What Is Quiet Luxury Design?

In fashion, quiet luxury is all about achieving a luxurious look that's chic and timeless without looking like you put too much thought into it. Wardrobe basics like t-shirts, blazers, and jeans made with high-quality materials paired with simple gold or silver jewelry are staples in a quiet luxury style. Followers of the trend generally avoid bright colors and bold prints as well as lots of accessories.

When it comes to quiet luxury in home design, the same principles apply. “Quiet luxury in a home is, essentially, the use of elevated basics," says designer Lori Shaw. "The vibe is more interesting than minimalism, a focus on refinement over loud and bold."

Interior designer Shanade McAllister-Fisher agrees. “This trend is defined by understated elegance, refined simplicity, and creating a calm atmosphere that exudes a sense of luxury with minimal effort,” she says.

Think clean and thoughtfully curated interiors, neutral tones, and high-quality materials like real wood, marble, and cashmere linens.

In short, this style is about investing in quality pieces that will remain a staple in your home for years to come.

How to Implement Quiet Luxury Decor at Home

While the name may sound intimidating, the good news is that this trend isn't about spending in excess or investing in expensive items. As long as you understand the basic principles of quiet luxury, you can implement this kind of decor in your own home by switching pieces out over time. These are some of the key points to keep in mind.

Jay Wilde

1. Look for Spaces of Self-Reflection

According to designer Cheryl Clendenon, quiet luxury interior design is not a style rooted in set color palette, trend, or theme, but a shift in mindset. She reminds us that the trend isn't about money, it's about intentionality. "It's more of an internal assessment of what is important to you and embracing what you truly love no matter what it is—in some way," she says.

To curate the aesthetic, use an intentional approach as you select materials and furnishings, making sure you carefully consider each one against the feel of your space. "Decide what you need from a functional standpoint, and take your time to find just the right pieces," Clendenon says.

Brie Williams Photography

2. Focus on High-Quality Materials and Ignore the Trends

High-quality, timeless staples are key in the quiet luxury trend. Rather than buying trendy, high-end furniture or accessories with flashy brand-name logos, choose pieces that are made from quality materials. Just like quiet luxury in fashion, the idea is to build your space with fewer, but more high-quality and versatile pieces.

“Think high-quality solid wood flooring, marble countertops, and Egyptian cotton bedding over cheaper laminate or polyester," McAllister-Fisher says. “These items look and feel far better than the cheaper without being in your face, and add a timeless but subtle depth of character to your home that will last for years to come.”

With social media trends blanketing our screens, it can be difficult to discern what is timeless and what is just popular right now. "Ignore Instagram and the media darlings telling you what's cool or on-trend," Clendenon says. "Eventually you get sucked into believing that's what you like too, when often, that's not the case." She suggests scouting furnishings that have a history and story to tell, prioritizing fine craftsmanship. Look for pieces made with real joinery (versus particle board glued together, for example), and natural, sustainable materials like solid wood, linen, ceramic, and leather over plastic or polyester.

Edmund Barr Photography

3. Choose Muted Colors and a Neutral Palette

Quiet luxury is known for favoring a neutral color palette and muted hues. Don’t worry, it’s not a revival of the white-on-white trend we’ve seen over and over again. Instead, warm neutrals like off-white, taupe, and beige are often seen paired with nature-inspired colors like sage green or warm, muted blues. Or, pick muted versions of hues you love. If you gravitate towards blues or greens, opt for a dusty blue or sage green over brighter shades.

“Not only are these colors the perfect backdrop to allow your furniture to shine through, but they also create a calm and relaxing atmosphere that immediately evokes the feeling of luxury without feeling too ostentatious," McAllister-Fisher says. "Think a high-end spa or boutique hotel,”

Reduce the visual noise of your space by layering in soft, saturated earth tones and calming neutrals. Then, use textiles to build color and depth in your space. Think: linen curtains, natural fiber rugs, and lush pillows.

Jay Wilde

4. When in Doubt, Lean Into Minimalism

To achieve an interior that feels effortlessly elegant and luxurious, it’s important to keep it simple and remember that less is more. “The aim is to avoid clutter and focus on highlighting those top, high-quality pieces,” McAllister-Fisher says.

Be thoughtful with the decorative accents you include in your space and choose clean, minimal lines over anything too ornate or detailed. McAllister-Fisher also recommends sticking to natural materials like glass, ceramic, and wood for decor and accessories to give the space a polished and united feel.

Ryann Ford

5. Lighting Is Key

Good lighting will make any space feel more luxurious, and plenty of natural light is ideal for the quiet luxury trend, along with thoughtfully designed interior lighting.

“For an ultra-luxe look, I recommend using soft diffused lamps and lighting fixtures and warm bulbs—this will add a subtle luxurious feel that is warm and inviting and will give your furniture and accessories a gorgeous glow,” McAllister-Fisher says.

Warm lighting, typically found in bulbs between 2600K–3200K, creates a cozy atmosphere ideal for quiet luxury. For task lighting, cooler and brighter bulbs around 4000K–5000K are recommended to prevent eye strain.

Each room can reflect quiet luxury by layering different types of lighting. Incorporate ambient lighting for overall illumination (such as a chandelier), task lighting for specific activities (like reading), and accent lighting to highlight architectural features. 

Tempaper and Co.

6. Feature Elegant Walls

"Beautifully dressed walls play a key role in achieving the refined feel of quiet luxury, especially when it comes to texture," says wallpaper design expert Amanda Both. Grasscloth is one of her favorite wallcovering options, because it introduces both color and texture.

"Grasscloth creates a sense of warmth and depth that feels elevated yet effortless. It brings a natural, handcrafted quality to any room, with its woven texture and softly varied tones," she says. "Linen-textured wallcoverings also bring a refined softness that feels high-end."

Both recommends choosing soft, tonal patterns and textured finishes to achieve the quiet luxury aesthetic. "For something a bit more decorative, tone-on-tone prints or hand-drawn-style patterns add personality while keeping things subtle and sophisticated," she says.

Ali Harper

7. Use Cost-Effective Alternatives to Finish the Look

One thing all of our design experts emphasize is that you don't need to blow your budget to to get the quiet luxury look in your own home. Start by planning your design: list all the pieces you need and want, and set a budget for yourself. Then, curate your collection by visiting estate sales, online marketplaces or thrift stores, which can all offer high-quality furnishings and decor at a fraction of the cost of buying new.

You can save big on big-ticket pieces like sofas, coffee tables, or rugs, but be sure to scan your locations for smaller items too. Finding high-quality accents like wool throws, cotton pillow covers in your favorite motifs, designer-grade lamps, or stoneware vases for your bookshelves can really help pull the whole atmosphere of quiet luxury together.

And when outfitting your walls, consider new approaches. "For impact without overspending, wallpaper a single wall, the back of your built-in shelves, your ceiling, or small spaces like your powder room, for a polished, tailored touch that feels thoughtful and elevated," Both says. This will create subtle interest while keeping the overall look clean and uncluttered. "Peel and stick faux grasscloth wallpapers can also offer the same depth and warmth of natural materials at a lower cost," she says.