The Charming Design Trend Nate Berkus Won't Use In His Home (& What He Does Instead)

Nate Berkus is one of the hottest designers in the interiors world for a reason. The co-host of HGTV's "Nate and Jeremiah Home Project" is a seasoned expert at creating contemporary and transitional homes that represent those who live there. Given his penchant for spaces that reflect the homeowners' persona and tell their story through design, his take on one popular home design trend may seem surprising. Berkus shared his thoughts on gallery walls in an Instagram reel. The design guru explains, "I find them to be really charming." However, he then added his caveat, saying, "But, for me personally — my walls are reserved for art or painting or sculpture, or, you know, sort of things that might be a bit more graphic and a bit less personal."

The HGTV star shared that there is certainly something special about being able to walk by a gallery wall and be reminded of loved ones and fond memories. But, his personal design preference is placing special photographs in vintage picture frames and displaying them on tabletops, in his dressing room, or on his desk at work. Below, we look into Nate Berkus' intriguing home design choice to hang art on walls and use vintage photo frames to house personal photos on tabletops instead. 

This preference is purely personal for Nate Berkus. The HGTV designer's signature contemporary style is characterized by minimalism and hidden elements, so a gallery wall with its bold look doesn't quite fit the bill. Similarly, his inclination toward transitional homes favors minimal, non-fussy accessories. If you're a fan of these styles, a gallery wall might not be the best choice to complement your home's aesthetic, and a large framed photograph or piece of artwork may work better instead. 

If Berkus' advice has you wondering, are gallery walls still trendy or out of style?, the answer is, it depends on who you ask. Some designers think gallery walls are timeless, and they're not going anywhere, some see them evolving to display more non-traditional art forms, and some, like Berkus, aren't huge fans of the look personally. Etsy, for one, is predicting that gallery walls are slowly falling from favor and recommends large statement art and more unconventional, creative wall décor instead. This is in line with some of Nate Berkus' advice to affordably fill empty wall space by blowing up meaningful images, capturing special angles, cropping them in interesting and artistic ways, and displaying them on walls.

If you're digging Nate Berkus' advice and considering a tabletop photo gallery instead of a traditional gallery wall, you could follow the designer's lead and display your photographs in some timeless vintage frames. Berkus shared on Instagram that he has an enormous collection of vintage frames, saying, "Everyone who knows me knows that, like, give me an old silver frame, an old leather frame, an old alligator frame, an old parchment frame, wood — I love collecting vintage picture frames." He adds that the collectible is a great option to give to others as a housewarming gift. 

To embrace the tabletop collection look, you'll want to make sure your photos are the right size, so they don't overwhelm the space or make completing daily tasks awkward. For bedside tables, a few small Polaroid pictures, and for work desks, some 4-by-6-inch frames (these silver ones on Amazon cost $12.99) would work well. A hallway console table that isn't used for daily tasks is a great place to display more photos that are 8.5-by-11 inches or larger. We also recommend matching your photo frame style to your desired interior design aesthetic. For example, a set of matching metal frames for monochrome photographs can produce a polished look for minimalist or industrial styles, while mix-and-match frames or ones in eclectic colors (like this set from Amazon for 29.99) and materials can work well for shabby chic styles, or if you're incorporating Art Deco art into your home.