The Vintage Furniture Rule Nate Berkus Swears By For A Beautifully Layered Home

Out with the old, in with the new ... or so they say. What about, out with the new, in with the old? Not quite as catchy ... how about out with the phrases, and let's just get right into this article? Great, let's!

According to Nate Berkus, renowned interior designer and co-star of HGTV's "The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project," every space in the home must have at least one retro, vintage, or antique piece of décor or furniture in the mix. This simple and effective rule adds character and dimension to any room. In addition, buying vintage is better for the environment and can also be lighter on the wallet.

Berkus breaks down a two-fold approach to decorating a beautiful home: Nail the basics and then get creative with a splash of vintage (or at least one vintage décor item per room or space). The basics can be contemporary — a high-quality, body-melting, long-lasting mattress, a high thread count set of bed linens, or a top-of-the-line modern fridge for the family. These essential basics are important because they are the foundation for your home's convenience, functionality, and aesthetics. Ensure to invest in those basics for modern comfort and décor, and once those are styled, you can move on to the fun part.

Alongside those basics, you want to add another dimension — sentiment, history, and age. Nate Berkus' second rule is to have at least one vintage piece amid your contemporary furnishings. Decorating with antiques is an impactful way to elevate your home's décor – in fact, it's crucial. According to Berkus, "You can't have everything new and have a home that feels layered with all new things off the shelf whether that's adding a vintage mirror or some old lighting and having it rewired — or even a pair of antique lamps." He goes on to explain, "There's something about a patination and a character in things that have aged that I think deepens the space and the sentiment of a room. I've never designed a room that was all new" (via Homes & Gardens).

Vintage décor always has some kind of story behind it. Thoughtfully styled vintage furniture can easily become the focal point of a room, like a highly-coveted statement Mario Bellini sofa. On the other hand, antique pieces can serve as accents, think 1940's banker lamp, a typewriter, or your grandma's fine china collection. No matter what, vintage is always unique and highly personal as oftentimes a piece is either handmade, one of a kind, or exceptionally rare. To boot, vintage furniture is immediately available for purchase, usually costs less, and is made with quality, long-lasting materials. Lighter on the wallet, more sustainable, and packing a design punch!

It's true; sourcing vintage décor is now easier than ever! Online marketplaces like 1stdibs, Etsy, and Kaiyo are the go-to sources for browsing thousands of options, from Eames chairs to '70s modular sectionals. Or, go the old-fashioned way — local vintage shops, thrift stores, and antique markets are sure to yield some promising and unexpected finds, even your very own personal items, whether they be heirlooms or trinkets collected from faraway locales. "I want people to have permission to know that a well-crafted space is one that feels assembled and layered over time," Berkus says (via Homes & Gardens).

Buying vintage furniture and décor is also better for the environment. According to a study by Carbon Clear, an independent consultancy that specializes in carbon management and carbon accounting, the carbon footprint of antique furniture is 16 times less than newly produced furniture (via Antiques World). Furthermore, 12.2 million tons of furniture waste was generated by Americans in 2017, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a staggering number! Buying vintage can curb the horrible impact of furniture waste.

In sum, Nate Berkus's rule of incorporating at least one vintage piece in every room imbues spaces with distinct character and depth and champions eco-friendliness and thriftiness. This savvy approach is an exciting journey of discovery where every find has a unique story to tell while elevating our homes through the powerful nostalgia of antique décor, something Berkus would appreciate.