Estimated read time2 min read

Designer Nate Berkus says effortless entertaining comes down to mixing high and low pieces while creating a table that feels personal and tells a story.

He builds his hosting collection over time with vintage and affordable finds, avoiding trends and never buying items just for one event.

By keeping versatile, meaningful pieces on hand, Berkus says he can pull together a stylish gathering at a moment’s notice.

Entertaining can be stressful—everything from the menu to the tablescape has to feel effortless, when it is often anything but. This week, House Beautiful sat down with interior designer Nate Berkus to get his tips on how to elevate your home hosting without losing your mind.

“I feel like the table is a place where you can mix really humble things with really refined things very easily,” says Berkus. “I'm definitely a big mixer when it comes to how I set the table. If Jeremiah's cooking, and he's an amazing cook, then I'll probably make it a little bit fancier. But if it's really friends coming over and we're ordering in, there's no prescription around it. For me, I just want everything to be pretty and tell a story.”

Berkus’s table decor is a curated collection of high-end pieces mixed with finds from antique markets, local artists, and estate sales. His usual table setup includes woven grass placemats from Thailand and a set of hand-painted plates from a Californian artist. He pairs those with his “good” silver flatware and vintage glasses that he snagged at an estate sale for “no money.”

“I pull things from all around the house. I'm never the guy who's looking for a vase or a nice serving spoon. When I see those at antique malls or flea markets or on Etsy or at auctions, I buy them, usually for not very much money. We could entertain within 15 minutes of deciding to do so,” Berkus says.

Adding a personal touch to your decor creates a sense of home for your guests and feels less trend-focused—something Berkus can’t stand.

“I hate trends so much, I can't even tell you. I think they're designed to make us buy stuff we don't need and feel bad about what we missed out on,” Berkus says. “I think our time is much better served by taking the time to figure out what you truly love and wish to welcome into your home.”

Since he’s forever treasure-hunting, Berkus never picks up a dedicated piece just for a particular event—and he encourages others to make do with what’s on hand instead of having a last-minute shopping scramble.

“I don't love getting new things for every dinner. I think that's weird,” Berkus says. “Like, ‘oh, I bought new glasses because you're coming over.’ Use your beautiful glasses. Buy them once.”

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.