Venus Williams has made history in the tennis world. To refresh your memory, she has a whopping 23 Grand Slam titles and five Olympic medals to her name.
But did you know she’s also a force in interior design? Yes, Venus has helmed her South Florida-based design practice, V Starr Interiors, for more than 20 years now, and she recently dropped a collection with Crate & Barrel.
The assortment, which she says is a way to connect her design creativity and her life in sports, includes more than 75 pieces of furniture and decor—everything from table lamps with bases that are designed to mimic tennis balls to curved seating inspired by her travels to Milan.
“I am a tennis player, and tennis has been such an influence in fashion and style, but really never in interiors,” Venus tells Good Housekeeping about the collection. “We did our best to create something that was authentic to all of those stories.”
On the heels of her partnership with Crate & Barrel, Venus is sharing her tried-and-true methods for decorating a room like a pro.
Don’t overlook scale and proportion.
“Some of the biggest mistakes we make in design relate to size and proportion,” Venus says. “For example, you might get a chair, but not consider how tall the arms are and where your side table should be. Those little things make a big difference, so pay attention to seat and coffee table height.”
Adopt a cohesive approach.
“We get so excited sometimes—we see a piece we love, we get it, and then our choices down the line aren't synced,” she explains. “Even if you're not buying all [your pieces] at once, plan your room out at once, so you know the direction you're going in.”
Don’t be afraid of color.
“While beige is a great base to start from, it shouldn't be where it ends,” the tennis pro says of the commonly used neutral. “One of my favorite colors in interiors is black. It's such a powerful color and not as easy to use, but when you get it, it provides incredible depth to a room. There's no need to be afraid of color.”
Shop Venus Williams’ Crate & Barrel Collection
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
