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For Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, the pandemic sparked a new appreciation for ultra-versatile furniture. Example A: the designer couple’s just-launched fall collection for Living Spaces, which features clever finds like nesting coffee tables and a dining bench with drawers for storing miscellaneous linens (or in their case, kids’ Legos). “They’re classics that you’ll keep in your home for years to come,” says Brent. 

The Centre Bar ($895) was designed for dual functioning, and that’s exactly how the pair use it: In addition to holding stem glassware, it stores their office supplies (think: extra ink and paper) within its drawers. Ahead, we got the scoop from Brent and Berkus on how to style the piece in three easy steps. Plus they dished on the design ideas they’re digging for fall—and the two they want to say goodbye to. 

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Courtesy of Living Spaces

Bar Cabinet Styling 101

The first essential? A petite lamp, because it “enables you to vary the lighting layers in your space,” notes Berkus. Next up is the glassware—the pros like to display an assortment, not just because different cocktails need different kinds of stemware, but it makes the storage unit appear well loved and lived-in. A last (but not final) must-have are ceramic or stone bowls, which are perfect for corralling precut lemons and limes.

What to Embrace This Fall…

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Courtesy of Living Spaces

“Lately we’ve been drawn to color, which is not usual for us,” says Brent. The designers are gravitating toward autumnal colors such as terracotta and emerald green, plus a subtle dose of tweed, herringbone, corduroy, and velvet—cozy details they say add dimension to a room.

…And What to Let Fade

It’s time to let go of acrylic furniture. “It scratches easily and isn’t very versatile given that it’s see-through,” notes Berkus. They’re also noticing a shift away from ultra-rounded shapes and instead are embracing a return to a more classic and streamlined silhouette, especially when it comes to upholstered items. We like where fall is headed already.