Nate Berkus is one of the hottest designers in the interior design world for a reason. The co-host of “Nate and Jeremiah Home Project” on HGTV is a seasoned expert at designing contemporary and transitional homes that represent those who live in them. Given his penchant for spaces that reflect the homeowners’ personalities and tell their story through design, his take on a popular home design trend may seem surprising. Berkus shared his thoughts on gallery walls in an Instagram video. The design guru explains, “I find them really charming.” But then he added a caveat, saying, “But for me personally, my walls are reserved for art or paintings or sculptures, or, you know, things that are maybe a little more graphic and less personal.”

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The HGTV star said there’s certainly something special about walking past a gallery wall and remembering loved ones and fond memories. But his personal design preference is to put special photos in vintage picture frames and display them on tabletops, in his dressing room, or on his desk at work. Below, we’ll look at Nate Berkus’ fascinating home design decision to hang art on the wall and instead use vintage picture frames to display personal photos on tabletops.

This preference is purely personal for Nate Berkus. The HGTV designer’s signature contemporary style is characterized by minimalism and hidden elements, so a gallery wall, with its bold look, isn’t quite right for him. Likewise, for transitional homes, he prefers minimalist, no-fuss accessories. If you’re a fan of these styles, a gallery wall may not be the best choice to complement your home’s aesthetic, and instead, a large framed photo or piece of art might work better.

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If you’re wondering, for Berkus’ advice, whether gallery walls are still on trend or out of style, the answer is: It depends who you ask. Some designers think gallery walls are timeless and aren’t going away, others see them as part of an evolution toward more non-traditional art forms, and still others, like Berkus, aren’t personally big fans of the look. Etsy, for example, predicts that gallery walls are slowly going out of style and recommends large statement art and more unconventional, creative wall decor instead. This aligns with some of Nate Berkus’ advice on inexpensively filling empty wall space by enlarging meaningful images, capturing special angles, cropping them in interesting and artistic ways, and displaying them on the wall.

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If you approve of Nate Berkus’ advice and consider a tabletop photo gallery instead of a traditional gallery wall, you could follow the designer’s lead and display your photos in timeless vintage frames. Berkus shared on Instagram that he has a huge collection of vintage frames, saying, “Anyone who knows me knows I love to collect an old silver frame, an old leather frame, an old alligator frame, an old parchment frame, or wood frames.” He adds that the collectible is a great option to give to others as a housewarming gift.

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To achieve the look of a tabletop collection, make sure your photos are the right size so they don’t overwhelm the space or make daily tasks difficult to complete. For nightstands, a few small Polaroid pictures work well, and for work tables, a few 4-by-6-inch frames (these silver ones are $12.99 on Amazon). A console table in the hallway that isn’t used for daily tasks is a great place to display more photos that are 8.5-by-11-inches or larger. We also recommend matching the style of your picture frame to your desired interior decor. For example, a set of matching metal frames for monochrome photos can create a sleek look for minimalist or industrial styles, while mix-and-match frames or those in eclectic colors (like this set from Amazon for $29.99) and materials work well for shabby chic styles or if you’re incorporating Art Deco art into your home.

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