Instant New York Times Bestseller
A practical tour-de-force that shows anyone how to make a home both timeless and personal—from one of the world’s most influential designers.
In this beautifully crafted yet accessible book, Nate Berkus shares how to layer a home with character and history to make a space that is uniquely yours—on any budget. Whether redecorating a nook, a room, or starting from the ground up, you will learn how Nate decodes the Four Tenets of Good Design. Foundational, they apply to any home and all budgets and apply when choosing paint colors, matching hardware, assessing flooring, or deciding about furniture—and every other decision big and small that goes into putting a home together. The tenets are not a recipe to follow as much as they are ideas to get you started:
Make it Personal—Nate explains how to draw inspiration from the places you’ve been, what you love, and who you aspire to be at home.
Embrace History—Nate shows you how to think about objects and details that have stood the test of time. Every room Nate designs nods to history, and you don’t need a lot of money to embrace it.
Build Character—You can think big or small: architectural details, classic materials, and timeless finishes make a home stand out.
Develop a Vision—Nate guides you to harness inspiration for a look that embodies who you want to be at home and how you want to live.
For Nate Berkus, enduring design is honest, emotional, and tailored to the people who live in it. That means creating rooms that can grow and evolve with you. Foundations is inspiration and an open invitation for anyone with any kind of space to design a place that is unequivocally yours.
From the Publisher
Publisher : S&S/Simon Element
Publication date : November 18, 2025
Language : English
Print length : 400 pages
ISBN-10 : 1668026139
ISBN-13 : 978-1668026137
Item Weight : 1.86 pounds
Dimensions : 8.38 x 1.2 x 10.88 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #4,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3 in Home Design & Construction (Books) #7 in Interior Design #9 in Home Decorating (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (103) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Alec –
Actually Helped Me Stop Second-Guessing Every Design Choice
I’ve been slowly decorating my first house for about a year now. And honestly? I was stuck. I’d buy something, bring it home, stare at it for a week, then return it because I wasn’t sure if it “went” with everything else.Picked up this book after seeing Nate Berkus talk about it, and it clicked something for me. He breaks down design into four main ideas that are easy to remember. The biggest thing I took away was that your home should tell YOUR story – not look like a Pinterest board or a catalog. That sounds obvious, but I needed someone to actually say it.The photos are beautiful, but what I liked more was that he explains WHY things work. Like why mixing old and new pieces makes a room feel more interesting. Or how to pick finishes that won’t look dated in five years.It’s not a step-by-step “put this couch here” kind of book. It’s more about training your eye and trusting yourself. I’ve already made a few decisions I was putting off because now I have a better sense of what I’m going for.One heads up – a few people mentioned their copies arrived with banged up corners. Mine was fine, but maybe check it when it shows up if you’re giving it as a gift.If you feel lost when it comes to decorating and don’t know where to start, this gives you a solid foundation.
Deborah Taylor –
Best outline for design
Very well written, it’s a great frame to follow.
bookobsessed77 –
Gorgeous and Educational!
Fabulous! This book is educational and handsome to boot. The photography is gorgeous and it’s packed with information, but easy to read. You can digest it in chunks.I have admired Nate’s designs for decades, but as someone who could never afford to hire his firm, I’m so thankful that he’s passing along his expertise to a lay person like myself. I just love this book!
Beazley –
Perfect in so many ways!
This is not just a picture book. The wealth of knowledge, information and suggestions that Nate writes in this book is priceless. His design ability to mix accent pieces, furniture and styles is outstanding.And, the photos are gorgeous!
Marcel R. –
Fabrication flaw steals a star
The writing was engaging and the pictures were lovely. I’m a fan of the designer and his work – so much so that I’d preordered the book months before its release days.That said, the information was pretty basic, and the fabrication of the book is so poor that before I’d finished perusing it to the end – always sitting comfortably in my home – the corners of the book’s cover had frayed.
Marsha –
This book is very well done It’s very classy.
I have watched & followed Nate Berkus since he was introduced by Oprah. I have always loved his aesthetic. He is interesting and describes design in this beautiful book. He divides the book into categories. The photography is amazing. I have it on my cream colored leather coffee table with a black & tan oriental horse resting on it!! The book is educational just amazing!!
K/F –
Great content. Poor arrival condition.
Love Nate. Love the book. However….Bought book as new for a gift but it arrived looking used. Book was worn on the corners and spine. Possibly happened during transport since book was loose in the delivery box without any type of packaging for protection during shipping.
C White –
Far more stars needed to review thus book
Thoughtfully written with both a first time homeowner to an experienced designer in mind. Generously filled with photos that will stand the test of time. 5 Stars do not adequately measure this Nate Berkus book!Anothet reason why Architectural Digest name author on its 2025 best of the best list!
Baiba –
I absolutely love the book! So well written. For someone who will renovate all house in the future, it gives a lot of insight and depth into how to make a house your home. Thank you, Nate Berkus!
Cliente Amazon –
Con muchos golpes y tapa desconchada
gianmarco cattaneo –
Il libro è molto bello, ma arrivato in pessime condizioni e con alcuni difetti di stampa. Sembra quasi un libro usato. Peccato.
E –
Great book. Arrived damaged bad packaging.