For many of us, online shopping is the automatic option. While we won’t deny being guilty of TikTok persuasion and endless retail therapy, there’s nothing like that rush of excitement in anticipation of walking into a store to physically browse and experience that next great find. While there are an abundance of stores to choose from, Black-owned businesses prove time and time again to reinvent the interior landscape.
Many of the industry’s Black-operated shops are underrated, but they could hold the key to upgrading your sanctuary, and they span from coast to coast. You can use your spending power to fuel today’s small, local vintage dealers and up-and-coming designers across all aesthetics—from pottery to statement couches and so much more. Perhaps there’s even a store not too far from your door that awaits you.
Ahead, allow us to reintroduce these 21 Black-owned stores spanning the home decor and interior design landscape that you should be supporting all year round. So the next time you plan a trip, be sure to add these spots to your list of places to go–we guarantee you won’t leave empty-handed.
Souk Bō’hēmian
Souk Bō’hēmian is a minimalist oasis done well—and trust, its pieces are ones you’ll want to add to the mood board. The Altanta-based store is a triple threat: it’s Black-owned, woman-owned, and queer-owned. Founded by besties and business partners Morgan Ashley Bryant and Vanessa Coore Vernon, the retail destination houses everything from home goods and apparel to accessories and more, all supporting local or global artisans. Next time you’re in the big A-town, take a detour to Ponce City Market to immerse yourself in all things serene and boho from the brand.
Bayaal
Bayaal, inspired by a Wolof term, which means space for community and connection, is a Brooklyn-based home and retail shop located in Brooklyn’s South Slope neighborhood. The space centers its selection of jewelry and decor on tradition, creativity, and community, pulling its work from artists and artisans worldwide. You can expect to find bold decor and thoughtfully curated wall art, and many of its pieces will transform your home to make you feel as if you’re walking through a museum.
Soukie Modern
Cofounded by Kenya Knight and Taib Lotfi, Soukie Modern has somehow seamlessly merged two very different worlds—Palm Springs and Marrakech—into one. The North African influences can be found in their selection of vintage Moroccan rugs, wall art, and contemporary home accessories. Whether you make an IRL appointment at its California-based shops in Palm Springs and Pioneer Town or take a browse online, you’ll certainly leave with quality, one-of-a-kind pieces that will be in your home for years to come.
TRNK
Tariq Dixon found his passion for interior design after moving to Bed-Stuy, which eventually led to the creation of TRNK in 2013. The Tribeca shop offers a multitude of experiences, acting as a design studio, curatorial platform and retailer with a myriad of contemporary selects. Whether it’s made in-house on Jay Street or sourced by talented global designers, you can grab a pair of ‘60s-inspired puffer chairs, rounded sculptural lamps, and so much more. Tariq also showcases a series of exhibitions that “interrogate questions of race, identity, and cultural bias in design,” with proceeds supporting organizations like the Ali Forney Center and The Black Youth Project 100.
Sweet July
Celebrity-owned beauty brands aren’t the only things emerging in the A-list sphere—we’re finally starting to see more of our favorite stars enter the home space, and we’re not complaining. In 2021, Ayesha Curry launched Sweet July to brighten spaces with a curated selection of everything from ceramics and candles to cozy loungewear and cushy rugs, all from Black-owned, Bay Area–based brands. Fans can pop by the brick-and-mortar store in Oakland which also has a cafe for those seeking a sweet treat.
Lichen
While maximalism is now at its very peak on the internet, Lichen’s storefront in Ridgewood, Queens, is a calm and refreshing alternative to a “simpler life”–no, not the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie version. Cofounded by Jared Blake and Ed Be, the self-described “design incubator” offers minimal pieces and Japanese-style designs that include paper lamps, chunky wooden stools, and vibrant rotating drawers. Locals are also invited to hang out at Lichen’s in-house coffee bar and enjoy seasonal events.
Of The Cloth
Nowhere else compares to the vintage scene in New York City, but there’s something extra special about Of the Cloth at Rockefeller Plaza. Founded by designer and collector Tione Trice, the pop-up storefront is your best bet for finding any and all things divine with African-founded sculptures and heirlooms, wooden stools, and stone vessels all waiting to find their forever home. There’s also space on the shelves for contemporary finds like woven buckets and mini tables.
Port•man•teau
Curating an entire store is both an underrated skill and an art form in itself, but it comes easy for Trévon Warren and Zachary William Allen of Portmanteau. Their shop in Long Island City has become one of the most sought-after destinations in Queens for finding statement pieces—we’re still obsessing over the lamp that Elaine Welteroth scooped from them for her Los Angeles abode. Whether you’re searching for 20th-century vintage or midcentury furniture, it’s a one-stop shop. Did we forget to mention that it’s wallet-friendly too? If you’re in the area, keep in mind that this is a by-appointment-only operation, so make sure to clear your schedule and get your funds in order ahead of time.
Glazed Studio
Glazed Studio isn’t just a brick-and-mortar boutique—the multidisciplinary space pays homage to Black heritage through clothing, art, and home finds. The Brooklyn-based shop offers a personalized one-on-one design consultation, and by the end of the session, you’ll leave with bespoke items that you’ll keep forever without going through all the hassle of a typical shopping experience.
Yowie
Located right on South Fourth Street, Yowie has become the prime design destination for individuals in Philly with eclectic taste. Established in 2016 by Shannon Maldonado, the brick-and-mortar store is the ultimate gateway to cluttercore central. Customers can expect to find a whimsical curation of kitschy ribbed ceramics, wavy rugs, and vibrant apparel from independent designers across diverse backgrounds. You can now escape the chaos and into Yowie’s kitschy world by visiting its newly opened hotel in Queen Village, which doubles as a showroom and a relaxing stay.
BLK MKT Vintage
BLK MKT Vintage, housed and operated in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy, is the home to many historic Black and rare vintage antiques. Since 2014 Brooklyn natives Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart have been bringing their curation skills to their antique concept market, specializing in cultural artifacts and forever investments that represent the richness of Black history—housewares, vinyl records, and books galore.
The Collective Shop
Toni Point and Alysia Fields, the design duo behind the Collective Shop, know exactly how to channel the spirit of NOLA through their locally-sourced curation of home goods, apparel, and even body products. Their vision comes to life in the form of screen-printed tees, confetti earrings, and other home staples that are simply too good to pass up, from Bourbon-scented candles and Southern-inspired tea towels to handmade ceramics and stickers. The pair also creates framable art pieces representative of Louisiana’s finest, and during Mardi Gras season the store is a festival in itself.
Sincerely, Tommy
When Kai Avent-deLeon originally conceptualized Sincerely, Tommy, she had every intention of making the storefront more than a place to shop. After being in business since 2014, the Brooklyn native’s commitment to building a community hub has fully paid off. While you can always find chunky knits handmade by a range of independent designers, there are also well-crafted objects that will liven up any room–some of which is designed by Kai’s homeware line Raini Home. Once you’re finished browsing the lovely selection of home goods, sit and stay awhile at the coffee bar.
T.A.
Since opening its doors back in 2021, Telsha Anderson-Boone has made T.A. a dreamy concept destination in New York City. The space caters to women with an inventory full of emerging labels and up-and-coming names across the fashion and design industry. Aside from its sartorial selection, Telsha carries a bit of home decor in her in-store collection that will add character to your coffee table, so keep an eye out for special-edition books, magazines, and other covetable tchotchkes. Print isn’t dead after all!
Pop Up Home
Owned and curated by Tricia Benitez Beanum, Pop Up Home is the ultimate Los Angeles design haven that’s open all week long. Tricia’s services range from interior styling and rentals, to consignment and of course, in-person sales. (Don’t forget about all the work she’s been also doing through UNREPD, a gallery that celebrates the work of emerging artists with a focus on BIPOC, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community.) Pop Up Home prides itself with its collection of unique gems from all design styles. Rustic ceramics, post-modern lamps and midcentury sculptures are just some of many pieces you’ll come across—and resist the urge to splurge on them all.
Reparations Club
“Shop Local and Buy Black” is the founding motto of Reparations Club. The Los Angeles–based brand, run by Jazzi McGuilbert, operates as an independently Black-owned business that offers acclaimed novels from just about any genre to zines highlighting topics of oppression and more, all written by renowned scholars. Aside from books, Reparations Club also has coffee table essentials like puzzles, candles, and incense. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon your next favorite tarot card deck or vinyl record there too.
For Keeps Books
Since 2018, this Atlanta hotspot has been facilitating an educational atmosphere for the community. Located in the historically infamous Sweet Auburn District, founder Rosa Duffy welcomes visitors to experience an accessible (and affordable) archive of rare and renowned books, magazines, and more. In 2021, she partnered with Solange’s creative agency Saint Heron to launch a free digital library service. You also won’t want to miss their seasonal reading events.
Sisters Uptown Bookstore
Located at the very tip of Harlem and Washington Heights awaits a bookstore filled with the stacks of African diasporic literature. While shopping in person at Sister Uptown Bookstore, you’ll be immersed in the shop’s cozy abode—it’s also become a space for the neighborhood’s community gatherings. There’s a diverse selection of books to choose from, including biographies of the most emblematic personas in Black history, topics of African consciousness, and so much more.
Paradis Books & Bread
Paradis Books & Bread isn’t a bookstore: It’s a community space for all of North Miami. The shop curates an impressive selection of new and used books on subjects like Black studies, critical theory, international struggle, and solidarity movements, along with fiction and poetry from smaller publishers. Customers are also invited to participate in Paradis’s library program, so feel free to lounge around with a good book in hand while indulging in baked goods and wine offerings.
Peace & Riot
Brooklyn native Achuziam Maha-Sanchez created a neighborhood staple on a bustling block in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Located on Tompkins Avenue, the store is representative of her African and Caribbean heritage. Achuziam transports customers to her eclectic world in the form of abundant home decor items across all categories. Customers can pop in to shop furniture, skin care products, design objects, and kitchen essentials, with a few midcentury and Scandinavian finds mixed in here and there.
The Black Home
For the past decade, Neffi Walker has been redefining what luxury looks and feels like through the Black Home. The mother of five has built a community within her new flagship in Brooklyn, New York, so while you scour through racks of shiny skillets, lush candles and gold-plated utensils, you’ll feel like you’re browsing the carefully curated collection of a close friend. No matter what you choose, every object will unleash your inner opulent self.