17Jul

Represent Your Clique! 3 Ways to Incorporate Your Culture Into Your Home Decor

When I moved into my dream house 3 years ago, I was intent on having farmhouse decor. I included everything from shiplap to barn doors, in my home design and brought lots of neutral furniture pieces to match. About a year in, my taste took a turn from farmhouse to modern farmhouse as I started incorporating furniture with sleeker lines and using bolder colors to add to the aesthetic.

One day I looked around and realized, that as lovely as my home was, there were not many representations of me or my family. I mean sure we have photographs in various rooms but no real artwork, imagery or sculptures that represented Black people and Black culture. Here’s the thing, we live in a nice neighborhood, in which we are the minority. Plenty of lovely people, with beautiful homes and expensive taste. I fall within all three of the aforementioned categories but I’m also an eclectic, free spirit, who above all else, loves her Black heritage.

Since then, I have been trying to add pieces into my home that cover all bases. Items that not only fits the decor scheme but represents the people who live here and ties in with the modern farmhouse feel. There are so many ways to add individual style to your home. Here are the 3 ways, I’ve done it thus far.

Artwork

I started with these three images from Pardon My Fro, in my craft room, which I matted and framed. They really are a statement piece on the polka dot wall and I paid a total of $10 for all 3 prints during a promotion they were having. All three images represented my style so well.

My friend Alicia, who is an interior designer and is the brains behind Design and Style Studio, introduced me to the next piece, which she placed in her foyer. It was love at first sight because I literally felt like I was looking at myself. The skin tone and pearl necklace, which I always wear to work, spoke to me. The price tag on this “Evening Dress” Giclee Art was upwards of $800, which isn’t that bad for an art piece that speaks to your soul but I still had tons of house left to furnish, so I put it on the back burner. I finally caught it on sale at Neiman Marcus for $350! A steal. It’s currently on sale at Horchow, for even less than that. I assure you, it’s absolutely stunning in person.

Coffee Table Books

If you haven’t figured it out already, I love a good sale and a great deal. I really search hard to find the lowest prices that I can pay for an item, prior to making purchases. When I found the book, Black: A Celebration of Culture, by Deborah Willis, I knew it had to have a home in my sitting room. Filled with beautiful images of Black people, in all their glory as musicians, dancers, athletes, scholars and more, it gives a detailed history of my people with stunning imagery. The prices ranged from $35-$70. When I checked one of my favorite websites, ebay, I found it used for $13 and it sits and reads just as pretty as the $70 version.

I walked into the store Ollie’s one day, trying to kill time before an appointment. I had never been in Ollie’s. It was like a Ross store on steroids. There were so many great items at low prices, that I almost missed the appointment altogether. I wondered through their book section and came across a gem! The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Other Works. Ok, so it’s not really a coffee table book, in the true sense and this is actually a book I’ve read before but what made it so special, is that it is a leather-bound book. It feels rich, the letters are raised and etched into the leather. It is a true show piece and it was, wait for it, $2.99! Did ya’ll heard me!! (That’s not a typo, I’m asking you to listen closely) I said $2.99! I don’t know that I should be this excited but history, that can be decor? You can’t beat it.

Sculptures

With the current climate in the United States and the continued racial divide, The Black Lives Matters movement, has become more prevalent then ever. Within that movement we see several images of the raised fist, which is a symbol of solidarity, unity and strength. Sponsored Instagram ads must know my black heart because when this bronze fist sculpture came across feed, I happily clicked, shop now. The good news is, I opened Wayfair’s ad to take a look at the Milpitas Fist Sculpture by World Menagerie for $79.99. The bad news for Wayfair is that I found it at Bison Office for $58, during a sale. I love how this sculpture blends in on my coffee table, with all the other tchotchkes, including my Dad’s urn. I’m sure he would be super thrilled that I’m using him as decoration.

My family and I moved into a home with more than 6000 sq feet, basically with only the shirts on our backs. Because we lived with my parents, during the building process, we gave away or sold all of furniture. I have a long way to go before this house will be completely decorated to my liking but finding treasures that bring me happiness, makes the process that much easier. I hope this post will inspire you to think outside the box when purchasing items to represent you in your home. The smallest and the cheapest items can add so much character! Happy shopping friends.