Antique and reclaimed wood pieces are undoubtedly gorgeous, but we often consider the care and maintenance that is required when purchasing a vintage piece. Nate Berkus recently argued, however, that some wood furnishings make worthwhile investments precisely because they are low maintenance.
In a clip recently shared to his Instagram page, the acclaimed designer shared that some of his personal favorite home furnishings are rustic wood pieces. A staple in design styles such as modern rustic and Japandi, decorating with antique wood furniture is not only trend-forward but highly durable.
'One thing I’ve always gravitated towards and I think actually stands the test of time [are] our rustic wood pieces of furniture in their original finish,' he states in the video. 'Nothing fancy.'
Nate shows off two specific pieces: a table and a dresser, both of which come in reclaimed wood finishes.
'This table Jer and I found on a trip to Peru, which was incredible that we were able to get it back here and it’s been in every single home of ours since then,' Nate explains in the video.
He then moves on to discuss the appeal of his vintage dresser, which he explains is (surprisingly) child-friendly and mixes wood tones with the tables.
'You’ll notice this is this darker finish but the cabinet is also super rustic and wood and unfinished,' he says. 'This we found when we were filming Rock the Block in Georgia. A couple of things to remember about this and why I think it’s interesting: One, when you use things that have a lot of character and patination and wear, you don’t have to baby them. Our kids can’t ruin this and our kids can’t hurt this. In fact, inside this: costumes. They have full access to use our antiques.'
Because antique wood pieces are often handcrafted from fine materials, they are ideal pieces for decorating with vintage if you have a busy household – they can often withstand moving houses as well as some wear and tear, making them worthwhile investments in the home. Nate has curated some of his favorite antiques at 1stDibs here, while we have rounded up some more beautiful wooden picks below.
Shop the rustic wood furniture edit
This gorgeous, walnut side table was made in the 1960s by Carl Forslund Quaint American, a Michigan-based designer who created with craftsmanship in mind.
This three-drawer dresser is petite yet sturdy, made of walnut and carved meticulously in the 1900s.
The seashell motifs on this handsome table are a great addition to anyone aiming for a coastal-themed dining space.
While antiques can generally require some care, we will definitely be keeping an eye out for wood pieces knowing that they have got the Nate stamp of approval for their longevity and timeless quality (not to mention it's a great way to try wood drenching).
