The Unexpected Furniture Piece Nate Berkus Says Belongs In A Small Apartment's Bedroom

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Celebrity designer Nate Berkus has a storied career of some jaw-dropping interior decorating prowess, styling everywhere from an impossibly chic Manhattan penthouse to a breezy beach house. And while it's fun to drool over those designs or imagine what you'd do with a penthouse of your own, a lot of design guidance can feel pretty unrelatable when you're dealing with a fraction of the space that others are.

That's why we're grateful that, despite working on tons of sprawling spaces, Berkus hasn't abandoned the small apartment dwellers of the world. On the contrary, he recently offered some great tips to make living in a small studio apartment easier over on Instagram. One of his hottest tips was putting a dining table in your bedroom. Unconventional? Yes. Unwise? No way. The table can actually help keep your bedroom area uncluttered. And since having furniture that can play multiple roles can make a small space seem bigger, it helps keep your small apartment looking just as gorgeous and smart as a place five times its size.

With his dining table in the bedroom recommendation, Nate Berkus highlights how placing one beside the bed can serve double duty in a small studio. "When you're in bed, you have a huge surface next to you," he explains. "It has a lamp, and it has everything that you need to sit down when you're sleeping." These could include your nighttime read, a water carafe, or other miscellaneous items you want on hand. "But you could also bring two chairs to it," he notes, making it easy to transform into a dining spot. Of course, if you've still got room in your apartment, you could scooch the table further out when you're ready to sit down for a meal. 

According to Berkus, consider a round dining table with a 32- or 34-inch surface, supported by a pedestal base. It's large enough for dinner with pals yet compact enough to fit comfortably in a smaller bedroom area. Plus, this style can be visually arresting, making a statement without overwhelming a studio apartment. Retailers like Amazon offer options like the weselon Round Dining Table. In addition to its sophisticated wooden finish, this one features a fluted base with ample storage, helping you really make the most out of the piece, no matter how small your place might be.