Nate Berkus' hosting rules ensure our guestrooms are memorable for all the right reasons
This is how the designer stays one step ahead of his guest's needs – and his tips have never felt quite so timely
For those of us hosting over the holidays, we'll likely be expecting guests in a mere matter of hours (since Christmas is less than a week away, after all). Thankfully, however, Nate Berkus has shared tips (just in time) to ensure our guests will remember their trip for a long time to come.
The designer has already assisted us with many burning questions over the holidays – from failsafe gift guides to low-maintenance decorations, but now, he's discussed the art of hosting.
Hosting is often (rightfully) associated with dinner parties and soirees, but Nate has focused his tips on the time when the eating, drinking, and dancing concludes – and our guest bedroom comes into play.
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Since Nate’s first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002, he has become one of the world’s most recognizable interior designers. He has authored two New York Times bestselling books and stars alongside his husband, Jeremiah Brent, in HGTV's Nate & Jeremiah Home Project.
'[Here are] a few tips for making your guests feel welcome during the holidays – even though I know that everyone is super stressed and super busy,' Nate says. First, he recommends leaving a thoughtful (and practical) note by their bed.
'Write a personal note on your stationary saying 'welcome' and leave it in the guest bedroom, and, on it, write the wifi password and any other information they might need.'
Secondly, he recommends leaving a carafe with water on the side of our guest's bed, along with a cord, so they can plug in their phone without having to search for what they need.
We've been coveting this carafe all holiday season. It's elegant and contemporary and made from 30% recycled soda-lime glass. It also looks particularly beautiful with the matching glasses.
Nate Berkus is known for designing some of the best luxury bedding (and bedroom accessories) on the market, so of course, his hosting advice has this in mind.
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'Have an extra blanket in their closet, in their room, so they see it, and they know if they want to layer the bed if they get cold at night. This cotton weave blanket is perfect for guests.'
Nate Home Lightweight Textured Weave Cotton Throw Blanket | Was $52.99, now $42.39
This 50" by 60" natural blanket is made of 100% cotton in a gorgeous taupe color for a perfect combination of style and function. It's ideal for use in all seasons (not only the holidays), and the textural design means it elevates any bed or couch.
Lastly, Nate says we should use the holidays to reorganize our closet storage and ensure our guests have space to hang their outfits for the inevitable parties ahead.
'Make sure the guestroom closet is cleaned out with all matching, easy hangers,' he says.
'It's just about trying to anticipate what someone might bother asking you for: What's the wifi code? Do you have any extra hangers? I was a little cold last night – do you have an extra blanket? We try, in our house at least, to circumvent all of that by making sure we are anticipating what our guests might need.'
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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