Quiet Luxury | Cashmere, Linen and Leather | Homewares UK

Quiet luxury is the opposite of a logo. Think of a plain cashmere scarf, or a linen tablecloth in a natural colour. This guide covers what the phrase means in practice, how to read a material, which pieces to buy first and how to look after them, so the few things you buy are the right ones.

What quiet luxury means

Start with the material: natural, and named on the label. Then the colour, which should be plain enough to sit beside everything else you own. Nobody has to know what it cost. You know how it feels every morning, and that's the whole point.

It's also a way of buying less. One good throw instead of three cheap ones. One pair of merino socks you like instead of a packet you don't. You own fewer things, and the drawer is calmer.

Start with the material

Cashmere, merino and lambswool. Cashmere is soft and light for its warmth; look for a stated percentage and a ply count. Merino is finer than ordinary wool and usually feels softer, which makes it a sensible choice for socks and beanies. Many merino pieces are blends, so check the percentage. Lambswool is the first shearing, soft and springy, and a classic scarf fibre.

Linen. Spun from flax, and it usually softens as it is washed. Pure linen creases; a linen and cotton blend creases less and costs less. A linen-look polyester weave costs less again, though it won't soften the way linen does. The product page says which one you're getting.

Leather. Full-grain leather keeps the surface of the hide and can develop a patina with use. Top-grain is sanded smoother. Both are genuine leather. Bonded or PU leather is neither. Where we sell a faux leather piece, its name says faux.

Marble, brass and ceramic. Natural marble is cut from a block, so the veining on a natural marble tray won't match the photo exactly, which is the appeal. Brass darkens over time and polishes back. Ceramic is judged by its glaze and its weight in the hand.

Soy wax. A softer wax with a lower melting point than paraffin. Some candles are soy blends, so check the wax on the product page. The weight and the stated burn time, where one is given, tell you how long a candle will last; the scent notes tell you whether you'll like it.

Choose a palette and stay in it

Ivory, oatmeal, stone, camel, charcoal and black. Pick two or three and buy inside them. A camel scarf, a stone throw and an oatmeal cushion all belong together. A single bright piece breaks the calm and is the one you'll stop using first.

Where to begin

Start with the things you touch most. For most people that's a scarf or a pair of socks in winter, a throw on the sofa, napkins on the table and a tray by the door for keys and a watch. Then a cushion or two and a vase. Buy one piece at a time and live with it before adding the next.

Caring for natural materials

Cashmere and merino: hand wash cold or dry clean, dry flat, store folded with cedar. Linen: machine wash cool, line dry, iron damp if you want it crisp. Leather: wipe with a dry cloth, condition once a year, keep out of direct sun. Marble: wipe spills quickly, no lemon or vinegar. Brass: a soft cloth and, when it dulls, a brass polish. Candles: trim the wick to five millimetres before each burn and never leave one unattended.

Gifting

Quiet luxury makes a good gift because it never looks like a guess at someone else's taste. A cashmere beanie, an apron, a marble bowl or a merino throw suits almost anyone. Orders ship in plain protective packaging with no prices on the outside, so you can send one straight to the person it's for.

Your buying checklist

Read the material and its percentage. Check the size, weight and care on the product page. Pick a colour inside your palette. Ask us anything that isn't on the page before you order. Check the delivery window suits the date you need it. Then order, knowing you have 14 days to change your mind.

The short version

Buy less. Buy it in a natural material and a plain colour, and start with whatever you'll touch every day. Read the material twice. Everything we sell names it.