Nate Berkus Reveals His Secret to an Eclectic and Storied Holiday Tablescape – it's All in the Detail

While a matching dinner set is always pleasing to the eye, the art of tablescaping lies in making bold moves. Every skilled designer knows how to pair clashing prints and experiment with texture – or at least, Nate Berkus does. In a recent video discussing his tried-and-tested Christmas table decor ideas, Nate proves that a truly special tablescape showcases an eclectic mix of pieces from different brands and eras.

'My go-to table favorites: vintage finds found on my travels and saved from memorable occasions,' writes Nate in the caption. 'Every piece has its story, and it's what I always reach for when hosting for the holidays.'

Traditional Christmas decorating ideas might involve a lot of red linens and gold trim, but Nate's holiday table looks a little different. What stood out to me was his collection of woven placemats, which instantly bring a sense of artisanal elegance to the table.

'These are woven grass; I think they were five bucks apiece at a shop here on 19th Street in New York,' he says of one set, which features a handsome burgundy stripe. It's the kind of piece that looks delicate, but is in fact brilliantly versatile: 'These are wipeable with a sponge,' he explains, 'and I use them for formal and informal occasions.'

If you can't make it down to 19th Street, you can get a similar look with these cherry-hued Musetta placemats from Lulu and Georgia, or these earthy Abaca stripe placemats from Hudson Grace.

While there's a textured, rustic look to a lot of Nate's pieces (he also gives an honorary mention to a set of straw napkin rings), some are strikingly simple. 'These are linen from Portugal, and they are embroidered on the side,' he adds, presenting an elegant set of pale pink placemats which instantly reminded me of the AERIN x Williams Sonoma scalloped placemats.

To elevate the look from pared-back to polished, Nate reveals his secret weapon: monogrammed dinnerware. 'When I use embroidered placemats, I like to use these dishes, which have my monogram on them,' he explains. 'I love the shape, I love the detail, and you can custom color the monogram and the rim.'

Monogramming isn't a prerequisite to the perfect table, of course – in fact, what Nate really highlights here is the intricate details and personal touches that can become transformative. 'We'll have these forever,' he says of his monogrammed plates.

If you can't get monogrammed napkins, these Holiday sentiment napkins from Pottery Barn are a fun alternative.

For a more whimsical look, Nate makes use of antique pieces like a Richard Ginori 'Fiesole' plate, alongside a farmhouse-inspired dish from California-based designer Rebekah Miles. To me, the beauty of his table settings is in the sheer variety of styles and prints – every component really does tell a story.

Take the vintage silverware, which is the perfect finishing touch. 'It's very heavy, it's beautifully crafted, and I think it looks beautiful whether I'm doing something more formal, with the embroidered placemats and finer china, or something a little heavier in texture,' he explains. His simple tips are a reminder that decorating with vintage doesn't need to be complicated or intimidating; it all comes down to selecting versatile, meaningful pieces that you'll reach for again and again.

Shop Eclectic Tableware Inspired by Nate Berkus

Nate Berkus isn't the only designer to embrace vintage pieces lately: Joanna Gaines' green and white vintage tableware look is another one I'll be recreating this holiday season. I love the classic floral prints.