppy and unclosed.

Too Many Decor Items Overcrowding

Overdecorating
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It’s so easy to go overboard with the decorative accents, but there is a fine line between ‘curated’ and ‘cluttered’. Berkus instead suggests picking a few items that resonate with you and don’t fill every surface with knick knacks. This selective approach means that each item gets a chance to shine and there’s no visual overwhelm. Consider decor as the icing on the cake, but not the cake itself.

Forgetting Personal Touches

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Even the most beautiful decor in the world feels cold in homes without personal elements. Berkus advises homeowners to show souvenirs of travels, vintage family photos or DIY crafts to add to their story. An instantaneously inviting room is one that reflects who you are. And after all, you should be able to reflect yourself in your home, not just in a showroom.

Choosing Art That’s Too Small

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One decor blunder that’s common is hanging a tiny piece of art over a massive sofa to make a room feel disproportionate. Berkus is a fan of scaling up when it comes to art. It can be a large statement piece, or even a well arranged gallery wall that will make a focal point that feels intentional and impactful. If you’re in doubt, go bigger, it’s an easy way to make a room feel chic without too much effort.

Using Too Many Bold Colors

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Where too many colors do make a space look chaotic, the bright colors are playful and dynamic. For large items like furniture, Berkus recommends staying more neutral, and using bright color in smaller accents. That way, the colors work together instead of against each other and the pops of color can really stand out and not overwhelm the space.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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