Nate Berkus gives furniture a second life with this timeless DIY – here's why he loves it

Reupholstering furniture is one of our favorite ways to give old, outdated pieces a second life. Rather than get rid of old furniture or pass on a vintage find that doesn't quite meet the mark, reupholstering allows creative freedom and personalization of furniture, ensuring it is unique and thoughtfully made.

As it turns out, Nate Berkus is pro-statement upholstery, having recently taken to Instagram to share his thoughts on the DIY practice and how it can make decorating with vintage pieces work with any style.

'One of the things I've always loved to do is hunt for vintage furniture online, and then find fabrics that I think are particularly beautiful and cover or recover these vintage pieces, and then either keep them or sell them,' the acclaimed designer states in the clip.

Nate curates reupholstered pieces on his own website, giving us some insight into the antiques we should be collecting right now.

'If you want to see what I've been up to, because I do this a lot go on nateberkus.com, and you can see all the pieces that I have reimagined, things that I found online, things that we don't have in our homes anymore, but it's usually an old frame,' Nate explains.

His pieces range from tables and chairs to sofas and ottomans. Some of our favorite examples include a Jean Michael Frank-style armchair and ottoman circa 1950, and a 3-piece sofa set upholstered in ''70s-inspired zebra fabric (a statement, to say the least).

'If I find something really special, like a French chair with a thick oak arm, I'll do it in a men's suiting fabric,' Nate explains. 'I love using leathers, I love using suedes, I love using sort of basic, beautifully constructed fabrics that work in any interior, and it's just really fun for me.'

Reupholstering also allows you to mix and match different styles via the introduction of new materials. For example, placing a striped or floral fabric on top of a stool with antique wood legs can make it look more contemporary depending on the pattern. Furthermore, when you place these pieces in a modern-leaning room, they add a unique point of visual interest, acting as subtle statement pieces with their eclectic details.

As a bonus, reupholstering is a sustainable practice; rather than getting rid of old furniture, the DIY process allows us to increase our furniture's longevity, all while being gentler on the environment. And if you are a DIY novice, there are plenty of skilled reupholsterers who will be able to do an amazing job for you.

While upholstering requires some craftiness and time to ensure that the result is tidy and polished, knowing that you are able to transition a piece into your own vision is highly rewarding and very much worth the DIY. The customization possibilities are endless, with materials entirely depending on personal preference.