Designer Nate Berkus has spent more than two decades shaping some of the most exclusive homes worldwide – but his tips translate to spaces of all sizes – including small bedrooms.
Lately, bedrooms have been on Nate's mind. He recently launched a premium line of bed sheets and pillows, the Nate Berkus Signature Collection with Bloomingdale's, which gave us the perfect opportunity to ask him exclusively about how he elevates small bedrooms.
'I love the idea of taking a smaller space and doing an enormous edit. Anything that isn’t beautiful or practical has to leave. This is the most important thing in a small bedroom,' Nate says. After this, he says that bedroom styling comes down to five elements: our bed, bedding, bedside tables, lighting, and repeated motifs.
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.
'In a small bedroom, you don't have the square footage to make a lot of decisions. There's no seating area for you to address, and there's typically not a working area or a desk. So, what you're limited to is your bed, your bedding, your bedside tables, and your lighting. You need to take your time with those four decisions.'
Firstly, Nate says that bedding should be the best you can afford (starting with picks from his Bloomingdale's line below is a failsafe place to invest). Meanwhile, when choosing a bed, we should look for something that isn't enormously scaled – but instead, opt for a smaller frame that won't overwhelm the room.
'I'd recommend going vintage with your night tables and bedroom lighting if you can,' Nate says.
'You can find a pair of beautiful bedside lamps or a custom shade in a design you really love from Etsy. How wonderful to have something that no one else has. You genuinely have four decisions to make about the pieces in that room (paint colors and window treatments aside), so go for luxury.'
Rule number five? Nate explains that we can elevate a small space further by repeating a textile around various parts of our room.
'I love repeating. Repeat a headboard – that is the same wallcovering – that is the same as the drapery in your window. It's a little bit of the granny in me. It may not be chintz or floral, in my case, but pinstripe or a flannel – something that gives texture. It's a classic and historical English decorating trick, and when paired with modern lighting, it's a real win.'
As promised, we've listed our top picks from Nate's collection (the perfect starting point) below.
This sham is as comfortable as it is stylish. The trendy bouclé texture adds an instant chic to your bedroom – and it's finished with a knife-edge technique for a premium, tailored look.
This blanket is a part of the Waffle Bedding Collection, featuring a textured weave for a lived-in feel. Woven with a cotton/linen blend, this textural blanket gets even softer and loftier with time.
The textured yarn construction of this throw is said to add an immediate style boost to your bedroom (but it also looks great on a living room sofa).
-
The exterior gives uber modern, but the interiors are all about country charm – here's how the designers turned a new build into a home that feels like it has historyThe brief was a new build home that didn't feel like a new build home
-
The smartest people I know only buy furniture that's multi-functional – Martha Stewart designed an ottoman that embodies this ideologyCity living makes you strategic with every inch of space – thankfully, Martha makes it simpler with an essential furnishing that's under $303
-
Nate Berkus swears by this simple organizing solution in his home – and we wish we bought one sooner'Nothing drives me crazier than not being able to find what I need': here's how he restores order – and how we can do the same
-
Nate Berkus uses this ingenious storage solution in his fridge – and it's a 'game changer'The designer has found the 'perfect solution' for food storage in his family's fridge – and it's the secret to no wasted space
-
We're intrigued: Nate Berkus' rule when buying bedding makes him feel like he's sleeping in 'someone’s castle'In an H&G exclusive, the designer revealed his go-to rule when buying new sheets – and it will change how we sleep for good
-
5 design lessons in casual luxury from Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's stunning Hamptons houseThe duo shared a look inside their Montauk estate – and it's teaching us style lessons that deserve to be replicated far beyond Long Island
-
This is the basic foundation of a sleep-inducing bedroom – according to Nate Berkus'There’s a cleaner pathway to tranquility, effectiveness, and an ability to thrive': this is how the right sheets can impact our lives beyond the bedroom
-
Want to create a hotel-like ambiance at home? Nate Berkus says we shouldn't –here's why
'I want our homes to feel better every day than the week we may spend on a vacation': and it begins with the basics
-
Nate Berkus reveals his number one bedroom styling tip – for instant, indulgent luxuryIt's not only the way to obtain luxury – but also get your money’s worth when it comes to personalizing your space: Nate sits down with H&G to share his advice
-
The bedroom 'rule' Nate Berkus always breaks – and how he still gets a good night's sleep'Wellness is more personal than design': how the designer turns his bedroom into a sleep-inducing (yet entirely individual) space
