Style Your Home Like Nate Berkus With These Creative IKEA Hacks

A sprinkle of warm neutrals, sculpted furniture, and antique accents surrounds us with the look of one of our favorite designers — Nate Berkus. With over two decades of telling stories through interior styling, Berkus has perfected the blueprint of the vintage and mid-century modern mashup. His work shows appreciation for raw materials like stone, metal, concrete, leather, and wood. There's a little something for everyone to enjoy in Berkus' aesthetic, whether you prefer soft fur fabrics or tough steel.

To capitalize on Berkus' budget-friendly tips for redecorating your home, we have gathered some of the best IKEA hacks to make your space look like it was decorated by the California designer. Upcycling furniture and decor from IKEA, an inexpensive Swedish retailer that's known for selling basic pieces, is a cost-effective way to get an antique-inspired look. Plus, it will give your realm a personalized spark. As Berkus told Forbes, "Your home should tell the story of who you are, what you love most, and who you aspire to be." So put on your DIY hat and channel your inner Berkus.

Apothecary storage was all the rage in the 18th and 19th centuries, meaning that these pieces have an antique look that Nate Berkus would approve of. The MOPPE mini storage chest from IKEA can become the classic piece with the help of a wood stain, sandpaper, varnish, and Label Holder Pull Handles. First, sand down the drawers and the outside of the unit, stain it, and cover it with the varnish once dry. Screw the cup handles onto the backside of each drawer (the side without the notch). Finally, insert the drawers and settle the mini storage unit onto a desk or counter to hold small items.

An antique work lamp combines the utilitarian aesthetic with a vintage look, something Nate Berkus loves doing. IKEA's TERTIAL desk lamp is the base for this hack. You'll turn this modern lighting into an aged masterpiece with gold metallic spray paint, black flat spray paint, and sandpaper. First, give the lamp a coat of gold paint, and after it dries, top it with the black. Then, use sandpaper to gently scrub the edges to create a distressed look. Areas of black fade into the shiny gold, giving you a lamp with lots of character. Style it on a nightstand, end table, or next to your apothecary chest.

You're one DIY away from a chic statement mirror you'll love forever. IKEA's LÄRBRO mirror plus a paper mache frame equals a Nate Berkus-styled looking glass. To make the frame, cut pieces of cardboard and tape them around the edges of the mirror, then mold wrapping paper into tubes and encase it with masking tape to create a whimsical circle frame. Attach the frame with masking tape. Then, protect the front of the mirror with plastic wrap and attach paper towels to the frame with wallpaper paste. Once it dries, add liquid paper mache with your fingers and wait for it to set.

The iridescent RÄFFELBJÖRK vase is beautiful as-is, but we're giving it a coat of warm-colored paint for a natural stone look. All you need is baking soda, paint, and a paintbrush. Any of Nate Berkus' favorite neutral paint colors are perfect for this upcycle, whether you prefer a white or gray shade. After pouring the paint into a tray, add baking soda. The powder will give it texture and dimension to create a concrete finish. Give the vase a coat or two and let it dry. You're left with a neutral piece that is great on its own or filled with flowers, feathers, and branches.

Give IKEA's plain RAST dresser new life with trim, paint, burlap, and gold Cabinet Ring Pulls. The first step in this makeover is to paint the furniture. Your preferred shade of brown or earthy neutral will fit the vintage mid-century aesthetic that Nate Berkus adores. Then, paint the frame pieces for each drawer. You'll need six 22⅝-inch long pieces and six 5⅛-inch long pieces cut at 45-degree angles. While the frame pieces dry, cut your burlap fabric and attach it to cover each of the drawer faces. Finally, attach the framing and the gold handles for a high-end looking piece from a $60 dresser.

The small KLEJS rug is better as a throw pillow, as its woven cotton and jute blend is the ideal mix of texture and pattern to spice up your sofa, bed, or bench. You only need the rug, a hot glue gun, and stuffing for this project. Lay the mat flat and fold the left side ⅔ of the way in. Working with that same end, fold it back on top of itself, leaving an inch from the hem. Then, fold the right side to meet the flap you created on the left so it looks like a pouch. Finally, add the stuffing before gluing the seams shut.

A retro sideboard is stellar for your Nate Berkus-inspired living room or dining area. IKEA's BESTÅ storage unit is the perfect base for such a DIY. You'll also need IKEA's VINLIDEN table legs for wood accents, which you could stain any color you desire — or you can simply stain the legs the unit comes with. After assembling the cabinet and adding the feet, drill a hole for the pulls in the center of each door. We're bringing back the Cabinet Ring Pulls for this project, but any gold hardware will do. Once the pulls are attached, the project is complete.

Another Nate Berkus-esque decor piece is a cute tabletop stand. The KYRRE stool seat will be the foundation for our pedestal, and we're replacing the legs with large round wooden beads, which you could purchase from Michaels. The first step is to disassemble the stool, then hot glue a wood skewer in the three leg holes on the bottom corners of the seat. Next, thread two beads onto each skewer, secure them with glue, and cut the skewers to size. Use the stand to decorate any countertop and display plants, candles, or other trinkets.

An antique mirror is the pinnacle of vintage interior design. To get the look, you'll need IKEA's SVANSELE mirror, paint stripper, black or gold spray paint, and bleach. First, remove the frame and apply the paint stripper with a brush to the back, then scrape the paint off with a plastic scraper and clean the mirror. Once you're left with just the reflective glass, lightly spray the back with a mixture of one part bleach and three parts water for an aged effect. Stick to the edges and corners for the most natural look. After it's distressed, dab dry the surface and cover the back with spray paint.