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Celebrity designer Nate Berkus shares his holiday-hosting must-haves
The stylish pro tells us about his go-to table decor — plus the $6 cleaning product he keeps handy whenever he has guests!
Not many interior designers are a household name — and then there's Nate Berkus. Ever since he first appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, the New York City-based pro has become a celeb in his own right for his timeless, glamorous spaces. His third book is coming out next year, he's hosted his own talk show and he has starred in design-focused series on HGTV, NBC and TLC. Talk about star power!
Nate and his husband, Jeremiah Brent, also a designer, love to have people over, and the holidays are no exception. It's one of the reasons Nate teamed up with Woodbridge Wines, which recently donated more than two million meals to those in need through Feeding America, a national network of food banks and pantries. "One of the things that is really important to us as a family is making sure our kids have an understanding of what's going on in the world. And the numbers about food insecurity in this country are absolutely staggering," says Nate. "So we've been talking about how we as a family can help."
In addition to volunteering at their local food bank, the family is getting ready for hosting duties, and it should come as no surprise that Nate has big plans for his home's holiday decor. In the dining room, he loves to break out his beloved antique serveware and decorate the table with natural elements like pumpkins and greenery. "I don't cook — I'm terrible in the kitchen!" says Nate. "I'm on setting-the-table duty."
How else does the designer deck out his holiday table? Read on for Nate's tips and favorite finds. And if you're curious how other celebs stock their homes, check out fun picks from fellow HGTV star Egypt Sherrod and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.
No-fail centerpiece
"I'm really into those gourds and pumpkins that are off-white," says Nate. He'll place them on the table and also spread out some greenery. As a final touch, he'll fill footed wood bowls with blackberries. "We keep a very tight palette of green, brown and white," he says.
Crate & Barrel
Real gourds are great, but they don't last long, so Nate uses these realistic-looking faux white pumpkins. They're sized just right to go in a bowl, or you could place one at each table setting along with your guest's name as a place card.
You can find real greenery on Nate's table, but if you're looking for something you can reuse year after year, faux might be the way to go. This garland gets nearly 800 five-star reviews for its lushness.
Crate & Barrel
Nate will use a bowl like this for clusters of blackberries. The footed design adds some height without being over-the-top — or blocking the view across the table!
Another wood footed bowl Nate loves, this option has a rich espresso finish and a carved detail on the inside that makes it look one-of-a-kind. You could always spring for the matching napkin rings to bring more of that rustic feel to your table.
Under-$10 hosting essential
"I'm a die-hard triple Virgo, so I am all about being organized and clean," says Nate. His go-to cleaning product? A Magic Eraser! "It is truly my entertaining essential. I literally keep one in my pocket when people come over."
Scuffs, smudges and spills are no match for these handy cleaning pads, which have a whopping 21,200 five-star reviews on Amazon. "Magic Erasers are truly a game-changer! These little sponges have become my go-to cleaning tool for tackling all kinds of stubborn stains and messes around the house. They work like magic on everything from scuff marks on walls and floors to grime on kitchen appliances," wrote one happy customer.
Under-$20 hosting essential
One of the couple's go-to entertaining moves is to serve a signature cocktail. "Usually it's a spicy margarita, but there's also a sangria cocktail that Woodbridge created with its pinot noir," Nate says. "Good wine — that's something everyone loves."
Total Wine & More
Serving a crowd? This barrel-aged wine comes in a 1.5-liter bottles, so you'll get plenty of glasses out of it. It's also great for making a big batch of the sangria Nate mentioned.
Most prized serving piece
Nate's first job was at an auction house in Chicago, and "they sold these things called box lots, just a bunch of stuff not described in the catalog," he says. He bought one of them and it included a big, oval-shaped silver-plated tray from Christofle, a legendary French brand famous for its silverware. "It was definitely a steal," says Nate. "And it's what we use to serve the amazing ham that Jeremiah makes every year."
Though it's made from stainless steel, this lovely tray has a weathered finish that makes it look vintage. It also has a similar shape to Nate's beloved tray — though his is an antique, he found a close match from Christofle — at a fraction of the price.
If you're looking for a bargain, basic stainless steel is a smart option. This platter is dishwasher safe — and it costs less than $25!
Favorite dining room holiday decor
Nate loves to give his space a literal glow-up, and not just during hosting season: "We're the family that lights candles all year round," he says. Around the holidays, he'll dig through his cabinets for different types of serving bowls, then he'll fill them with tree ornaments all in one color, like silver or gold. "I'll intersperse the candles with them — it takes like four minutes and it's really beautiful."
Zara Home
Nate likes the hand-hewn look of these candlesticks, which he'll fill with simple white tapers. They come in two heights (about 8 inches and about 12 inches) — alternate them to add interest to your table.
This set of three candleholders has a slightly more modern vibe, plus it's a steal at $15. I like the matte black option which looks most similar to Nate's pick, but it also comes in gold, pink gold and silver if you want to add a bit of glitz to your table. The 5,000-plus five-star reviewers praise their sturdiness and timeless design.
Pottery Barn
Nate will mix and match bowls of different materials as decor, and this brass set is one of his top picks. The antiqued finish adds so much character!
Though he likes to use ornaments all in one color, Nate still appreciates a little variation. This set includes mirrored, glittery and pearlized orbs.
Best host gift he's received
"Someone once gave me monogrammed guest towels and now I give them to everyone," Nate says. "I think they're such a great gift because they're so personal — people don't really want to buy that for themselves, but they do like to own them. You feel so fancy."
"I like a really classic Southern monogram, a really scroll-y B," says Nate. "I'm lucky my husband and I have the same last initial!"
You can choose from 36 font styles for these linen towels, which are embroidered by a shop based in Mississippi.