Designing with Soul, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent on What Really Makes a Home

By the time you have seen a single room styled by Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, you understand why their names carry weight. But their real secret isn’t their taste, it’s their emotional intelligence. For this design power couple, making a house beautiful is the easy part. The hard part, and the part they have mastered, is making it meaningful.

Since first captivating America on The Oprah Winfrey Show more than two decades ago, Nate Berkus has become one of the most trusted names in interiors. Jeremiah Brent, with a background in fashion and a gift for quiet, elegant detail, has added his own texture to the partnership, both professionally and personally. Together, they have built a brand that transcends trends. 

Their message? Your home should reflect your life, not your Pinterest board.

Why Their Show Works

The couple’s hit HGTV series, The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project, hit 13.4 million viewers in its debut season. Its success comes down to something deeper than open concept kitchens or perfect paint swatches.

“It’s a design show about love,” Brent explains. “Nate and I both show love through design, and every time we walk into someone’s home and they open up not only their house to us but their hearts to us,”

Nate Berkus agrees. “We didn’t want to make a show about how fast or how cheap you could do something,” he says. “We wanted to show how you can carefully and thoughtfully assemble a home that reflects you.”

That shift in focus from style to story is what sets them apart. Viewers don’t just get before-and-after reveals. They get emotion. They get real-life compromise. And they get a gentle push to do the same in their own spaces.

Designing from the Inside Out

For Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, design isn’t about adding more. It’s about editing with care.

“We believe in two things,” Jeremiah says, “If it’s not absolutely beautiful or absolutely functional, you don’t need it.”

That philosophy requires honesty. It means deciding what still serves you, and what doesn’t. Whether it’s an inherited armchair or a stack of unread books, they push clients (and viewers) to ask the hard questions. Is this item part of your future? Or just a leftover from your past?

Nate Berkus, ever the collector, adds a layer of sentiment. “When you can’t look around your home and land on something that evokes a memory, or reminds you of who you are, then you have too many things.”

Their method strikes a balance between beauty and belonging. It’s not just about a well-styled shelf, it’s about why that object is there in the first place.

Building a Family-Friendly Nest

As parents of two, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent know the challenges of creating a space that works for everyone. But they refuse to compromise on integrity.

“Our kids participate in maintaining the home,” Brent explains. “They respect the space because they’re part of it.”

Their children’s rooms are just as considered as the rest of the house. Freedom and function co-exist. A vintage dresser doubles as a changing table. A synthetic rug is chosen for its durability, but still delivers on design.

And yes, there are design disagreements. But they have a rule: if one of them absolutely hates something, it’s a no-go. No arguments. Just respect.

“It’s not about holding on to who you were,” Brent says. “It’s about figuring out who you are now, together.”

The Power of Reinvention

The pair knows a thing or two about starting over. They’ve lived in everything from studio apartments to sprawling Fifth Avenue spaces. And each move, they say, is a chance to rethink and refine.

“People feel obligated to recreate the same look in a new space,” Nate Berkus says. “But moving is an opportunity. Try things differently.”

It’s advice that resonates in a world where trends change faster than we can keep up. Their approach is refreshingly timeless: edit often, collect slowly, and let your home evolve with you.

Meaning Over Money

Perhaps the most radical thing about Nate Berkus and Jeremiah’s work is that it isn’t about wealth. Yes, their clients often have the means for high-end materials. But their message applies to anyone with four walls and a willingness to reflect.

“You can live beautifully without spending a ton,” Brent says. “Layer neutrals. Add texture. Invest in the classics.”

At its core, their philosophy is about presence. About choosing objects that say something about you. And about letting go of the rest.

Because in the world according to Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, beauty isn’t bought. It’s built.

And a home, at its best, tells the story of who you are, without saying anything.