Aurelia Butler

As we’re spending more time indoors, finding ways to make your space more stylish, comfortable, and functional has likely been at the top of your to-do list. The pandemic has motivated many to transform their workspaces, refresh their living room layouts, rethink kitchen pantry setups, and carve out nooks just for self-care. To put it simply, the coronavirus pandemic has encouraged many people to place more value on their homes, and put more thought into how their environment can better suit their lifestyle.
We couldn’t help but to ask a selection of go-to Black designers to share how they’ve reworked their homes in light of the quarantine. Read on for their decorating pointers, which might just inspire you to take your own home to the next level.
Kesha Franklin

Rayon Richards Photography

“My guest room is always prepped and ready for guests, but during COVID-19, our guest visits have been minimal. I’ve repurposed my guest room as a retreat away from my normal routine in the house with weekend naps, catch-up calls with girlfriends, and some late-evening sourcing on my laptop with a cup of Earl Grey tea or a glass of German riesling. I’ve been grateful to have this additional place of escape to reset, recharge, and stay creative. My tip while quarantined at home is to find a room or nook that you can call your own for some much-needed mental download and self-care.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT KESHA FRANKLIN
Raymond Barberousse

Courtesy

“We spend a lot of time these days in one of our favorite spots in the house: the dining area. It’s where we eat delicious home-cooked meals, plant seeds, or play games. There are a few things that have made this area into a retreat during the quarantine: studio PGRB’s lighting above the dining table which gives off a warm, inviting glow throughout the day and into the evening hours along with bringing the outdoors inside. The lush plants, herbs, fruits, and flowers bring a liveliness and freshness to the area that serves as a daily reminder of nature’s magic.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT RAYMOND BARBEROUSSE
Whitney Jones

Courtesy; Britt Smith Photography

“Being in quarantine has further emphasized the power of maximizing storage in a home. I recently transformed my dining room from a dated, ugly waste of space, to a beautiful, functional, formal place to gather with family. I added a gorgeous built-in bookcase and two bar cabinets to help organize not just the dining room, but my kitchen, as well. Now, I’m able to display the fun stuff (my cute tchotchkes and all the books I’ve been buying during quarantine), as well as the items I’d like to keep hidden, like my dishware, extra alcohol, and kitchen appliances. The extra storage has kept me from getting overwhelmed with clutter, which would be terrible to deal with during an extended quarantine.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHITNEY JONES
Robin Wilson

Courtesy of Robin Wilson Home

“One of the things that I love to do is to read books, and I was able to transform a room into a tranquil space, and make it a place for my daughter to study during remote learning and quarantine moments. My furniture source was Renovation Angel in Fairfield, NJ, and they had a 10-foot bookcase that was one step from the landfill that cost $300, including delivery. Up-cycling brown furniture can be the way to create your dream since many people do not buy dark furniture and you can find some gently used bargains. My DIY moment began with watching YouTube and learning how to sand and apply primer to cover the scratches. Then the painting began. My carpenter pulled out the crown molding and finished the base with a foot panel and an electrician pulled out the plug from the wall. Now the piece looks like a built-in, and I have a peaceful library space in my home.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBIN WILSON
Neffi Walker

Kat Morgan

“I find scents in a home can change your emotion and mood, so burning The Black Home candles throughout our home totally set the mood for reading time with my daughter or even a bath time soak during these long, stress-filled days.”

Leyden Lewis

David A. Land

“A great way to spend my time outside of binge-watching TV and listening to our governor is to organize our collection of art, including photographs. It’s building a story board and a narrative between images. It can feel like creating a puzzle to which only I can find the key to unlock. As we rotate works by friends and colleagues, we lay everything on the floor and compose it there then lift the idea, piece by piece, onto the walls.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT LEYDEN LEWIS
Keyanna Bowen

Courtesy

“One quarantine decorating tip I have is making floral arrangements and centerpieces with collected foliage. It’s so quick and easy to do, and free! Just by simply putting a few collected flowers, greenery, and branches in a vase instantly makes the space feel more lively and elevated. Plus, it allows me to spend time outdoors in nature, which is so important and therapeutic during quarantine.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT KEYANNA BOWEN
Breegan Jane

Courtesy

“This year has surfaced many new unexpected transitions. I went from being a full-time working single mom to a stay-at-home teacher for my two sons while still balancing my career in the juggle of it all. More so now than ever, we’ve been spending time at home, which is why I’ve made some changes around the house to help ensure a more comfortable environment. For me, it’s imperative that I find a little me-time to obtain a solid reset to keep embarking on the days to come. For that reason, I decided to switch out my bathroom light bulbs to Bulbrite Solana’s smart LED bulbs. These lights create a zen ambiance with a quick adjustment to a warm and dim tone. There really isn’t anything better than a glass of wine, bath soak, and relaxing atmosphere to reboot the soul. Light bulbs are a frequently overlooked feature of our homes yet are super easy to swap out and immediately facilitate a healthy lifestyle.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT BREEGAN JANE
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Use LED bulbs for your lanterns, which won’t overheat.
Punk rock lanterns
Materials:
Paper lanterns
Craft studs (we used plastic so that the finished lantern would be lightweight)
Hot glue or craft glue
Steps:
Attach studs to paper lantern with glue and let dry.
Splatter paint pumpkin lanterns
Materials:
Paper lanterns
Acrylic or craft paint
Water paint brush
Steps:
Mix water and paint until you have the consistency of heavy cream.
Drip paint onto the paper lantern and let dry, working one side at a time until the whole lantern is covered.

Mike Garten

Mike Garten

Mummy shroud lantern
Materials:
Paper lanterns
Scissors
Cheesecloth or gauze fabric
Steps:
Cut a length of cloth, roughly stretching and tearing it to create an irregular shape.
Drape over a paper lantern.
Full moon lantern
Materials:
Paper lanterns
Gray acrylic or craft paint
Water sponge
Steps:
Mix together a very light gray paint color adding water until you have the consistency of heavy cream.
Dip a damp (not wet) sponge into the paint and lightly stamp it onto the lantern, blending as you go (look at a photo of the moon for reference).
Let dry completely.
Creepy crawlies lantern
Materials:
Paper lanterns
Halloween bugs clip art
Printer paper
Scissors or craft knife
Mod Podge
Steps:
Download our Halloween bugs artwork and print onto regular printer paper.
Carefully cut out with scissors or a craft knife.
Paint a section of the lantern with mod Podge, large enough to fit the paper cut out.
Lay the paper on top, using your finger to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles.
Let dry.
Paint 1 or 2 additional layers of Mod Podge on top and let dry completely.
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It’s safe to say that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted just about every industry, including the home space, to some extent. With many being forced to work from home, more and more people have shifted their focus towards nesting. Scroll through Instagram, for instance, and you’ll find hosts of images featuring decorating projects — refreshed home offices are just one example — proud organizing moments, unique craft ideas, and many other creative projects people have relied on to experience a moment of joy during this challenging time. Home has become more important now than ever.
Considering people’s increased connection to their living spaces, we can’t help but wonder about what’s on the horizon for home design post-COVID-19, when many assume their normal routines again. That’s why we invited Heide Hendricks of the award-winning design firm Hendricks Churchill, who’s currently putting the finishing touches on a country residence for Eva Chen, Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships, to explore what can be expected from the world of home design after the coronavirus has waned.

The Living Room as the Heart of the Home

John Gruen

“Suddenly, the living room has become grand central. We’ve been creating more spaces within the living room that are very much like Victorian parlors. There’s not just a coffee table and a drink table, but there might also be a game or snack table. The sofa can have lots of pillows for just being comfortable when watching a movie in the middle of the day. There’s a space where an adult can take a call while their child is on their laptop or iPad nearby with headphones, and another member of the house can be off to the side doing their own thing. Studio living is in one space now. The living room is finally taking center stage again.”

Pocket Doors
“People will still gravitate towards open layouts, because they love that big ‘aha’ room, but we are already seeing more requests for pocket doors. For instance, our house a couple years ago was an old farmhouse. It was that classic form with four rooms on the main floor, separated by a center hall staircase, so it was really a circular floor plan. You could walk from one room to the next and end up back at the staircase. The living room had a fireplace and there was a TV in the family room. When the kids were watching YouTube or TV shows, we could just close the pocket doors and still sit by the fire.”

Master Bedroom Seating

Tim Lenz

“All of the beautiful sitting areas we’ve created in master suites (for clients) are finally being used. I created a master suite with a sitting area for one client, who was a high-powered attorney. He had young children in the house, so he would sequester himself in the master suite. For this reason, it was ideal to have the office within his bedroom.
There’s something nice about hanging out in your bedroom. If there’s not enough space for a sitting area, you can try a small 50- or 60-inch sofa at the base of the bed instead of a bench.

50+ Inspiring Living Room Ideas

Warmer Hues
“There was a long-time preference for cooler colors, but now there’s this gravitation towards warmer colors with pinkish undertones, which might be related to sheltering. That pinkish undertone is like a warm hug. I recommend Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin and Farrow & Ball Wimborne White.

More Thoughtful Purchasing Decisions

Amanda Kirkpatrick

“Recycling, upcycling, and exploring local businesses that are selling secondhand items are at the core of our philosophy as a design practice. It’s a win-win because it supports local business, and it gives the homeowner the immediate gratification of having their furnishings (right away). Suddenly, their home can have a nice layer of patina. I love a space that feels like it’s been accumulated over time and not just impersonally thrown together. With a trip to a local antique shop or vintage store, depending on the person, they can curate some really great stuff and do that first round of edits for you. You go in there, and it’s almost like having design assistance.”

Comfortable Outdoor Spaces

Amanda Kirkpatrick

“People are setting up living rooms in their backyard. Several clients have been asking us to source outdoor heaters, so people are trying to hold onto their outdoor living areas as long as possible. Smokeless fire pit inserts are big now, and they’re quite affordable (brands like Breeo and Solo Stove make them). They basically look like a tin can, but you can have a real fire inside of it. It’s incredible, since many people might have a small backyard, which means a fire pit isn’t practical.”
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If your home has been brimming with clutter for far too long, Marie Kondo’s latest foray just might help you. The popular organizer, who stands by ridding your space of everything that fails to spark joy, has just launched an online course that’s available on her site, KonMari.com, for just $39.99.
While Kondo has already garnered an impressive fan base with her organizing books and hit Netflix show, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, that showcases real people tidying under her guidance, she’s hoping to win over those who prefer a more direct teaching style. “When you reassess your belongings and organize your home, you set the stage for a huge transformation,” Kondo tells Good Housekeeping.

Organizing expert Marie Kondo
KonMari Media, Inc.

The KonMari Method™: Fundamentals of Tidying online course includes 10 lessons, where Kondo breaks down exactly how to tackle different tidying tasks throughout a home. She’ll share step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and, of course, tons of visual inspiration to make organizing as stress-free as possible. Plus, there are product recommendations as well as a downloadable checklist along the way.
“People are spending more time than ever at home, so this course is an opportunity to help them tidy up and rediscover their joy,” Kondo says. “Rather than a dreaded task, I see tidying as a celebration. It’s an act of gratitude for the items that support you every day – and the first step to living the life you’ve always wanted. It is my hope that the magic of tidying will help people to create a bright and joyful future – especially during these uncertain times.”
Ready to give Kondo’s online course a try? Register for it here.
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