Inspiring Black Interior Designers We Should All Be Following

Designer Keia McSwain became the president of the Black Interior Designers Network in 2017 the year Kimberly Ward, the founder of the organization and McSwain's friend and coworker, passed away. McSwain is a self taught designer based in Denver who regularly uplifts the voices of up and coming Black designers and helped officially establish The Black Interior Designers Network as a nonprofit.

Nicole Gibbons is a well-known interior designer and the founder of Clare Paint, a direct-to-consumer paint company. Her keen eye for style and background as a designer serve her well in her current role as CEO.

Carmeon Hamilton is an interior stylist, blogger, and lifestyle designer who runs Nubi Interiors. She chronicles her design work on Instagram, giving followers a real look behind the curtain at what makes a space work.

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters are the designers behind Forbes Masters, a full-service interior design firm based in Atlanta. They highlight their bold designs on Instagram, and work on projects around the country.

Breegan Jane is an interior designer who you may recognize from HGTV's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She's also a lifestyle expert, entrepreneur and the author of the forthcoming childrens book, Carbie.

Kiyonda Powell is the principal designer at Kiyonda Powell Design Studio, LLC in Washington D.C. She has over 17 years of experience and brings "soul, spice, depth, and unexpected surprises" to all of her projects.

Saudah Saleem is a designer, fashionista, and self-described "boss mom" whose work has been featured on HGTV and a variety of shelter magazines. She describes her style as "vintage soul with a modern twist."

Sheila Bridges has been a design industry powerhouse since she launched her practice in the '90s. She's known for her creativity and masterful use of color, was once named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time Magazine, and is the creator of the Harlem Toile pattern.

Malene Barnett is the founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, which she started in 2018 as a response to the lack of diversity in the worlds or art and design. She is a a ceramic artist, activist, and speaker who "hopes to bridge the function of textiles and ceramics from the African region by exploring what it means to be black in America today."

You may recognize Michael from Bravo's Buying It Blind, where he helped couples design their dream homes. He established his practice, SMITHBOYD Interiors, in 2006, which specializes in luxury projects, both residential and commercial.

Tiffany Brooks is a professional interior designer with her own design firm in Chicago. She was the winner of HGTV's Design Star in 2013, and is currently the designer and host behind HGTV's yearly Smart Home initiative.

Brigette Romanek is an interior designer and the owner of Los Angeles-based Romanek Design Studio, which offers bespoke design, architectural and project management services to clients. She's also been featured on Architectural Digest's "AD 100" list.

Nicole White is an award-winning designer, blogger, and influencer who runs the eponymous Nicole White Designs in South Florida.

New York-based husband-and-wife duo, Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, have run the design firm AphroChic together since 2007. Their mission is "celebrating creativity from across the Diaspora."

Bailey Li describes herself as a decorative artist, interior artist, and designer. She is a self-taught interior designer and the founder of Bailey Li Interiors. She believes that "by transforming one’s space, you can transform their lives."

Beth Diana Smith is an interior designer with a "bold, eclectic style and a love for color, pattern, and details." After more than a decade working in accounting and finance she received a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. Her corporate background coupled with her innate creativity serve her well as the principal of her full service firm, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design.

Courtney McLeod is the founder and principal designer at Right Meets Left Interior Design, an award-winning, full-service studio based in Manhattan. She is known for "joyfully elegant, color-confident interiors expressing both her clients' unique tastes and her vivid, collected aesthetic."

Shavonda Gardner is a designer and the blogger behind SG Style. She chronicles her experience inn small space living using the hashtag #thecottagebungalow, and is currently building an English cottage-inspired potager garden from scratch (follow along here).

Nikki Klugh is the founder and CEO of award-winning interior design firm, Nikki Klugh Design Group, Inc, who harnesses her belief that "everyone deserves a place of respite" into her designs.

Denese Butler is a designer and the founder of the design firm The Perfect Vignette. As the daughter of a carpenter and wife to an architect/builder, she describes her own career path as "seemingly inevitable." On her Instagram, she not only shares finished projects, but progress shots and a peek at her family life, as well.

Kelly Finley is the founder and principal designer at Oakland, California-based Joy Street Design, and joy is what she brings to each of her projects through her use of color and bold design choices. The former lawyer holds degrees from the the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford Law School, and Emory University.

Atlanta-based Erika Ward is the founder and principal designer at the design firm and showroom Erika Ward Interiors, which she started in 2006. She describes the firm as having a "contemporary meets classic interior design aesthetic."

Tiffany Thompson is a residential designer and the founder of Duett Interiors. She previously worked at Nike, before deciding to translate her passion for interior design into a career. Her specialty is "merging cultures with your personal style to transform a space to be uniquely yours."

Justin Q. Williams is an interior designer, interior stylist, and entrepreneur based in Atlanta. He is the founder and principal designer at Trademark Design Company and has had work published in several design publications.

Gail Davis is an interior designer, podcast host, and graduate of the New York School of Interior Design. She is also the founder and principal designer at the New Jersey-based firm, Gail Davis Designs.

Justina Blakeney is a designer, artist, and the founder of The Jungalow. Her distinctive style is infused with inspiration from nature, and she is the author of multiple best selling books.

Arianne Bellizaire is a Louisiana-based interior designer with over ten years of experience in the design world. Her mission is to help clients feel less overwhelmed by the design process, and truly enjoy the process.

Janea Brown is a blogger, YouTuber, and design enthusiast with an emphasis on creating a happy home and healthy life. She helps her readers and viewers bring their "dream home aesthetic to life" while promoting wellness at home.

Corey Damen Jenkins is an interior designer and the founder of Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates, which has offices in Detroit, Michigan and New York City. He describes his mission as helping to ensure his clients' homes "are always classic, livable, and without an expiration date."

Keita Turner is a New York City-based interior designer and graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She's also the founder of Livvy & Neva, a collection of throw pillows that features both vintage and contemporary designs.