--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a…" description: "\"I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same with TV. Being famous ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/nate-berkus-8324_being_i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decor_231187.jpg" --- # I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my… ![“I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same with TV. Being famous or having a show was never the motivation. I got a call and was swept up by the challenge of that first small space redesign.” quote by Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/nate-berkus-8324_being_i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decor_231187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/nate-berkus-8324_being_i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decor_231187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/nate-berkus-8324_being_i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-i-d-be-a-decor_231187.jpg) > “I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same with TV. Being famous or having a show was never the motivation. I got a call and was swept up by the challenge of that first small space redesign.” [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He discovered a deep passion for design that guided his career, unrelated to fame or external rewards. **In simple terms:** Passion for design drove his career path. Key Takeaway Follow intrinsic passion over external validation. Themes career design passion Mood inspirational reflective Type career creative When to use this quote - career choice - home renovation - TV show development - personal branding Key Concepts intrinsic motivation creative calling Questions to Reflect On - What drives you beyond recognition? - How can passion be balanced with practical needs? A Different Perspective Passion may not guarantee financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Being famous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-famous/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Decorators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decorators/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Small spaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-spaces/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [In the marketplace, design is your greatest differentiator once everything becomes comparable in terms of technology and quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mcgovern/in-the-marketplace-design-is-your-greatest-differentiator-once/) [Gerry McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mcgovern/) > [It's my job to know what's available from every retailer, catalog, website, antiques mall, and craftsperson. A good designer or decorator has to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/it-s-my-job-to-know-what-s-available-from-every-retailer-catalog/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [First and foremost, I'm a decorator and product designer. Everything I do, the television shows, the books, that comes from the design work. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/first-and-foremost-i-m-a-decorator-and-product-designer-everything-i/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [If I wasn't acting, I think I would like to do interior design. Yeah, because you know, with the Balinese background, and being there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-george/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-think-i-would-like-to-do-interior-design-yeah/) [Melissa George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-george/) > [People don't turn away from an attorney sitting in a wheelchair. If the guy has got the reputation for being the best attorney around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-mcraney/people-don-t-turn-away-from-an-attorney-sitting-in-a-wheelchair-if/) [Gerald McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-mcraney/) > [Even if it's not a style of architecture or period you like, a decorator has to have a feel for a house's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lancaster/even-if-it-s-not-a-style-of-architecture-or-period-you-like-a/) [Nancy Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lancaster/) > [A good decorator not only plans and schemes, but he also knows how the job is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hadley/a-good-decorator-not-only-plans-and-schemes-but-he-also-knows-how-the/) [Albert Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hadley/) > [The finest thing about a hobby is that you can't do any pretending about it. You either like it or you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-draper/the-finest-thing-about-a-hobby-is-that-you-can-t-do-any-pretending/) [Dorothy Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-draper/) > [So many young decorators are trying to reinvent the wheel, and the results are sometimes very dubious. They're striving to do things that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hadley/so-many-young-decorators-are-trying-to-reinvent-the-wheel-and-the/) [Albert Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hadley/) > [A decorator, no matter how talented, can't always get the desired results because sometimes there is resistance or maybe a lack of understanding on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hadley/a-decorator-no-matter-how-talented-can-t-always-get-the-desired/) [Albert Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hadley/) > [Inarticulate wretches have been behind most of the major advances in civilization. If Vincent Van Gogh had been able to get on with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-lynch/inarticulate-wretches-have-been-behind-most-of-the-major-advances-in/) [Declan Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-lynch/) > [We needed to have a great set decorator, a great D.P., a great costume designer, everybody. Without all these people, we would have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-paronnaud/we-needed-to-have-a-great-set-decorator-a-great-d-p-a-great-costume/) [Vincent Paronnaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-paronnaud/) > [There seems to be within all of us an innate yearning to be lifted momentarily out of our own lives into the realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-draper/there-seems-to-be-within-all-of-us-an-innate-yearning-to-be-lifted/) [Dorothy Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-draper/) > [There's a big difference between decorators and designers and the training is very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-gorder/there-s-a-big-difference-between-decorators-and-designers-and-the/) [Genevieve Gorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-gorder/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) ## More by Nate Berkus > [I really can't live without my In-N-Out burgers. Honestly, I can't. Even when I'm doing the whole no-carb thing occasionally, I make an exception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-really-can-t-live-without-my-in-n-out-burgers-honestly-i-can-t-even/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [As a designer, everything is always about aesthetics mixed in with functionality and having that visual appeal. But you learn fast as a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/as-a-designer-everything-is-always-about-aesthetics-mixed-in-with/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You don't need to spend a lot of money on stuff when you have amazing architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-don-t-need-to-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-stuff-when-you-have-amazing/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I knew that I was a gay boy fairly early; what was interesting to me was that my mother didn't know. She made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-knew-that-i-was-a-gay-boy-fairly-early-what-was-interesting-to-me/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Layering in different patterns will keep things from appearing too studied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/layering-in-different-patterns-will-keep-things-from-appearing-too/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I hate sets. I've always hated sets. I think that if you have a dining room set, break it up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-hate-sets-i-ve-always-hated-sets-i-think-that-if-you-have-a-dining/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Everywhere in my house are these little things that have meanings and make me think of great memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/everywhere-in-my-house-are-these-little-things-that-have-meanings-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Thread count is actually a lie. Just because a thread count is 1,500 on a set of sheets doesn't mean that they're well-made sheets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/thread-count-is-actually-a-lie-just-because-a-thread-count-is-1-500/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > ['Priced to sell' - just the phrase makes me smile. When a dealer says all the items in his booth are priced to sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/priced-to-sell-just-the-phrase-makes-me-smile-when-a-dealer-says-all/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [You can find a lot of reasonable buys at Wal-Mart. But one key to making it on a budget is by donating your time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-can-find-a-lot-of-reasonable-buys-at-wal-mart-but-one-key-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [In design-speak, 'a library' means a room lined with books, floor-to ceiling, but it all depends on the space you have. You may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/in-design-speak-a-library-means-a-room-lined-with-books-floor-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [A lot of guys go in immediately for status, as opposed to comfort and allowing their home to tell a story about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/a-lot-of-guys-go-in-immediately-for-status-as-opposed-to-comfort-and/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [Design, to me, is part psychology, part sociology, and part magic. A good decorator should know what's going on in someone's marriage and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/design-to-me-is-part-psychology-part-sociology-and-part-magic-a-good/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I think I was the only kid on the block who knew about furniture scale by the time I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-think-i-was-the-only-kid-on-the-block-who-knew-about-furniture/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) [Explore all 82 Nate Berkus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't grow up thinking I'd be a decorator. Design is my greatest passion, and it naturally just pulled me down the path. Same with TV. Being famous or having a show was never the motivation. 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