Only two percent of interior designers in the United States are Black. That’s according to recent data by Zippia, a job search company. Yet Black women have made significant contributions to the industry and they bring their unique perspective, culture, and style to design. Whether bohemian interiors or minimalist design, Black women are pulling up with their own seats to a table that has historically tried to push them out.

Organizations like Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG), founded by designer and artist Malene Barnett, help amplify Black creatives. Barnett founded BADG in 2018. It was a way to protest the lack of Black people at the New York Design Center’s annual “What’s New, What’s Next” symposium. The online directory serves as a community for Black makers in creative industries.

 

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Many Black women interior designers, like Barnett, have experienced a lack of diversity in the industry.

“It’s always been there: The glass ceiling — at least I feel that way for myself. There’s always been a pipeline of work that many of my white colleagues have access to that I don’t,” said Sheila Bridges of Sheila Bridges Design to Architectural Digest.

 

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Despite being underrepresented, Black women continue to boldly show up in the interior design space. They are working to inspire and uplift the next generation of Black women interior designers. Women like Page Turner of HGTV’s “Fix My Flip” and “Rock The Block,” show that Black women can have thriving careers in the industry. These women are the blueprint and should be celebrated.

 

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To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are five Black women interior designers you should know.

Sheila Bridges

 

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When discussing Black women in interior design, you can’t forget Sheila Bridges’ significant contributions to the industry. The designer started her eponymous New York City firm in 1994. Since then, her work has been featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., and the Studio Museum in Harlem. She’s been profiled in The New York Times, House & Garden, Architectural Digest, and more.

Justina Blakeney

 

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This Los Angeles-based designer is known for her bohemian design style. Justina Blakeney founded Jungalow, a home decor and houseware brand with bold, colorful designs. She has collaborated with brands such as Target, Pottery Barn Kids, Anthropologie, and more. Blakeney is also the author of two coffee table books: “The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes” and “The New Bohemians: Come Home to Vibes.”

Carmeon Hamilton

 

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Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Carmeon Hamilton is an interior designer, blogger, content creator, environmental curator, and merchandising consultant. She is a modern bohemian and believes in finding beauty in everyday living. You can find Hamilton’s features on HGTV, Southern Living, Architectural Digest, and more.

Anishka Clarke

 

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Jamaican-born and bred designer Anishka Clarke, co-founded Brooklyn-based firm Ishka Designs in 2007 after leaving her career in the financial services sector. Along with her co-founder Niya Bascom, Clarke commits her firm to provide timelessness, authenticity, minimalism, and bespoke craft in her designs. She brings a unique perspective to the industry with a decade of experience in New York City’s financial world.

Dani Arps

 

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In 2014 Dani Arps opened her eponymous design firm, now known as Artisan. Arps has more than a decade of experience in the design industry. She bootstrapped herself to design office space for popular New York City startups like Daily Harvest, General Assembly, SeatGeek, and more.

Apps collaborated with fine art auction house Sotheby’s to curate an exhibit on mixing modern craft with inspired antiques. You can find Arps in publications like Interior Design Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful.