Arushi Sakhuja
'Money screams, Wealth whispers!' – the rise of Quiet Luxury in interiors, furniture and home decor.
A phrase, a term, a feeling – no matter what you call it, we have all stumbled upon the term 'Quiet Luxury' in the recent past. A rapidly growing concept, the idea seems to have encompassed all fashion enthusiasts and we slowly see it spread across industries. The key idea behind the concept is the fading of logo mania and outright branding.
As the world moves closer and closer to clutter-free living, millennials desire 'Quiet Luxury'; objects where opulence is in the detail and care of design. Luxury that is not flashy, but rather subtle is the true ethos of 'Quiet Luxury'. The term then can be defined as one that captures the hearts of people who appreciate the finer things in life.
This season, quiet luxury is the understated design trend of the year and the buzz around the term is getting louder and louder. While the concept of quiet luxury can't be categorized as a new design trend, the question is what does it mean for the home? And how can it be achieved?
What is Quiet Luxury?
Throughout history, the look of opulence was set in loudness, but now it seems that wealth has decided to lower itself into a whisper. Keerthi Tummala, Founder and Director at SAGE Living explains, "Quite Luxury is genuine yet subtle. Emphasis is placed on elevated materials, exceptional craftsmanship, and enduring quality rather than fleeting trends." Aanchal Goel Founder, Objectry agrees and gives us an interesting insight, "Quiet luxury can mean different things for different people based on where they find joy. I think for me, the merit of quiet luxury lies in how it makes us feel internally in the times when we experience a space solo."
Gaining applause from fashion and interior designers alike, quiet luxury proves that there is a pull to return to the days when quality was prioritized over the fleeting trends that come and go. "The desire to celebrate the finer things in life, with no logos in sight, has been around for ages. Quiet luxury is more about the thought process behind the selection of each piece, who made the pieces, how and where they are made, and how ethical is the process. Quiet luxury emphasizes understated elegance, timeless appeal, and high-quality materials. It's a movement that prioritizes simplicity and refinement, creating serene, calming spaces that reflect a sense of sophistication without ostentation," adds Tummala.
When it comes to the home front, Quiet luxury is centred on elevated materials, warm hues, and elegance. And thus it is, essentially, the use of elevated basics. Much like the rest of the aesthetic, in decor, the aesthetic relies on simplicity. "I think people have started discovering parts of themselves through the objects they buy for their homes. As the clutter on the outside increases, people are choosing to design spaces that give them a sense of calm inside the comfort of their homes. The colour palettes are softer and closer to neutral which helps achieve a sense of relaxation without jarring or noisy colours or textures," aptly describes Aanchal.
Quite luxury in interiors and home spaces
While the name may sound intimidating, the good news is that this trend isn't about 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.
From subtle colour palettes to sustainable materials and natural influences, quite luxury in homes is a movement that prioritizes simplicity and refinement, creating calming spaces that reflect a sense of sophistication without ostentation. It is, in fact, a new kind of minimalism; a more relaxed version of the trend. However, it is not synonymous with minimalism. As opposed to minimal design, quiet luxury has all the components of a layered and thought-out home without feeling overly done or cluttered. In such homes, balance and restraint are key.
The defining elements for the trend in home decor as per Aanchal are selecting the material or colour palette – think soothing neutral tones and richness of materials. "The more soothing and neutral tones you pick, the more there is a sense of balance that automatically comes from within. The richness of materials elevates a space as well as soothes our sense of touch." Rather than going for bold shades, focus on neutral tones of taupe or beige, balancing them with lighter shades like white and cream. Darker hues including navy, olive green, brown, grey and black are also synonymous with quiet luxury.
Adding further Keerthi Tummala believes that quiet luxury in the realm of interiors operates discreetly, evading immediate recognition of its source or creator. Agreeing on the elements that define the trend she shared, "Its designer pedigree becomes apparent only upon closer inspection, as the attributes of quality, form, and craftsmanship gradually unveil themselves. It finds expression in soft, subdued colour palettes, earthy hues, and the use of sustainable, premium materials characterized by organic shapes. The objective is to craft interiors that eschew ostentation and noise in favour of tranquillity and relaxation—a space devoid of clutter, adorned with an understated aesthetic."
It is now, more than ever, that we seek comfort and luxury in our homes; spaces that exude warmth, Cozy fabrics such as linen, velvet and shearling can be incorporated into upholstery, curtains and bedding, knit blankets can be added to your living spaces and for solid surfaces, lean into stone and wood finishes. D'decor's Provence rug collection featuring a perfect blend of tranquillity and soothing colour palettes, is yet another way to add quite luxury to your home.
Contrary to what many think, simplicity in design is not necessarily the easier approach for any type of creative—in fact, stripping away the excess leaves more room for error and scrutiny. Sighting examples of homes that champion the trend think of clean and thoughtfully curated interiors, neutral tones, and high-quality materials like real wood, marble, and cashmere linens.
SAGE Living and Objectry have cracked the code. SAGE Living's Enso collection embodies the essence of quiet luxury with designs complementing the organic, fluid, and unrefined elements of the earth. It embraces flaws and the inherent irregularities found in materials, forming a narrative of genuineness, authenticity, and acceptance. While at Obejctry the Ball Coffee Table perfectly embodies the concept.
"Something about the form and the juxtaposition of the finishes is very interesting to me. It works like a piece of art that you can continue to stare at for a long time. Like finding shapes in clouds, you can find faces and horses in each different splash of black on white. The colours themselves are not jarring and don’t demand attention. Another example of quiet luxury is our Tube Mirror," said Aanchal.
Quiet Luxury in the Indian market
In India, the quiet luxury market is not quite quiet. While there are a handful of individuals who prefer sophistication over overtly flashy branding, most fall in the latter bracket. India’s past illustrates that wealth is something this country has a long history of. With this in mind, it is easy to see that quiet luxury is not quite so luxurious in a country like India. "I feel like India as a country has taken some time to accept itself, understand its strengths and weaknesses, and create beyond it. I think with people choosing to understand themselves and growing to accept their own humanity, the future of quiet luxury is bright in a market like India," Aanchal told The Style List.
But slowly the quiet luxury trend is gaining momentum across diverse sectors, and this trend is expected to continue and grow in popularity in the years ahead. As consumers become more discerning and demanding, they are looking for brands that offer more than just a flashy logo. They are looking for brands that offer quality, craftsmanship, timeless design, and ethical sourcing practices, aptly says Tummala.
Therefore, we can say that 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' The bottom line of adding the trend to your home is a focus on making a home feel inviting rather than overt opulence.