Erin Napier is the co-star of HGTV's Home Town and the designer half to her woodworking husband, Ben Napier. She's a painter, writer, decorator, mother, wife and all-things-vintage lover. Ahead, learn about her childhood in Laurel, Mississippi, her journey as a mother, her triumphs as a designer and more.

History and Background

Erin was born and raised in Laurel, Mississippi, the setting for her future hit show Home Town. “I grew up on a 40-acre chicken farm and would pick out a baby chick to be my pet every time a new load would come,” Erin told Southern Living. “My playtime consisted of climbing a lot of trees and digging for arrowheads in the woods.”

She attended Jones County Junior College where she met her husband, Ben, in 2004 after being assigned to interview him for a story in the yearbook. "He was like a celebrity crush to me," Erin told People. "He was the president of every club and very popular but not exclusive. I would see someone eating alone in the cafeteria, and there was Ben, pulling up a chair beside them." The two immediately hit it off and decided they would one day get married only four days after their first date.

After transferring to and graduating from Ole Miss with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in graphic design, Erin moved back to Laurel with Ben to start their life together. Erin founded a wedding stationery business, which she ran until an HGTV producer contacted her in 2014 asking if she'd ever considered television. Home Town premiered in January 2016 and Erin’s dream of revitalizing her small piece of the world one house and business at a time came true.

Erin's Relationship

Annually, Erin and Ben celebrate Love Week, which is what they call the six-day period in December they met and fell in love during college. In the lead-up to Love Week, Erin often shares photos from the earliest days of her and Ben's relationship.

How Many Kids Does Erin Have?

Erin and Ben have two girls together. Before giving birth to her firstborn, Helen, Erin had a fear of becoming a mom. "For me, pregnancy was my biggest fear and it felt insurmountable," Erin shared on Instagram. "It felt impossible. I would turn out the light at the end of every single day and the weight of hopelessness made me feel pathetic: 'Another day has passed and I'm still not brave enough.'" But as soon as Erin found out she and Ben were expecting, she was relieved. Helen was born January 3, 2018, and Mae was born May 28, 2021.

Now, Erin cherishes every moment of being Helen and Mae’s mom. “[Motherhood] feels like sand in my hands: I want to hold every single piece of it, but I just can't,” Erin told HGTV.

Erin’s HGTV Shows

Erin is most well-known for co-hosting her and Ben's home makeover show, Home Town, which celebrated its 100th episode in 2024. The success of Home Town led to spinoffs including Home Town Kickstart and Home Town Takeover.

Erin’s Books

Erin is the author of several best-selling books. In 2018, she and Ben released their memoir, Make Something Good Today, which recounts the couple’s history and tells the story of how they rebuilt downtown Laurel, Mississippi. The book quickly became a New York Times best-seller. In 2022, Erin authored her first children’s book, The Lantern House. In 2023, she published a second New York Times best-seller, Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home. “This book is not standard home design fare," Erin shared in an Instagram post. "It is tender and about raising a family and the rooms where that happens. It celebrates imperfection and change and individuality, and it never tells you how you should do that. I hope you see yourselves in these essays and photos."

Fun Facts About Erin

• Birthday: August 30
• Zodiac sign: Virgo
• Height: 5'5"
• Erin used to own a wedding stationery company.
• She wrote a children’s book titled The Lantern House.
• She journaled every day from January 1, 2010, until January 1, 2020.

Erin’s Osprey Foundation

In 2023, Erin and Ben launched their nonprofit (called Osprey) with the mission of helping kids enjoy their childhood by keeping them off of social media until they graduate high school. The organization promotes parents creating “nests” of kids in their communities who don’t use social media in order to avoid bullying for not being allowed to use certain apps. Ben and Erin ensure their own kids spend most of their time doing tech-free activities like making artwork, playing outside, gardening and spending time with family.

What Is Erin’s Design Style?

Erin is a pioneer of the grandmillennial trend. She mixes quaint cottage style with vintage decor and retro patterns. Every Home Town makeover, not to mention her own home, is full of antique decor, knickknacks that tell a story, heirloom wood furniture and perfectly mismatched fabrics. "It takes a level of lived-in comfort and collectedness in a home to make it feel complete and real," Erin told HGTV back in 2020. "All my favorite set designs in movies exude it — The Family Stone, Father of the Bride, Dan in Real Life. These homes aren’t museums of style — they’re real."

Erin’s Partnerships

In 2023 Erin launched a line of peel-and-stick wallpaper with York Wallcoverings inspired by vintage botanicals and whimsical folk art. Recently, Erin and Ben launched a line of pendants, sconces, chandeliers and flush ceiling lights with Shades of Light. "I'm always looking for lights that are modern, but also a wink to historic design and I wasn't finding exactly what I wanted. It didn't really exist," Erin told Southern Living.

Keep Up With Erin

Erin is currently the co-star of Home Town and Home Town Takeover with her husband, Ben. She also helps run three Laurel, Mississippi, businesses that she co-founded with her husband: Laurel Mercantile Co., Scotsman Co. and Scent Library.