Nate Berkus says he has a 10-year rule for picking out home decor and furniture – here's why you should too

When designing your dream home, it's easy to fall down a trend-centric or style-specific rabbit hole, emulating a look that's 'in' without thinking much about staying power.

But your house won't evolve alongside you without a considerable amount of time and effort, so this approach can very quickly backfire. What's more, trending design styles don't often reflect your true aesthetic preferences in their entirety, meaning you'll likely be left with a high-end home you won't love in the long term.

While it might seem easily avoidable, interior designer Nate Berkus shares that 'the most common design mistake' he sees is people buying 'things that they don't really like, and don't feel like they have a connection to.' Then, 'a month later, six months later, sometimes even a year later,' people become sick of the items they've acquired. 'That's not good enough,' he adds.

Here's how he suggests approaching the shopping process instead – discovering your interior design style is half the battle.

'When you buy something for your home, you should really love it, and you should love it for the next 10 years,' Nate says in a recent Instagram video.

Just because you see a stunning light fixture while scrolling through the online shops doesn't mean it'll fit in your home for years to come. Instead of making an impulse purchase, Nate says it's best to really consider whether you feel a personal connection with the item. If you see it remaining timeless, and enduring through the years, plus feel excited about introducing it to your space, chances are it's the right choice for your home.

'Obviously, if something's under $40, and it's just a beautiful color, a little decorative box – I'm not talking about things like that,' says Nate, explaining that it's alright to experiment with small trendy or out-of-the-box purchases. That's much of the fun of interior design, after all. But when it comes to larger pieces and purchases, the decision process should be a bit more in-depth.

'A piece of furniture – a side chair, a sofa, a coffee table, an end table, a floor lamp – these are things that really should live with you forever and be part of not just what you sit on and what you set something down on, but how you define yourself and how you define your design style,' says Nate.

The designer says that looking ahead 10 years often clears up the question of whether or not a piece is worth the investment.

'I'm really looking for something that catches my eye. I hope that all of you know yourselves well enough to know that if you see something you really love, even if you don't have a spot for it right now, you can ask yourself the question, "Will I love this and appreciate it in 10 years?" Then buy it,' he continues.

Invest in items you love, and those you believe have staying power, for a personality-driven home that reflects you and your interests. After all, making your home feel like you is a lifelong process, and every detail counts.