This story was originally published in ESSENCE’s special 55th anniversary July/August 2025 issue.
Long before Charli Penn’s name became synonymous with love and lifestyle, she was flexing her writing muscle while her peers cavorted on the playground. “Oprah has always said that your gifts choose you,” says Penn. “When I was a little girl, I wrote my first book: Will Second Grade Ever End? When other kids were outside playing games, I was writing to kids’ and teen magazines, trying to build my byline.”
In other words, Penn isn’t new to this. “I was creating mood boards before I knew to call them ‘mood boards,’ or what a mood board even was,” she says, laughing. “Back then they were ‘collages’ or just ‘art projects’ to me. But I loved envisioning and collecting references for how I wanted a space to feel, from my high school bedroom to my dorm room to my first college apartment. I pinned things I loved and kept them handy, to curate spaces that brought me joy and peace.”
As ESSENCE’s former Lifestyle Director and longtime Relationships Editor, Penn spent more than a decade spearheading some of the magazine’s most memorable relationship content—and prioritized covering lifestyle topics with style, empathy and honesty. In 2018 she organized the Black Love Gala with ESSENCE in New York City, celebrating the beauty and sanctity of that bond.
In addition to developing heartfelt relationship content, Penn expanded ESSENCE’s home and interiors coverage, encouraging readers to make their dwelling feel like a true sanctuary. Now, as editor-in-chief of Apartment Therapy, she oversees all editorial on the site, which covers topics like home design, projects, house tours, organizing and cleaning, and more. She has also brought her expertise to national TV, appearing on the Today show to share her insights with a broader audience.
While she’s currently at a home design and decor brand, Penn fondly remembers her time at ESSENCE. “Honestly, it was challenging in all the best ways,” she says. “Being at the magazine really pushed me to be the best version of myself—as a woman, as a Black woman, as a writer, as an editor, as a journalist, as an on-air personality, as a host and as a moderator. ESSENCE pushes you at every turn, so that you always have to bring your best to the stage, to the page, to the table—and you have to do that in rooms full of other incredibly dope Black creators and marketers and innovators and strategists. It was truly the most incredible and surreal experience of my career.”
Working at ESSENCE was also deeply significant for Penn, as her late mother, Norgina, an English professor with a master’s degree in English pedagogy, taught her everything she needed to know about writing and editing. “When she moved to New York, it had been her dream to work at ESSENCE, and that dream never came to be due to her cancer,” says Penn, who was only 9 when her mom passed away from breast cancer. “But every single second that I walked those halls, I felt like I was living out our dream together.”
Though her focus now is on the home, the digital creator will always be a “lifestyle girl” at heart, committed to helping people thrive in every corner of their lives. “From health to wealth to wellness to love to family to the home you create for yourself, it’s all part of living a full life,” she explains. “So, I started as a relationships editor, which helped me build out and shape how we celebrate love and Black love and relationships. There’s so much duality in how we experience love and relationships, and so many other parts of our lives emanate from that.”
It wasn’t surprising, then, that Penn found she was a home enthusiast as much as she was a love and relationships enthusiast. “I feel like home is where the heart is—and I’ve always admired how Black women celebrate their individuality, personality and spirit in how they decorate their homes and add things that are important to them,” she says. “You really need to be happy at home.”
When it comes to curating your own space, Penn encourages women to invest in making their home a reflection of joy and peace, whatever that may look like. “There is no rule book,” she says. “It can be any style, any color. It can be a lot of things or a few things. I think it’s really about surrounding yourself with a home that you feel safe in, you feel warm in, and you feel like you can be yourself.”
Penn knows all about creating an affectionate atmosphere in your personal space; she is happily in love with her husband of nearly 15 years. “I’m really big on romantic energy in a home, and it’s so easy to do,” she says. “One of my first tricks is warm and soft lighting. You should be mindful of your light bulbs. You can also use flameless candles. There are so many beautiful varieties and versions—wireless sconces, different types of lamps, table lamps and floor lamps. I also think anything plush and cozy evokes romance—picking cozy fabrics and textures for your throw pillows and velvet for your couch instantly makes a space more romantic. Also, consider adding florals—they are inherently romantic.”
She also recommends playing music to set the mood in your space. “I think people overlook music. In our household, we tend to defer to an R&B playlist over the television, any day,” says Penn. “Try filling your home with romantic tunes, songs you love, your favorite R&B, and have that be the backdrop. Don’t be afraid to turn the TV off and turn the speaker on. I always say every home should have a theme song.”
Love Lives Here
Charli Penn curates Black-owned finds, from wallpaper to delicate glassware, that bring intimacy and intention to every space (including yours!)
“This blush lacquer lampshade casts a soft, ambient glow that instantly warms up any space—think cozy evenings, glowing skin tones and effortless elegance,” says Penn. “Its high-shine finish adds a modern twist to a classic silhouette, making it a romantic statement piece that pairs beautifully with vintage or contemporary lamps. Subtle yet striking, it’s the detail that turns everyday lighting into an intimate design moment.”
Available at DRIS
“These hand-blown glasses in a delicate rose hue epitomize romantic tabletop style,” Penn notes. “With their graceful curves and soft blush color, they’ll instantly set the mood for a quiet dinner for two. They’re timeless, elegant and practically made for sipping something sparkling by candlelight.”
Available at Estelle Colored Glass
“Looking to give your walls a little romance? The Torino Damask wallpaper isn’t just wallpaper—it’s a passport to Italy,” Penn says. “This hand-screened wallpaper brings European charm in a big way. Think ornate patterns, metallic shimmer and major old-world vibes. It’s perfect for adding a little drama, the elegant kind, to a bedroom, a hallway or anywhere you want to create a moment.”
Available at Sheila Bridges Design
“Part mirror, part textile art, this arched stunner brings softness and a little soul to any wall,” says Penn. “The warm bronze tint adds a moody glow, while the cascading ivory fringe creates movement and texture—like a romantic curtain caught in a breeze. It’s a piece that reflects not just light but feeling.”
Available at Candice Luter
“Wrapped in plush rust velvet, this armchair brings irresistible warmth and richness to any room—like a love letter to luxe comfort,” states Penn. “Its deep seat and feather-topped cushions invite lingering, cozy conversations or curling up with a book and a glass of wine. With sculptural lines and a moody, sunset-inspired hue, it’s both a statement piece and a soft place to land.”
Available at Albany Park