Quiet Luxury - How to Create a High End Look Without the Price Tag
Quiet luxury has taken over the fashion industry in the last few years. While it’s definitely not a trend it is something that the masses have embraced and even retailers like H&M have introduced products that emulate quiet luxury into their stores. As you may know, interior design follows fashion so it’s not surprising that quiet luxury has been slowly entering our homes.
If you’ve found yourself feeling unsure about the trend it may be because this look can be outstanding when it’s well executed but can look underwhelming and cold when it’s not done well. I want to help you embrace the feeling of quiet luxury for your own home in a way that will feel uplifting and luxurious.
Always Start With the Colour Palette
The fundamental foundation of this look is about having a soft and quiet palette. Think soft neutrals and muted earth tones. This look doesn’t depend on colour but instead, the soft palette will help the colour disappear into the background.
If neutrals are new for you in your home you may feel like it’s going to be dull and boring but this look is anything but dull and boring. The colour is meant to act as a backdrop for elements in a room that will shine brightly. Quiet luxury relies on warm white, beige, taupe or sand as the foundational colour. From there we introduce pops of colour from earthy colours like sage green, terra cotta or pale, watery blue.
If you’re accustomed to living in a home with lots of colour and pattern you may find this to be underwhelming but if you can focus on the whole as opposed to the parts you’ll see it differently. It’s when the entire room is complete that you can see how each element supports the whole design. It comes together with so much sophistication and truly looks like a million bucks.
Texture For the Win
If I could only recommend a single element to bring a quiet luxury design to life it would be texture. This is how we instill life into a space that doesn’t rely on colour. We bring the attention to the other elements in the space and create visual interest that moves throughout the space capturing our attention.
Think walls covered in grasscloth, jute rugs, chairs with beautiful boucle fabric and velvet pillows. Most of us shop for furniture and decor by first examining colour and pattern so this may be a different way to approach shopping. The goal here is to start by reaching for the items that feel like they want to be touched. Those are the pieces that add life to a space when colour isn’t present. Whenever we rely on a quiet, muted colour palette we need to inject some texture to bring the space to life.
Natural Materials
This look evokes the feeling of being in an old home in a gorgeous countryside setting. You expect to see patina and aging but in a preserved manner. It’s sophisticated and timeless and it requires materials that are timeless as well. We want to avoid synthetic materials that are trendy or cheap looking.
My go-to items when designing around quiet luxury are natural materials like marble countertops and brass plumbing fixtures for the kitchen. These both have an old world quality and they age with patina which makes them an investment for a lifetime. They truly look better with each passing year.
When it comes to living spaces I rely on linen, silk, cotton and velvet for window coverings, pillows and upholstery. Always select timeless wood for tables so that you’re not chasing the latest trends which will leave your home looking too modern. Instead, I love classics like oak and walnut which always stand the test of time.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Quiet luxury doesn’t rely on items purchased at big box stores that everyone in your neighbourhood owns. Instead, we want to see fewer items that make a statement and stand on their own. Think about artisanal items like hand blown glass, handmade pottery and one-of-a-kind art pieces. Even if the item is brand new we want to evoke a feeling of another time past. Read this post to find out how to incorporate vintage pieces into your modern home.
For those who are on a budget I have good news for you. Many of these items can be found at thrift stores, consignment stores, antique stores and estate sales. Thrift stores are filled with silver, crystal and brass items that may need to be cleaned up but are absolute treasures.
For this style to work effectively, remember that it’s better to have just a few unique, quality pieces versus a room full of cheap imitations. Quiet luxury definitely leans into the philosophy that less is more.
Lighting the Space
One of the most overlooked aspects of design is lighting. People often assume that if you have great overhead lighting you’re finished addressing lighting in your home. If you really want to create a space that feels quietly luxurious you should spend extra attention on the lighting. Harsh overhead lights are going to kill the mood.
In order to create a timeless version of quiet luxury in your home you’ll want to rely on table lamps, floor lamps and wall sconces to create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. Yes there may be times of the day when you require the additional light provided by overhead lights but generally they aren’t providing ambience to your space. Read this post to understand more about the 3 types of lighting every room should have.
The Details
I’ve been a designer and staging consultant for many years and too often I see homes that have great architecture paired with great furnishings but something is lacking from the space. Almost always I can attribute the lack to the small finishing details. Too many times we run out of steam and leave that part of the job unfinished. It should never be overlooked because it’s the part of the process that brings your space to life. I think that when we have a room with little to no colour or pattern we need to ensure that we bring in the finishing touches to give some additional life to the space.
Think of the most elegant space you’ve been in. What did it have that most of our homes don’t have? For me I think of fresh flowers, subtle background music and luxurious scents throughout the space. These are the small details you can add to your own home to create the same feeling.
If you’re ever unsure about what’s missing, think of the nicest hotel you know. What does the lobby look like and what kind of small details make it feel elevated and sophisticated. We always see floral arrangements and often there’s subtle music playing in the background. There may be a bowl of fruit or a water jug filled with lemon and cucumber water. Think of how it smelled and what elements garnered your attention. Those little details aren’t placed there accidentally. These are deliberate ways of making the space feel luxurious and inviting you into the world of quiet luxury.
If you are considering updating your home and need some help, reach out to me. I’d love to discuss how I can help transform your space.
