When decorating a home, we often purchase things that make us feel good, sometimes without a strategy or plan of action. However, what we see on our walls can negatively impact our moods and subconscious mind. This means that how we show up in our lives is directly affected by our homes. It also means that by designing our homes, we can design our lives.
If you want to be intentional about who you are and how you show up daily, there's no better way than through home décor. It starts with avoiding these five mistakes Black women often make when decorating their homes.
Let’s be honest. Shopping for Black art is like finding a needle in a haystack when you shop at major retailers like Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, or TJMaxx. And, if you do, when you look closely at the products, the people depicted do not showcase the diversity of Black women and do not have Black facial features (we call this, Black art blackface).
We get so excited when we see something that has someone that looks kind of like us that we throw it in the cart without thinking. We’re talking about pillows, blankets, mugs, and other mass-produced random décor items that are dumped in Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, and TJMaxx stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
Not only do these products sometimes use Black art blackface, but they also often feature a “diverse” set of women of all races to promote inclusion without upsetting or seemingly alienating non-Black customers. Home décor should authentically showcase your values and personality.
Looking around your space right now – how does it make you feel? One of our core needs as human beings is a space where we feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed. This space, ideally, should be our home.
Sometimes it can be challenging to think about getting out of bed and facing the day. However, a well-curated space can bring you joy and enhance your mood, significantly impacting your overall outlook on life. If your home doesn’t elicit these feelings, you need to reevaluate what you put into your home in the same way you evaluate who you let into your home.
In all honesty, this is not your fault. Few home décor companies create wall art and home décor that authentically reflects Black womanhood. However, what you choose to display on your walls can positively or negatively impact your mood.
Curating the décor on your walls is a crucial part of designing a home that will keep your subconscious mind focused on who you are and where you’re going. And we don’t mean “Live. Laugh. Love.” we mean wall décor designed to uplift Black women authentically.
Sometimes we’re in such a rush to decorate a space that we make purchase decisions based on how cheap something is and how quickly we can get it. This is why you find yourself constantly in Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, or TJMaxx searching for the next “mystery find” that is affordable and can solve your current problem – to have to do it all over again in the next six months to a year.
Shopping for the woman you’re becoming means decorating by choosing décor products based on who you want to become. We’re not saying that you need to break the bank – we’re just saying to be more intentional about your highest self and the home space she needs to thrive.
This article is so helpful. I’ve spent so much money at Marshall’s, TJ Maxx and Ross! LAWD! You reiterated every thought I had bits time to decorate for I’m becoming. Thank you so much!
This article was very insightful and helpful!
I had a white co-worker tell me about Oprah and how her home was filled with black art. She asked me if I consciously purchased black art only. I asked her if she bought white art only. In all honesty, I hadn’t really thought about it, but as I walked through my house that day, all of my artwork reflects black people and mostly women. I am now on a quest to purchase black art from black artists. Thank you for this article, as a reminder.
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