Nate Berkus

Nate Berkus – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life and design philosophy of Nate Berkus — interior designer, author, and TV personality. Read his biography, career journey, lessons, and famous quotes about style, meaning, and home.

Introduction

Nate Berkus is a name synonymous with warmth, elegance, and personality in modern design. Born on September 17, 1971, in California, he has built a distinctive career as an interior designer, author, and television personality. Over decades he’s turned the art of making a house into a home into a public narrative—inviting people to create spaces that tell their own stories. Today, his design aesthetics, media presence, and philosophy continue to influence how people think about comfort, beauty, and meaning in the spaces they inhabit.

Early Life and Family

Nathan Jay Berkus was born on September 17, 1971, in Orange County, California.

From an early age, Berkus was drawn to interiors and decoration. He has said he rearranged rooms and lived among fabrics and materials—interacting with his mother’s design work. That early exposure gave him not only skills but a sense that design is part of identity.

Youth and Education

Nate attended Cushing Academy, a boarding school in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, during his formative years.

He then enrolled at Lake Forest College in Illinois, where in 1994 he graduated with B.A. degrees in French and Sociology. His academic background in sociology and culture would later inform his approach: seeing a home not just as decoration but as lived social space.

Soon after college, in 1995, he founded his design firm Nate Berkus Associates in Chicago, launching his independent career.

Career and Achievements

Breaking Through: Oprah and Media Visibility

While his firm initially did private projects, Nate’s big break came via television. He regularly appeared as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, offering design advice to viewers, and participating in home makeovers. The visibility from Oprah’s platform introduced his philosophy of design—with heart and narrative—to mass audiences.

In 2010 he launched The Nate Berkus Show, a syndicated daily talk show blending makeovers, culture, and personal stories.

In 2017, Nate partnered with his husband, Jeremiah Brent, to cohost Nate & Jeremiah by Design on TLC. The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project.

Books, Product Lines & Design Philosophy

Nate is also a published author. In 2005 he released Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live into a Place You’ll Love, a hands-on design guide. The Things That Matter, which became a New York Times bestseller.

He has launched multiple home product lines: bedding, lighting, rugs, window treatments, and more. Some notable collaborations include a 150-piece “Target Home” collection in 2012, and fabric collections with Calico Corners.

Design critics often point out one of his hallmarks: making high-end design approachable. He blends aspirational style with accessible touches and encourages people to own things that are meaningful, mixing periods, textures, and objects that tell personal stories.

As Fast Company observed, Berkus has sustained creativity over 25+ years by treating design as a process of experimentation and iteration—not just as final product.

Recognition, Influence & Milestones

In 2024, Nate celebrated 30 years of business for Nate Berkus Associates.
His work has been featured in major publications and design media.
He has also ventured into film producing (executive producing The Help) and broader media.

Historical Context & Personal Trials

The 2004 Tsunami Tragedy

One of the most defining and tragic events in Berkus’s life was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. While vacationing in Sri Lanka with his then-partner, photographer Fernando Bengoechea, the disaster struck. Nate survived, but his partner was never found. This tragedy deeply shaped his sense of empathy, resilience, and purpose.

He once shared Oprah’s comforting counsel:

“When the soul gets what it came to get, it goes.”

He later chose to honor his lost partner’s memory, including giving his son Oskar his middle name “Michael Bengoechea” as a tribute.

Family Life & Personal Identity

In April 2013, Nate became engaged to fellow designer Jeremiah Brent, and they married on May 4, 2014. Poppy Brent-Berkus (born March 23, 2015) and son Oskar Michael Brent-Berkus (born March 26, 2018).

Their Manhattan apartment has been featured in Architectural Digest, highlighting how their own living space embodies their design philosophy.

In the public sphere, Nate has also been a voice for authenticity and LGBTQ+ identity. He has stated, “The truth of the matter is being gay is the way I was born.”

Legacy and Influence

Nate Berkus’s legacy is multifaceted:

Democratizing Design: He helped shift design from an elite domain into a more inclusive, narrative-driven practice. His advice to blend personal objects, mix periods, and skip rigid “sets” resonates with many.
Media as Design Platform: Through TV, books, and merchandise, he turned design into a lifestyle discourse—one that emphasizes emotional context, memory, and meaning.
Empathy and Resilience: His life story—including loss, grief, and recovery—adds a human dimension to his public persona. How one lives in space became as important to him as how one decorates it.
Mentorship & Collaboration: With his partnership with Jeremiah Brent, he showcases how creative collaborations (in life and work) can yield powerful design synergies.
Inspiring New Generations: Many emerging designers cite him as inspiration, not only for aesthetic ideas but for the blend of storytelling, media savvy, and authenticity he represents.

Personality, Talent, and Approach

Berkus is often described by peers and journalists as thoughtful, generous, and grounded, with a strong sense of narrative. In his approach to design and life, several traits stand out:

Curiosity & Experimentation: He often treats rooms, materials, and objects as experiments rather than fixed statements.
Emotional Intelligence: His sociology background and life experiences help him read the human side of design—the habits, memories, and personalities behind spaces.
Attention to Detail: He is known to study materials, textures, finishes, scale, and lighting carefully.
Honesty & Vulnerability: His willingness to speak about loss, identity, and imperfection lends credibility and relatability to his public voice.
Balance of Classic & Contemporary: He often advises blending timeless elements with personal touches, resisting fads unless they resonate deeply.

Famous Quotes of Nate Berkus

Below are some of his best-known reflections, which capture the spirit of his design philosophy and life perspective:

“Your home should tell the story of who you are.”
“I don’t believe in trends. I believe in collecting things that you connect with.”
“In a modern loft, you can’t just fill a space with furniture. Each piece has to be perfect.”
“We don’t need spaces that don’t get used. We pay so much for square footage that to waste it is criminal.”
“The truth of the matter is being gay is the way I was born. I believe this to the core of my being.”
“When you buy things that are expensive… you need to keep it as plain as possible, as simple as possible.”
“Design, to me, is part psychology, part sociology, and part magic.”
“You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery.”

These quotations are more than pithy lines—they encapsulate how he sees the interplay between life, identity, and space.

Lessons from Nate Berkus

Your space is your story
Your home should reflect who you are—not be a replica of what others think is “stylish.”
Meaning over money
Investing in things you love will serve you better than chasing trends or splurging on showpieces.
Merge eras & aesthetics
Don’t be afraid to mix vintage with contemporary. Contrast often leads to harmony rather than conflict.
Embrace imperfection
Worn edges, scuffs, and things with history enrich your space—they signify life lived, not sterile perfection.
Use what you have
Don’t leave rooms unused. Think about the purpose and potential of every space you own.
Truth & vulnerability matter
Your personal journey, scars and all, can be a design asset: the emotional backbone of what you build.
Collaboration fuels growth
Whether with creative partners or life partners, synergy can open new design pathways.

Conclusion

Nate Berkus is more than a designer or media personality—he is a storyteller, a healer, and a guide. Through his life and work, he shows that design isn’t just about aesthetics, but about identity, memory, and how places support the lives lived within them. His commitment to authenticity, resilience, and emotional honesty gives his design legacy depth.
If you’re eager to explore more of his style or be inspired by his quotes and philosophy, keep exploring his books, shows, and the spaces he shapes.