Embrace a look of understated elegance, refined simplicity, and timeless character with 'quiet luxury' Christmas decor.
Quiet luxury has been one of the most talked about and celebrated interior design trends of this year, offering a refreshing and warming alternative to minimalism. The trend champions soft and subtle color palettes, a luxurious use of materials, and can help to establish a look that feels wonderfully cozy, warm, and serene.
Whether you're looking for elegant Christmas decor ideas to complement your home's existing quiet luxury look, or are searching for minimalist Christmas decor ideas that embody a more pared-back and simple approach to decorating, we've asked a collection of interior designers to share their favorite quiet luxury Christmas decor ideas.
How to embrace a 'quiet luxury' look this Christmas
'The ‘quiet luxury’ aesthetic has, somewhat ironically, entered the interiors stratosphere anything but quietly. First seen on the runways, the interior design trend has quickly made its way into our homes. However, unlike many trends we see, this one is arguably not even a trend at all – it’s less about a specific look and more about creating an atmosphere that is timeless and evokes a feeling of understated elegance. The aesthetic really focuses on making every moment and every corner of your home matter and incorporating quality, well-crafted pieces that stand the test of time,' says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's design and trend expert.
From the colors of 'quiet luxury' to use across your decorations, to cozy and Christmassy decorating ideas that will complement a 'quiet luxury' living room, this is how to achieve a 'quiet luxury' look in your home this Christmas.
1. Choose an elegant white and gold color scheme
A white and gold color scheme can create a wonderfully warm, elegant, and sophisticated style, and this classic Christmas palette is perfect for 'quiet luxury'.
'White and gold are enduring colors associated with elegance and luxury. They have a timeless quality that can fit into a wide range of design styles, from traditional to modern, making them a versatile choice for your decor. Gold accents can add a touch of opulence and sophistication to a space, whilst also creating a warming, cozy and welcoming atmosphere,' says Jo Plismy, designer and founder of Gong.
Whether you use white and gold for your Christmas tree theme, or complement existing white room ideas with a collection of gold decorations, this fail-safe color combination will always create a look of luxury.
2. Or, opt for muted earthy tones
Other colors that work well for quiet luxury Christmas decor include more muted, earthy, and natural tones; think greens, browns, and lighter neutrals such as cream, taupe, and beige.
'Decorating with earthy colors, such as olive or sage green, creates an understated and inviting atmosphere. Muted tones like these are ideal for creating a more inviting and calming sanctuary in the home over the festive period,' says Laura Burnett, design expert at Feather & Black.
Perfect for rustic Christmas decor ideas, which work in elegant harmony with quiet luxury, these more natural, organic tones can be used across natural festive accents such as Christmas wreaths and Christmas garlands, as well as for your Christmas ornament ideas – simply look to the seasonal colors of nature for some beautiful and timeless inspiration.
3. Embrace a more minimalist approach to decoration
Design expert at Contura, Catharina Björkman, says, 'The quiet luxury trend has many similarities with already popular aesthetics found in Scandinavian decor, with a less is more approach, muted color palettes, and an emphasis on craftsmanship and quality fabrics and furnishings.
It’s an authentic yet understated approach to interior design and will hold its appeal through time. It’s not about unbridled opulence and is far from ostentatious; the joy of quiet luxury is that it’s the small details that make up the look as a whole.'
Here, the Christmas table decor by Layered Lounge has been kept light, bright, and wonderfully simple, and creates a chic minimalist look that feels calm and collected.
4. Focus on quality rather than quantity
Quiet luxury is all about focusing on the finer details, so instead of overwhelming your home with an abundance of festive decor (of course, if maximalist Christmas decor is more your style, then go for it), channel your focus into decorating a few key areas, and style your space with a collection of more selective and thoughtful designs.
Ginger Curtis, CEO and Founder of Urbanology Designs, says, 'Quiet luxury in design emphasizes understatement, allowing the materials and textures to take center stage. The approach is restrained and deeply authentic, yet it avoids creating a sense of emptiness or incompleteness in a room. It's possible to layer elements and create a visually rich space, but the crucial aspect is the intentional execution and a focus on incredible quality.'
From creating an enhanced feeling of cozy, tactile texture and warmth through new pillows and throws, to opting for more simple seasonal displays of ornaments and foliage, it doesn't need to take much to make your home feel more special for the holidays.
5. Celebrate natural, rustic materials
'When it comes to embracing the quiet luxury trend over the festive season, it is all about hand-carved wooden ornaments, linen napkins, hessian stockings and minimalist candles. Adorn your home with simple, rustic pieces that make an inviting and cozy impression. Less really is more with this trend,' says Dayna Isom Johnson from Etsy.
'Quiet luxury' is a style used to create serene, calming spaces that reflect a sense of sophistication without ostentation, so decorating with more humble, natural materials, such as wood, and using plenty of flowers and foliage is ideal.
From a few simple vases filled with Christmas foliage to festive wooden ornaments and using cozy fabrics and textiles such as wool and linen, these textures and materials can create a more grounding and natural feel, perfect for a look of understated, subtle luxury.
6. Create an enhanced feeling of coziness with soft lighting
The right lighting really can transform the look and a room, and indoor Christmas lighting ideas are renowned for making our homes feel more cozy, warm and special.
When creating a lighting scheme for 'quite luxury Christmas decor' use warming candles, twinkling string lights, and cozy table lamps and lanterns to establish a soft and soothing ambiance.
Beautifully shown for the Christmas living room ideas in the space by West Elm, with this look named the 'pure neutrals mantel', the inviting pools of layered, warm light used across the candles and string lights perfectly complement the gold and neutral tones of the room; establishing a wonderfully cozy and tranquil space.
FAQs
What are the trends for Christmas in 2023?
Along with the subtle and simple look of 'quiet luxury', there are a whole host of other trends and styles that many of us are embracing with our seasonal decor this year.
From more colorful and maximalist looks inspired by trends such as barbiecore and dopamine decor, to rustic, natural styles that use plenty of festive flowers, foliage and nature-inspired decorations.
We have also seen a rise in more nostalgic, and traditional decorations, with lots of us choosing to make our own DIY Christmas decor ideas. From homemade garlands and ribbon decorations, to tree ornaments and festive wreaths, DIY Christmas decor is perfect for those looking to decorate on a budget, and to create a more hand-crafted and homey feel to your space.
For further inspiration, we explore the Christmas decor trends that interior designers are using in their own homes this year in our dedicated feature.
If you're feeling inspired by our quiet luxury Christmas decor ideas, and are looking to create a more contemporary and fresh style with your festive decorations this year, we explore more modern Christmas decor ideas in our separate piece.
