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Black History Month Is Here
There’s a lot to consider when it’s time to upgrade your home decor. Quality, affordability, and sustainability are some of the heavy hitters. But it’s also important to think about whom you’re supporting. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and many of these businesses are owned by underrepresented groups. When you support them, you help close the racial wealth gap, strengthen local economies, and foster job creation. The arrival of Black History Month offers a great opportunity to do some shopping with a few creative Black-owned businesses while freshening up your home at the same time.
The Muted Home
This Black-owned home decor brand offers an array of subtly styled items in muted hues. Their abstract flatware sets are particularly intriguing, and their serving sets and nesting bowls are chic displays of woodworking skill.
Harlem Candle Co.
One of the quickest ways to add a touch of elegance to the home is to light a gorgeous candle. Harlem Candle Co. is a luxury home fragrance brand inspired by travel and lifestyle expert Teri Johnson’s “love affair with fragrance, jazz, and Harlem.” There’s even a limited-edition candle featuring the iconic 1933 “A Night-Club Map of Harlem,” rendered in 22-karat gold. After the candle finishes, you’re left with a classy cocktail glass!
Linoto
Jason Evege is the founder and creative director of Linoto, a dreamy home decor brand that offers linen sheets, napkins, tablecloths, curtains, and bath towels. Each item is proudly made at Linoto’s workshop in Westchester County, New York, then shipped in plastic-free recycled packaging.
Bolé Road Textiles
Interior designer Hana Getachew created Bolé Road Textiles to highlight her love of Ethiopian handwoven fabrics. The brand’s online shop is filled with a dazzling array of vibrant colors and graphic patterns that adorn rugs, pillows, coasters, blankets, towels, wall hangings, and more.
Niftee Nest
Based in Takoma Park, Maryland, Niftee Nest sells handmade African-print home decor and gifts. The firm’s dramatically geometric lampshades are especially popular. One Etsy shopper turned an old tripod into a base for her Niftee Nest lampshade, while another took an old swag light apart and added one of the gorgeous shades.
Plant Economy
For statement home decor, look no further than Plant Economy. The Black-owned online shop offers unique products for the houseplant enthusiast, including the ceramic “Talk Growth to Me” pots in varying sizes, all made with love in Detroit, Michigan.
54kibo Home Decor
Realizing the influence African designers have on global design but witnessing how hard it is to access their creations, Nana Quagraine founded 54kibo Home Decor. Born in Ghana, raised in South Africa, and now living in New York, Quagraine, together with her team, sells an eclectic range of home goods, including woven necklace pendant lights, hand-crocheted stuffed toys, accent chairs, rugs, and more.
Related: 11 Decorative Pillow Trends to Expect in 2021
Reflektion Design
Inspired by her love affair with Ghana, Anitra Terrell founded Reflektion Design to showcase the vibrancy, history, and cultural significance of African textiles. Her product line now includes decor, tableware, handwoven baskets, and travel accessories. The Black-owned home decor brand ensures fabrics are ethically sourced from around the world, with products handmade in Los Angeles, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Kultured Kitchens
This distinctive dinnerware brand is a family-owned business conceived with the desire to highlight memorable moments around the dinner table. Every item is a stunner, featuring patterns that reference the power and sacred energy of Bògòlanfini (mud cloth), a time-honored source of beauty and form of communication.
Estelle Colored Glass
Take a break from staid, traditional stemware with the colorful creations of this Black-owned home decor brand. The Estelle Colored Glass collection consists of handblown glass cake stands and stemware in a mix of jewel tones and soft pastels that will make a stylish splash on the table, in your hand, or displayed proudly on a shelf.
Related: 10 Essentials for a Retro Kitchen
The Coy Collection
Designed and created in Austin, Texas, The Coy Collection offers a variety of feel-good ceramic wares. You’ll find one-of-a kind smiley-face mugs, cow print planters, “baby bust” candleholders painted with 24-karat gold, and more.
D&S Craftworks
Offering uncommon items for the home, D&S Craftworks is the brainchild of DIYers, woodworkers, and scrap metal artists Don and Shanay. The couple turned their love of art and home decor into a business that caters to customers who value handcrafted items made with precision, detail, and a fair amount of humor. The brand makes everything from tables to cutting boards to wineglasses and accessories.
SampleHaus
Diana Adams recycles interior design waste and discontinued market samples to make a range of home decor items, including planters and wall art. Her small-batch pottery incorporates motifs inspired by African Zulu wooden shields, which were used in battle by warriors as well as by dancers during ceremonies.
Clare
While paint isn’t a tangible home decor item, sometimes a fresh, simple accent wall is all the updating a home needs. Clare paint is a Black-owned brand founded by interior designer Nicole Gibbons with the goal of taking the guesswork and hassle out of paint shopping. All Clare paints are free of toxic, carbon-based solvents and are Greenguard Gold certified.
Sabai
Offering beautifully designed, affordable furniture, Sabai uses sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing to create modular and customizable pieces. The brand’s luxurious velvet fabric is made using 100 percent recycled water bottles.
Practical Gifts They'll Love
Our editors take pride in their gift-giving skills—and these are their top suggestions for DIYers, plant parents, new homeowners, and more.