Gloria Sanchez of Tailored Living shares her advice on cultivating subtle elegance to follow the trend of ‘quiet luxury’ in your self-designed interior
‘Quiet luxury’ is an aesthetic that captures the essence of subtle and toned-down elegance, using a preference for high quality, and beautifully understated designer pieces over the once favoured look of ostentatious opulence. Instead of screaming for attention, the trend for quiet luxury lends more towards key areas of interest that offer a more ‘whispered’ blend of personal style,
taste, confidence, and restraint; be it across the finishing touches or general colour palette.
In fact, as interior designers we are seeing an increase in requests for a more luxury living experience with many requirements falling into the quiet luxury ‘less is more’ style. However, sometimes the trend is a little braver and goes beyond ‘neutral’ interior decoration. This has stemmed from many of us now taking influence from having spent time abroad in luxury hotels, which pay close attention to having a welcoming homely atmosphere that is always signature in style.
Creating a tranquil oasis in your home that is away from the chaos of modern life is the real beauty of the quiet luxury trend, offering a cohesive and subtle interplay of colours and textures to create a soothing environment that promotes relaxation and more positive wellbeing.
I recommend a minimalist aesthetic and an ‘eagle eye’ for detail, as it is the extra finishing touches that will allow to you enhance the look and feel of the space. A strong use of natural materials and amazing craftsmanship will all add to this and create new design opportunities in the home for more specialist areas like a home cinema, gym, or spa bathroom.
By investing in high-quality, timeless pieces, you’ll ensure your design choices remain relevant and able to endure changing trends for years to come. This approach helps create a more sustainable living environment, and saves you time and money in the long run, as you won’t need to keep updating and refreshing the decor of your home. So why not embrace the quiet luxury trend in your home; It’s a no brainer if you are looking to create a timeless interior design scheme – and here are some helpful tips:
Choose high-quality materials like marble, natural wood, silk, velvet, and leather to create a luxurious look and feel in your home. The contrast in finish, colour and surface texture will all help to define a space while evoking a sense of character, which is more personal to you.
Embrace neutral tones like beige, cream, white, and grey; all are popular in luxury design schemes, creating a calm and sophisticated atmosphere, and a timeless foundation. By opting to decorate with neutral tones, you won’t overwhelm the space, so naturally it will feel less cluttered. The trick when using the neutral colour palette is to watch out for undertones, as they are not always visible to the untrained eye. The undertones should always work together for the scheme to be cohesive, as well as help you to achieve either a warm or cool ambience.
Add texture to your interiors by incorporating plush rugs, textured wallpaper, and soft furnishings such as cushions and throws. The opulent nature of a heavyweight fabric like velvet is the perfect way to add a touch of luxury, but to ensure it doesn’t become more maximalist, be sure to opt for a muted colour palette like beige or cream for a quieter look and feel.
Metallic accents like gold, bronze, and silver can add instant glamour to a space. Incorporate them across your accessories like mirrors, vases and lighting, and when chosen in the same or contrasting finish, you will naturally create a design scheme that does not overlook the finishing touches. Don’t be afraid to mix and match metals across the fixtures and fittings; when opting for the cooler metals, I prefer using nickel, as it offers a more subtle contrast when combined with warmer finishes elsewhere.
Investing in statement pieces like a chandelier, artwork, or an antique piece of furniture to add character and elegance to the space. You could even base your entire scheme around your favourite chair, decorative lamp or designer storage by replicating the same design details throughout the decor such as the shape, time period or choice of material.
Layer the lighting in your space to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Multiple light sources like table lamps, floor lamps, and pendant lights can add depth and interest. Remember the lighting control system is always an added bonus, as it will allow you to control the lighting in your home remotely or by voice control for ultimate convenience. Furthermore, a smart lighting system will also allow you to create different scenes of tasks and mood lighting, so you can make the room feel cosier at night or when entertaining friends.
Quiet luxury is about being practical and considered with your design approach, so if you do have the extra space why not consider the luxury of having a cinema room or home gym? It is these added luxuries, together with underfloor heating, air conditioning and home automation, that will help to create a forever home that lives up to your needs and lifestyle.
Gloria Sanchez is the founder and director of Tailored Living