5 Expert Ways to Get the Laidback Luxury Look in Your Home
Furnishing trends come and go, but there are certain aesthetics that remain timeless through the centuries. With its effortlessly cool, comfortable and yet elegant look, the casual luxury trend is one of them.
It’s no wonder videos of luxurious spaces filled with subtly glamorous details, muted neutrals, and soothing clean lines have taken the TikTok world by storm. The aesthetic speaks to the larger trend of becoming “that girl” — you know, the one who’s in control of her life, sips green smoothies on clean marble countertops every morning, jots down her to-do list in a sleek leather journal, and is hot Girl walks in a perfectly fitting Alo training set and of course lives in an impeccably curated space.
While the “That Girl” trend has received a ton of criticism (and probably with good reason), there’s something to be said for her clean, luxe, and upscale interior style. We can all take notes from this girl when it comes to achieving the laid-back luxe look — even if we abhor green juice and prefer a lie-in to an early morning workout.
As the founder and principal designer of Hampton Rowe, a London, Ontario-based interior design firm specializing in laid-back luxury for primarily Toronto-based clients, Crea Henry knows all about how to achieve that effortlessly chic aesthetic. She shared her top tips for capturing a laid-back luxury aesthetic at home without breaking the bank:
keep it functional
When it comes to the early stages of interior design, Crea recommends first considering your specific life stage and the needs that that lifestyle entails. For example, do you have children? Do you love to entertain? Before making any binding decisions about your space, it’s best to consider how you need that space to function and what will be most practical for you in the long run.
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“The first tip is to figure out how you’re going to use that space,” says Crea. “Everyone uses their space differently depending on how many people live there, what stage of life you’re in, if you have kids, etc. So once you’ve established how you’re going to use your space, you can make sure you can cater to that how it should look and how it should work. From there you can figure out how to use the most usable parts to create the most beautiful space and feel comfortable no matter how you put it all together.”
Opt for high-quality materials
Crea explains that when she started Hampton Rowe, she wanted to start a design company that would help people curate beautiful spaces that are equal parts functional and durable.
“Hampton Rowe was founded on the idea that no matter where you are in life, you can have a space that looks and feels great, but isn’t stuffy and has really high quality materials that will last you a long time become.” she explains.
Choosing quality, durable materials doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Crea recommends paying attention to detail when choosing staples to ensure they last.
“While the word luxury implies a higher price tag, that’s why we use the word ‘relaxed’ because we don’t believe you have to spend the highest possible price to achieve that look and feel,” she says. “It’s about choosing things that will last, and that doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive things. One way to do this is to look at the details, so let’s say your sofa has seams – is it straight or framed? If you’re making something that isn’t solid wood, does the veneer have texture or is it flat? The texture feels more real so you can definitely get the look for less money.”
Go neutral
A telltale sign of a room that belongs to “this girl” is the presence of lots of chic, muted neutrals like grey, cream or camel. Leaning on these soothing hues when choosing your favorite pieces, accessories and fabrics will go a long way in achieving that relaxed luxury look and feel.
“One staple I would recommend is neutral colors,” says Crea. “Always start with lots of neutral colors as a base because it makes you feel a lot more grounded. From there, you can pick things you love and distribute them where it makes sense. I would say my first port of call is neutral colors with really good quality fabrics and materials.”
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Let there be light
When it comes to curating a space that exudes that relaxed luxury vibe, we often underestimate the importance of lighting. Crea points out that lighting can make or break the overall ambiance of a space, so curating the right mix of natural light, mirrors, and lighting fixtures is important.
“One of the big things to consider in a space is light,” she says. “In all of our spaces we try to make it feel calming, so we say we have smaller windows, we add mirrors to reflect the light and use light colors to expand the space.”
Key design elements like light, color, and organizational flow can all contribute to the overall mood of a space and how people feel when they enter the space. Crea reminds us that interior design choices are closely linked to psychology and our general mindset, which is why it is important to make choices that evoke our desired emotions.
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Know where to shop
To help you perfect the laid-back luxury aesthetic, Crea recommends checking out brands like CB2, Anthropologie and West Elm. She also suggests visiting local consignment stores in your area to find timeless pieces and accessories that will give your space an eclectic edge.
Images courtesy of Hampton Rowe.