Nate Berkus' layering method has upgraded our sleep space – and it begins with this versatile bedding

If we're to take bedroom styling notes from anybody, it's Nate Berkus. The celebrated designer recently collaborated with mDesign to create luxury bedding that's shoppable in Bloomingdales, no less, and with the launch came an abundance of bedding advice – including his failsafe layering method. 

'I love using our guest bedroom as a sort of test lab for creating different styled bed combinations with my Nate Home collection.' Nate shares. The results from this lab? Always start with pure cotton sheets and layer from there. 'I always start with a set of the 100% cotton sheets,' he says. 

In the footage, Nate arranges the bed with subtle-hued pillows – staying true to his 'pillow philosophy': heavy on texture, less heavy on color. However, layering involves more than pillows, which is where the versatile waffle blanket comes into play. 

'The waffle blanket is probably the most universal thing in the entire Nate Home collection,' Nate says. 

'You can layer it under your duvet or comforter; it is tailored and has a waffle pattern; if your kids like frozen waffles in the morning like mine do, that’s the shape; that’s why it’s called a waffle blanket.' If anything is going to get us out of bed in the morning, it is waffles, so Nate's comparison feels especially fitting in this instance. However, it's texture isn't the only reason we love this versatile piece. 

'It’s generous; I love how it’s finished on the sides, so you can see exactly how we have this tapered edge so it keeps its shape,' Nate explains. 'It’s super soft, it’s also really lightweight, so it’s a great layering piece. You get a lot of credit for adding this texture to your white sheets or to your bedding.'

Nate Berkus

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.

Nate's bedroom collection comprises various neutral, easy-to-style pieces that are easy to layer, whether we begin with pillows or the waffle blanket. There's an option for every style of bedroom – and each piece is designed with an emphasis on comfort. 

'When your dining chair is comfortable, it's nicer to stay for a longer dinner. When your bed is comfortable, it's wonderful to lay and read before you fall asleep,' Nate shared with H&G after launching his bedding collection. 

'When a home really does represent the people that live there, there's a cleaner pathway to tranquility, effectiveness, and an ability to thrive. It checks an important box when our homes rise up to greet us.'

While we, too, wish we could turn our guest bedrooms into a layering test lab, we're always more than happy to wait for more findings from Nate himself. But for now, we're starting with sheets, and are sure to succeed from there.