Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Share Their Tips For Elevated Outdoor Living

By Krista Jones

Published on 5/17/2022 at 6:15 PM

Photography by Ashley Burns
Photography by Ashley Burns
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Powerhouse design duo and couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent have spent their careers helping people improve their homes and lives for the better. From the hit shows "Nate and Jeremiah by Design" on TLC to "The Nate and Jeremiah Home Project" on HGTV and even their newest collaboration with Living Spaces, making the most of any type of space is what they do best.

In the pair's most recent venture, they teamed up with the makers of Claritin allergy medication and The Outsideologist Project, a purpose platform aimed at encouraging children to spend more time outside. In a survey commissioned by the makers of Claritin for this year's campaign, they found that while 81 percent of the parents surveyed said their kids are excited to be outside, more than half of them felt their kids don't get enough time outdoors. That's where Berkus and Brent come in to do what they do best: offer inspiration by creating the perfect setting.

We sat down with the designer couple, and they told us about how they spend time outside with their adorable two kids, Poppy and Oskar. Of course, we also picked the designers' brains on their favorite trends for outdoor spaces and comfortable furniture. Keep reading to find out more and shop some of the duo's top trends for outdoors.

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's Useful Outdoor-Decorating Hack

Not all decorating has to be expensive, and the pair told us about their favorite affordable decor hacks. Berkus shares a handy design trick we can't wait to try: "We've done a lot of outdoor entertaining in the recent years, and one of the things that we did was buy handy saw horses ($129 for two) from a home-improvement store and cut the legs so they were really low to the ground. We then just added some plain plywood to the top to create a mini table and threw a fun tablecloth ($138) over it with a bunch of cozy pillows ($14, originally $20) on the grass. This way, we could entertain up to 24 people. We set the scene, and everybody's laying on the grass, having dinner, it's great."

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent's Must-Have Home Products

Thrifty recommendations for home decor are our personal favorites, and they're something Berkus and Brent excel at. We asked them to describe something that's worth its weight in gold but actually cheap and that they will always buy, no matter where they live.

Berkus loves organizers: "It is definitely anything home organization related for me. For example, it's not expensive to organize the pantry. There are a lot of those clear containers ($17-$24) and stylish bins ($20) you can shop online now. Once you have an organized home, you never go back."

More on the decor side, Brent loves small accent pieces: "My favorite thing is using branches, which is not a surprise to anybody. Nature has always been the biggest inspiration for me and for us. It can cost nothing to go outside and snip some branches out. They usually last a lot longer than florals anyway."

If you don't have access to branches or you want something that'll last, you can buy this trend at places like West Elm with this Faux Twig Branch ($19) or this leafier Artificial Lemon Leaf Spray ($10).

Brent went on to say he loves styling these in their beloved vases. "Our favorite vases have been things that we collected over the years. There's ones that we picked up in Peru or Mexico while traveling." Some of our current favorites are this one from The Citizenry ($175) that was handcrafted in Mexico or this more affordable option from H&M ($30).

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent on Furniture Trends

Here at POPSUGAR, we're big furniture fans. Berkus and Brent filled us in on their favorite trends both indoors and out this season.

When it comes to comfort, Berkus says, "We have a collection of some great cozy pieces at Living Spaces that we're just obsessed with." If you have yet to see the collection, check out one of our favorite pieces, the Blakely Accent Chair by Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent ($895). The soft and cozy material instantly sold us.

Brent went on to cover outdoor trends, saying, "I love to see outdoor spaces that feel collected and assembled over time. That means not just buying the whole set of furniture from the same place but taking the time to find that unique iron side table ($149, originally $199) and mix in that with a cool pair of chairs ($1,349, originally $1,418)."

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent on the Importance of Being Outdoors

When it comes to why they love taking their family outdoors, Brent says, "One of the big reasons that we've partnered with the makers of Claritin for the Outsideologist Project, it's this initiative around getting people outside. Obviously New York City is our backyard, and we understand the importance of getting outside. It's the birthplace of connection in so many different ways to the community, to your imagination, and as family. We see the value of our kids being outside and feeling connected to more than just what happens within the four walls of your home."

If you want Berkus and Brent to help you transform your own outdoor space, you can participate in Claritin's #BackyardChallenge sweepstakes. Taking place now through July 7, use the dedicated hashtag on Instagram with a photo or video of how you're having fun outside. One winner will get a $10,000 prize and a virtual design consultation with Berkus and Brent themselves.