Doing good and decorating for spring with Nate Berkus
Interior designer Nate Berkus has built his career by transforming people's homes. He's partnered with brands like Target, 1stdibs and JoAnn Fabrics to create and curate home decor collections that fit all tastes and budgets.
Berkus' most recent partnership is with eBay to host a charity auction benefitting The American Brain Tumor Association. Now through April 10, shoppers can bid on decor, art and fashion items straight from the designer's home, plus one lucky bidder will have the chance to win a one-on-one design consultation with Berkus himself over Skype!
Click here to shop the auction, and check out our Q&A with the talented designer below!
When decorating a room, what are the 3 most important factors to consider?
Be clear about what kind of space you want to create, and how you want to live in it. Be a ruthless editor about what you let in. Pay attention to scale.
What do you recommend for couples who want to create a space together, but have different design tastes?
When you have to blend your possessions and styles, it's all about compromise. Fight for the things you feel really passionate about, but ultimately you have to let some things go. A truly well designed home is one that reflects the people who live there. It's about communicating, but also being ruthless editors. Just because you're merging into one space doesn't mean you should be living with twice as much stuff.
What are some fun ways to refresh your home for spring?
I'm a double Virgo, so I'm constantly organizing year round. But the spring is a really great time to throw some light on your interiors, and really look at what you live with. You have to clear out the old before you can bring in the new. I like to set up baskets and go through what to trash, what to donate and lastly what you can sell. I've partnered with eBay for the "Hello Spring" Campaign to help people figure this out because it can be very overwhelming. It's about creating easy systems in your home to organize and edit. People don't realize there is money to be made from that pair of shoes that were the wrong size & never returned to the store, or a framed photograph that didn't make it on your wall. Clean out that linen closet, and purge the storage locker. I'm obsessed with eBay Valet because it literally does everything for you. What you no longer need might be just exactly what someone else is looking for.
Why did you select the American Brain Tumor Association as the charity for your auction proceeds?
It's a cause that's very personal to me and my family. Working with eBay for Charity was such a great way for me to sell, give back and support a charity doing important work.
What are some of your favorite pieces in the auction?
Every piece in the auction has a story, or was something I lived with at some point. My favorite thing that I'm auctioning, though, is a Skype session where an eBay bidder can sit down with me for an hour, and ask whatever design questions they have.
Check out some of our favorite items from Nate Berkus' charity auction in the gallery below:
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