As we settle into the new year, consider upgrading our homes by taking inventory of our decor and deciding if it brings us joy.
A simple way to do that is by leveraging decor trends to help you decide what to toss or incorporate more of into your space. This year, some decor trends we’re noticing include infusing your personality into each accent item, like throw pillows or blankets. It’s essential to allow your home to reflect your personality and spirit, as you are the one who will need to feel comfortable in your space; your guests will thank you for adding specificity, too.
Another emerging decor trend is opting for unique pieces that quickly provide visual interest, like funky picture frames, opulent mirrors, and dazzling wallpaper, guaranteed to uplevel any home. To help get you started on revitalizing your home, we’ve put together a curated list of decor items based on the trends we’ve previously stated. Scroll below to view!
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Vera Bradley Plush Throw Blanket
Wrap yourself in comfort and style with this colorful and luxurious plush throw blanket, which is perfect to place on any couch or accent chair. Available at Vera Bradley
This velvet curtain’s rich, opulent look is enhanced by its ability to reflect light differently, adding a dynamic, ever-changing quality to your space.Available at Curtarra
You might not need a new couch with this fabulous accent pillow. The Pompidou pillows match moody tones with hot hues and pair 70s-inspired patterns with dimension for added oomph and style. Available at Jonathan Adler
Expertly handcrafted by artisans in Florence, Italy, this Willams Sonoma picture frame is perfect for adding color to any area of your home.Available at Williams-Sonoma
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
