Trends
Interior Trend: A Conscious Approach to Quiet Luxury
Discover the quiet luxury style! Learn how to take your interior to the next level through conscious art that is timeless and elegant.
Marin Fadiloglulari
Wednesday 10 July, 2024
‘Quiet Luxury’ has captured the attention of trend forecasters throughout the past few years, redefining the way we style our homes and think about our art collections. There are key elements to the quiet luxury aesthetic that harness a rejection of ‘fast home design’ in a way that can elevate and future-proof your interior space. So, we’ve decided to take a deep dive!
It’s important to note that quiet luxury is all about emphasising subtle sophistication and exclusivity whilst moving away from fast furniture brands who might promote profit over ethics. This ‘less is more’ approach, however, comes with an exciting twist. While calmer pieces are preferred by quiet luxury fans, so is the process of mix-and-match with different textures and patterns, utilising statement pieces that highlight reworked materials.
Join us to discover key elements of the quiet luxury trend to look out for, how you might choose to combine this aesthetic with the process of investing in conscious art, and the role Affordable Art Fair plays in supporting the art ecosystem.
Less really is more
Taking a literal approach to quiet luxury works wonders in terms of interior design because this art trend champions the belief that true luxury whispers, never shouts. So, a quiet luxury lifestyle is all about learning to tap into subtle ways of displaying your taste instead of opting for flashier choices that are more tiring than sophisticated.
To nail the vibe, think luxurious statement pieces that find beauty in their simplicity; rich materials and a subtle colour palette to go hand-in-hand with your furniture, establishing rhythm in your interior instead of making the room feel overcrowded.
Don’t mistake quiet luxury for minimalism, though! It’s far from uniform. While minimalism strips away to make space, quiet luxury aims to redefine that space. To embrace the quiet luxury lifestyle, invest in art that will stand the test of time and take a step away from the generic scene.
Make it your own sustainable home
Quiet luxury brings a growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical consumption. Breaking through the noise of mass consumerism is futuristic, innovative materials that get to live a second life as different forms of art.
Philippine Henry de Frahan’s reimagining of books are a perfect example. She’s taken the notion of second-hand books to a whole new level by repurposing books that otherwise would have been forgotten or thrown away.
The circular motion of the pages gives the piece a unique momentum, but the story behind these books lie behind Philippine’s zero-waste practice she describes as ‘deliberate upcycling’.
Artworks that match this upcycling concept offer not just understated elegance and authenticity, but a principal element of sustainability to your home that can last a lifetime. Luxury clearly doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet.
Choose conscious art that lasts
It’s about time we say goodbye to mass-produced, disposable pieces that have been copied a thousand times. Instead, we’re welcoming elegant classics to our homes that prove to be timeless investments and offer longevity.
Investing in conscious art can be tricky, but the most sustainable habit you can develop as an art lover is to buy pieces that speak to you on a personal level. Original art is a unique investment as it’s one that can be a daily source of joy and can stay in your family for generations to come.
When you purchase from an Affordable Art Fair, you can be assured that you’re investing in conscious art and supporting the broader art community at the same time – we only exhibit living artists, generating income for 1,000s of artist careers across the world.
Tap into this year’s trending colours
Having seen the latté trend take over the fashion and beauty scene, it’s no surprise that the art world is embracing this colour palette as well. Similarly on brand with this palette, earthy tones, with a specific focus on brown and yellow, sit at the heart of the current art trends of this year.
Another colour we’ve seen take front stage this year is silver, perfectly in-keeping with our 25th anniversary celebrations. Its timelessness and versatility do exactly what you expect from quiet luxury design – make an effortless, yet powerful, statement.
Dina Dressen’s ‘Rays’ shows the power of the metallic quite vividly, whilst also touching on another trend: tone-on-tone palettes. These feature one primary hue accented by graded tones within that same scheme. The metallic grey, here, creates a clean and sleek atmosphere, with the different, complementary tones adding a more complex layer to the artwork.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match
Having discussed an array of trending colours and materials, we naturally unfold into another quiet luxury outlook that allows you to be brave and playful with the way you play matchmaker.
Following a mixing and matching strategy to pick out your art collection and design your interior can be another way of personalising your space according to your own taste. Take it to the next level with stand-out ceramic pieces, both beautifully glazed with metallic undertones.
Feeling connected to your art
There’s a significant transition away from cluttering, generic artworks copied from social media. Instead, we’re recognising the importance of individuality, focusing on a handful of eye-catching pieces that are special to our homes. These unique artworks could be anything from a limited-edition piece from your favourite artist, to a handmade gift from a close friend – what they have in common is connection.
At an Affordable Art Fair, every artwork will have had countless hours poured into it. We love working with galleries and artists who are present at the fair to talk about their inspirations, creative processes and their journey as an artist. Knowing the artist and the history behind the artwork can establish a unique bond between the piece and the visitor – one that can last a lifetime, rather than being forgotten at the first sign of a new trend cycle.
Contrary to fast furniture, original, conscious art is a sustainable and timeless investment that can turn your home into a sanctuary of style, sustainability and quiet luxury. By embracing this lifestyle, you’re not just collecting art for décor, you’re making a statement.
Main image: Lisa Bagley, ‘Being’, acrylic and plaster on raw canvas, 58″ x 72″