With a house move on the horizon, I’ve been thinking a lot about interiors as of late. The notion of “quiet opulence’”, in particular; a dream home-qualifying aesthetic in which rooms are filled with pieces that feel as though they’ve been handpicked from the world’s most exclusive furniture stores. Soft marble, rich woods, sculptural accents – everything made to evoke a sense of luxury. Of course, quiet opulence tends to come with loud price tags.
The exception? The literally-just-launched H&M Spring/Summer 2025 collection – an affordable masterstroke of minimalist luxury.
I’m in love with it, and I’m not even a minimalist kinda person. The austere minimalism of yesteryear does nothing for me (bar, perhaps, evoking a cold kind of sadness), whereas this warm minimalism – where creams, soft browns and muted, earthy greens reign supreme – could not be more appealing.
As someone who’s equally attracted to painting walls in fantastical hues (see: the curse of spending far too many hours than I’d like to admit watching AD Open Doors), a collection like this can work just as well for people looking to balance out more dramatic aesthetics, too. There’s something magical about peppering neutral accessories into colourful spaces that let the room breathe.
Of course, for the more serene and neutral among us, H&M’s latest offering is a home run, capturing that aforementioned “quiet opulence” with ease. Texture is plentiful throughout, and a range of sculptural furniture and accessories – from candles and lounge chairs to ceramics and vases – offers an easy way to inject a bit of personality into a space without overwhelming the eye.
Take the graphic-patterned stools and table lamps, each a statement on its own or part of a greater whole. The gently curved wooden and marble sofa tables feel deliciously modern, while off-white cabinets with wood accents soften the otherwise overly clean lines. And those tactile blankets? A bloody dream.
If there’s one thing I won’t be able to live without in this collection (because, sadly, my budget doesn’t extend to cleaning it out completely), it’s the seamless integration of nature with design in the sculptural vases. In swirled, organic forms, they look like they’d cost ten times the price, and provide the kind of contrast needed in rooms with sharper or more ‘traditional’ furniture.
Nothing in this collection feels ostentatious, but it leaves an impression nonetheless. It’s the epitome of quiet opulence – not about showing off, but creating a space that feels both luxurious and easy to live in, and H&M’s SS25 has that in spades.
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