Quiet luxury is a lifestyle and fashion movement that celebrates the art of understated elegance and thoughtful consumption. It embraces high-quality, minimalist designs that project timeless sophistication, favoring subtlety over flashiness and steering away from bold logos and excess.
As Marianne Mernick-Hrovat from Marianne’s Consignments Confessions explains, “My mother was an antique dealer. My childhood home was filled with old, quality pieces, collected over time. Mom used to say, “It looks like old money.” I think that description is essentially what quiet luxury interior design is all about. It’s that mohair throw across the back of your chair. Maybe you bought it on your last trip to Edinburgh, or maybe you thrifted it last week? Perhaps it’s the cherry, four-poster bed that you inherited from your Gram? Or did you?”
She continues, “Quiet luxury in interior design makes your home feel like it is filled with quality pieces, even if there are just a few key items. The takeaway from this style is elegance but in a subtle (not in-your-face) way. Not everything has to be pricey or of great quality, but a few, well-chosen pieces give your home the feel… of quiet luxury.”
This style emphasizes a calming atmosphere, characterized by soft color palettes, natural materials, and carefully selected furnishings that bring a sense of peace. In this Redfin article, we’ll delve into the essential elements of quiet luxury home design, offering practical tips and insights to help you create your own timeless design. Whether you’re reimagining your apartment in Seattle, your home in Madison, or your future place in Boulder, these ideas will inspire you to embrace the beauty of simplicity.
Choosing the right materials for quiet luxury interiors
When it comes to achieving a quiet luxury aesthetic, the choice of materials plays a crucial role in creating the atmosphere. The right materials can transform a space from ordinary to extraordinary, infusing it with warmth, texture, and a sense of calm. As Home Gambit, a source for home and garden inspiration says, “Quality over quantity is key, so choose high-end, timeless materials like natural stone, fine wood, and linen. Simplicity and understated elegance should guide your choices, with every piece feeling curated rather than cluttered. Incorporate subtle textures and thoughtful details that evoke a sense of refinement without overtly drawing attention.”
Gary Sadykov from the KS Renovation Group adds, “Prioritize high-quality natural materials like marble, fine wood, and linen, ensuring textures add depth without being overly flashy. Incorporate minimalist design principles, emphasizing clean lines and uncluttered spaces. Subtle details, such as custom millwork and discreetly luxurious finishes, elevate the space while maintaining a timeless elegance.”
Thoughtful quiet luxury furniture selections
It is important to think of furniture selection as it will take up the majority of the space in a room. As Christine, DYI home improver of Little House On The Corner says, “Quiet luxury is all about restraint and refinement. It’s all about balance; keep it simple and make every detail count to create an effortlessly curated, timeless look.”
Melissa of Wooden Soul says, “Wooden Soul’s advice on creating a serene and sophisticated space in your home that embodies quiet luxury interior design starts with your furniture. You’ll want to add minimal, understated pieces, and special touches that draw the eye. Minimalistic furniture often has clean lines and is not busy looking.
Special touches can include things like gold or brass finished handles, or geometric-shaped features that draw attention. Furniture with darker colors adds warmth to a space, while lighter colors bring coolness. Both color palettes can make a room feel luxurious and serene, so the colors you choose will depend on your taste and perhaps climate. Finally, we equate luxury with high quality, so always purchase furniture made from real wood, exotic or otherwise. The natural wood grain will shine through and give your space the tranquility you feel when out in nature.”
Mariko Konno from Nanas Design Pte. Ltd. adds, “Clean lines, custom furniture, and a focus on craftsmanship ensure that each piece enhances the serenity and sophistication of the space to a quiet luxury design.
Pippa Jameson, author and founder of The Sensory Home® suggests, “Embrace a minimalist approach to furniture and decor, focusing on high-quality, functional pieces. Removing unnecessary clutter helps maintain mental clarity and visual calmness. Create distinct zones for different activities, such as relaxation or work, by using furniture placement or subtle room dividers. This promotes a sense of order and purpose in each area of the home. Lastly, soft furnishings like thick curtains, upholstered furniture, and area rugs can absorb sound, reducing noise pollution and making spaces feel more intimate and quiet.”
Interior designer Deborah DiMare of DiMare Design shares, “For me personally, as a designer who focuses strictly on luxury design that is low in toxicity, sensory and compassionate (coming from an ethical place with no harm to all living beings, human and non), quiet interiors have always reflected my core philosophy. Clean, safe, elegant furniture and décor that is designed for optimal mental and physical health for every person’s unique needs.
While our color palettes, styles, and designs vary based on each client’s taste, environment and location, we always prioritize low-toxin paints, non-toxic mattresses and bedding, circadian lighting, biophilia (bringing nature into every space), ergonomic furniture, textural therapeutic fabrics, and sensory elements. Highly toxic furnishings affect our every pore, even our hormones. Quiet design is subtle. Your home doesn’t need to loudly announce itself, but how wonderful is it to know that it’s both stunning, sophisticated and free of chemicals and has positive, kind energy!”
For lighting, Okeli Lights says, “Subtle lighting is key — think warm-toned fixtures that cast a soft glow, enhancing the ambiance without overpowering the space. Layering different types of lighting, such as wall sconces, table lamps, and recessed lights, can create depth and dimension. Invest in well-crafted furniture and decor that prioritize quality over ostentation”
Colors and personalization for quiet luxury interior design
No matter the interior design trend, personalization is a must. When following aesthetics for a design style be sure to add your own personal touches.
As Tamara White from Mokuzai Furniture states, “The focus is all about selecting unique decor items with exceptional craftsmanship that offer beauty and style without being flashy or extravagant. The timeless style of quiet luxury doesn’t adhere to any specific era or design style. You want to select high-quality, artisanal items that will be beautiful for generations to come.”
Katie Jackson, owner of Modern Magic Marketing shares, “To keep the space feeling ‘quiet’ you want to leave breathing room and choose featured pieces that bring you the most joy – a favorite painting or pieces from your travels. I love all things color and believe that you can create a luxurious space that keeps you grounded while including colors. For me this means choosing earth tone paint colors or keeping the walls a warm white and adding color through artwork!”
The earth-tone palette is highly recommended, as many experts suggest embracing these warm, natural hues. Wey Flores from Saratoga Home says, “To create a quiet luxury home, think of natural tones and textures that feel calming but sophisticated. Use neutral colors like soft grays, whites, or warm earth tones.”
Jodie from UK Doors Online adds, “To achieve a quiet luxury home aesthetic, focus on a neutral, muted color palette with soft tones like beige, cream, and taupe to create a serene and timeless environment.”
Terrys Fabrics suggests, “The quiet luxury trend is all about incorporating high-quality materials and colour palettes into your home in a subtle manner. Whether neutral tones or classy white-on-whites, you can combine these shades with brighter colours in the summer months or darker shades in the winter to nail the trend year-round.”
Colleen Guilfoile Richmond from Wellington Quarterly Magazine also shares, “I recommend incorporating neutral tones and layering textures to ground the design. It’s also important to incorporate personal objects that bring joy — art, books, or heirlooms — pieces that make the space feel intimate and truly lived-in. This balance between luxury and meaningful personal touches creates a home that feels both elevated and warm.”
