When fashion designer Aurora James, founder of the sustainable accessories brand Brother Vellies, started the 15 Percent Pledge, she also started a movement. The pledge urges big-name retailers (think Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods) to commit to greater equity in their merchandising mix by having at least 15 percent of their products come from Black-owned brands.
But you don’t have to be a major corporate player to embrace the tenets of this pledge in your own life. On a more personal scale, you can support Black-owned businesses by making conscious choices to include products and services in your daily life, including the most important space of all: your home.
“Supporting Black-owned businesses and designers can help to encourage young and aspiring Black designers to join the industry, and to help diversify perspectives and voices represented,” says Shelby Girard, Havenly’s VP of Creative & Design, noting that Black designers and businesses have historically been underrepresented in the design industry.
We recently spoke with Shelby about what Black-owned home decor brands are on her “must have” radar. Get to know these inspiring, creative design forces, and bookmark for your upcoming home purchases.
1. Textured Artwork from Élan Byrd
Miami-based multidisciplinary artist and textile designer Élan Byrd creates artwork, wall hangings, and prints that embrace imperfection, focusing heavily on raffia and natural fibers. Most pieces share a soothing palette of warm, tonal neutrals, and Byrd is adept at incorporating fun, 1980s-inspired geometric shapes into her work. Although her originals tend to sell out fast (it’s easy to see why!), she has beautiful, affordable prints available on her website, and she recently launched a stunning rug and accessories collection in collaboration with Lulu & Georgia (this patterned beauty is currently a Havenly fan fave).
2. Luxury Linens from Linoto
Linoto specializes in Italian and Belgian linen sheets made right here in the United States. The brand also sells sleepwear, towels, table linens, and masks. Unsurprisingly, founder Jason Egeve is seriously passionate about the natural fabric — he created the brand in 2007 (way ahead of the linen bedding trend) with an emphasis on meticulous workmanship. Their artisan-quality products are treated more like a designer dress than a household linen — each item is marked with cloth, cut with tailor shears, and measured and sewn by hand, allowing the beauty of linen to speak for itself. Plus, the company is committed to eco-friendly processes — they exclusively use natural laundry soap to wash all linens and shipping items in plastic-free, recycled packaging.
3. Whimsical Ceramics from Lolly Lolly
Lalese Stamps is the creative force behind fun and funky ceramics brand Lolly Lolly Ceramics, a nod to her nickname in high school. Her stoneware mugs are objets d’art that often feature whimsical handles (we’re partial to this one). The coveted tableware is often sold out due to the handmade, artisan nature of her products, but follow along on Instagram to stay up to date on restock alerts.
4. Interior Inspo from Romanek Design Studio
Live in Los Angeles? You’re lucky enough to be in the orbit of swoon-worthy interior designer Brigette Romanek, whose namesake firm offers residential design with the most stunning results — and always with a hint of whimsy. If you’re not in Los Angeles (or can’t quite afford the firm’s upscale services) don’t worry: the design studio’s Instagram is an inspiring and accessible source for never-ending design inspo.
5. Zero-VOC Paint from Clare
We could write a book on the power of paint, and Clare Paint is simply elite. Founder and HGTV veteran Nicole Gibbons disrupted an entire industry with her direct-to-consumer model and zero-VOC formula when she founded the brand in 2018. The brand produces just 58 designer-developed and approved paint colors with mess-free peel and stick swatches, so you don’t have to spend hours digging through 10,000 white paint samples. Clare’s innovative approach and top-tier quality is why our worldwide network of designers voted the brand Best in Small Businesses.
It’s worth mentioning No Filter is one of our favorite colors — Shelby has the shade on her kitchen cabinets! For something a little moodier, our designers frequently turn to Goodnight Moon, and we’ve recently been crushing Meet Cute for a trending blush tone.
6. Home Renos with Sweeten
As we well know, sometimes great home design is less about a specific product and more about making things happen. That’s where Sweeten comes in: a service connecting homeowners with general contractors. Their curated list of contractors puts the experts in your hands (and there’s no fee, either). Founded by architect Jean Brownhill, Sweeten has created a platform and process that allows for smoother, more transparent renovations. So go ahead, renovate with complete confidence!
7. Pillows & Throws from Bolé Road Textiles
8. Boho Decor from Jungalow
Artist and designer Justina Blakeney has redefined and perfected the free-spirited boho aesthetic through her design-blog-turned-life-style-brand, Jungalow. You can shop everything from wallpaper and decor to lighting, bedding, and art prints, and every item has Blakeney’s kiss of approval. The shop features signature Justina Blakeney and Jungalow collections designed in her Los Angeles studio, in addition to a curated selection of colorful, globally-inspired home goods.
9. Homewares With a Purpose From Goodee
Brainchild of esteemed twin brother design duo Byron and Dexter Peart, GOODEE is a curated online marketplace that exclusively promotes brands & product that make a positive social or environmental impact. Centered around “responsible brands and artisans producing timeless everyday objects and consumers looking to make a difference with their purchases,” GOODEE has truly set the bar when it comes to thoughtful consumerism. In addition to their own line of sustainably-crafted and thoughtfully-designed GOODEE products, the marketplace stocks to throw pillows, lighting, planters, vases, fragrance, blankets, curtains, and more from Black-owned brands and minority artisans.
10. One-of-a-Kind Glassware From Estelle
For luxury glassware with personality that you’ll want to pass down to your kids one day, look no further than Estelle Colored Glass. Founder Stephanie Summerson Hall created the company in honor of her grandmother Estelle, who loved antiquing and had an impressive collection of colorful glassware. Described as “jewels for your table,” Stephanie specializes in colorful, handblown pieces ranging from shot glasses and cake stands to champagne flutes and martini glasses. Her heirloom-quality pieces will give any tablescape an immediate glow-up.
11. Cool, Modern Decor from Yowie
If you’d describe your design style as modern-eclectic and appreciate dopamine decorating, Yowie needs to be on your radar. The quirky South Philly boutique, online store, and design studio is a mainstay for unique homewares ranging from textiles and artwork to planters, dinnerware, and hand-thrown ceramics. Each piece is hand-selected by founder Shannon Maldonado — a multidisciplinary creative and interior designer to watch (she recently served as lead designer of Ethel’s Club the first social and wellness club for people of color).
12. Elevated Essentials from The Black Home
While interior designer Neffi Walker works with celebrities and high-profile clients, you can add a bit of her signature style to your space through her New Jersey-based home brand, The Black Home. Dedicated to highlighting and celebrating the Black experience, each piece is hand-selected by Walker and serves as an extension of her design philosophy. Not in the New Jersey area? You can shop her curation of glassware, candles, skincare, fragrance, barware, and more online!
13. Custom Furniture & Decor from Candice Luter
Candice Luter could be considered a design jack-of-all-trades. The Iowa-based creative has interior designer, fiber artist, and furniture designer on her résumé, and now sits at the helm of her very own design studio, Candice Luter Art & Interiors. She’s known for her one-of-a-kind mirrors and fiber wall hangings, and has since moved into the furniture space with coffee and side tables. Her stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces have spurred collections with West Elm and Etsy, plus custom installations for hotels and residential projects.
14. Parisian Modern Everything from Marie Burgos
If you love the Parisian Modern aesthetic, then Parisian designer Marie Burgos must be on your shopping list. Her namesake furniture, lighting, and decor brand is essentially our “Room Recipe” come to life, from the luxe curved sofas and velvet accent chairs to the sculptural lighting and marble side tables. While her pieces will cost you a pretty penny, we’d argue that each is an heirloom-quality find worthy of generational significance. With that, we invite you to fall down the shopping rabbit hole that is Marie Burgos Collection.
From diversifying your home decor brands to finding *the* perfect piece, our designers are here to help you fill your space with meaning and story. Work one on one with an affordable interior designer to create your dream home.