'Great Design Starts With Something Timeless,' Nate Berkus Shares How He's Entertaining This Summer (And The One Popular Look He Won't Be Embracing)
Money Saving

'Great Design Starts With Something Timeless,' Nate Berkus Shares How He's Entertaining This Summer (And The One Popular Look He Won't Be Embracing)

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verifiedSnaggyCodes Editorial Team

Money Saving • Jun 30, 2026 • 6 min read

This summer, generic, convenience-driven design is the enemy of your outdoor scheme.

Want to get more out of great design starts something without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.

Key Takeaways

  • This summer, generic, convenience-driven design is the enemy of your outdoor scheme.
  • Or at least, that's how Nate Berkus sees it.
  • Homes & Gardens sat down with the iconic designer to discuss his most innovative pointers for how (and how not) to entertain in the upcoming season.
  • For Nate, design is about timelessness and investing in pieces that you will still love for years to come.

How Great Design Starts Something Really Works

Worth noting: his recent partnership with Pepperidge Farm, where he designed a beautiful serving board for their Chessman cookies, embodies this philosophy. Nate explains: 'Excellent design starts with something timeless.

  • Chess patterns have endured for generations since they’re classic, much like Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies.
  • I loved the concept of building on something so familiar and giving it a new point of view.
  • More importantly, the Pepperidge Farm x Nate Berkus Chessmen Cookie Board is about honoring that heritage while reimagining it in a method that feels modern, elevated, and unexpected.

Getting the Most From Great Design Starts Something

And yes, you can absolutely eat cookies off it.' Of course, this board will be a bold centerpiece of his garden parties this summer. Nate explains how, as the non-baker in his family, he's generally tasked with making the table look beautiful.

  • Just like the chess board, his outdoor entertaining pointers revolve near elevating items that you already have and love.
  • Remember that he likes applying pre-made aspects that can still be elevated and beautiful.
  • As you might suspect, he's a massive fan of decanting items from their original packaging to display them in a more elegant method.

Tips That Make a Difference

Nate Berkus with his Chessman serving board and Pepperidge Farm Cookies (Image credit: Pepperidge Farm)Nate also takes the perspective that a home should tell the story of who we are over time - and so do our tablescapes. He loves the concept of incorporating games as a part of decor and incorporating aspects we enjoy into design.

  • As a rule, hence, a chessboard is a tray.
  • Shop The Outdoor Entertaining Edit Whether it's Nate's original design or another inviting, textural piece, adding unique decor to your summer tablescape is the most striking method to upgrade a garden party this summer.
  • Nate-Designed Pepperidge Farm X Nate Berkus Chessmen Cookie Board In accordance with the latest release of chessman cookies, Nate designed a new checkerboard cookie plate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It takes inspiration from the warm flavors of the treats. In short, seagrass Navy Woven Seagrass Charger Chargers assist to define each person's place setting and add a pop of color, particularly if your crockery is plain.

  • I love the wavy movement of this hand-woven seagrass placemat from Terrain, which is available in numerous vibrant hues.
  • Lightweight Green Outdoor Lattice Iron Side Table Rather than heavy wooden or cement side tables, look for a lightweight iron material like this surprisingly stylish piece from Amazon.
  • I love the lattice design and soft green hue for added elegance.

Is Great Design Starts Something Worth It?

Worth noting: melamine Tangier Oasis Melamine Dinner Plate Made from durable, decaled melamine, Anthropologie's new drop of mix-and-match floral outdoor dinnerware is super stylish. I'd love to see a tablescape set with a mismatch of each colorway and print.

  • Bamboo Natural Bamboo Flatware Sets I predict you're going to see bamboo flatware on each stylish tablescape this summer.
  • And you don't require to spend a fortune to replace your plain knives and forks.
  • More importantly, this set of 5 from Pottery Barn is currently discounted, but you can also grab this Bamboo Plastic 20 Piece Flatware Set from Amazon for under $20.

Where the Real Savings Hide

Cotton Peter Dunham x Hudson Grace Starburst napkin We love the collab between LA designer Peter Dunham x Hudson Grace and this cheery starburst napkin, inspired by block printing, is one of our favorite prints. They come in different colorways too, if you wish to mix and match.

  • A post shared by Pepperidge Farm (@pepperidgefarm) A photo posted by on Rather than picking fast outdoor furniture trends, Nate prefers to dress the outside of his home as he does with the interiors.
  • Remember that 'I don’t like sets of outdoor furniture,' he tells Homes & Gardens.
  • Instead, he recommends trawling your local antique stores, flea markets, and secondhand dealers to find unique pieces in long-lasting materials like wood iron and rattan.

A Closer Look at Great Design Starts Something

Not only do these pieces have more character, but they're designed to last for longer in your outdoor space. To achieve truly timeless design, personality, warmth, and character must consistently be priorities.

As a rule, you can bring this to life on the outside of your home just as much as the indoors. guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on great design starts something?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. Nate explains: 'Excellent design starts with something timeless.

Is it worth shopping around for great design starts something?

Usually yes. Chess patterns have endured for generations since they’re classic, much like Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies.

What should I check before buying?

Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. I loved the concept of building on something so familiar and giving it a new point of view.

Smart Ways to Save More on Great Design Starts Something

  • Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.
  • Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.
  • Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
  • Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
  • Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.

Final Thoughts

Put these ideas to work and great design starts something gets a lot less expensive. Bookmark this page, check back for fresh deals, and let the savings do the talking.

Originally published at savingswitch.com.

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SnaggyCodes Editorial Team

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