How to Decorate in Ralph Lauren Style Without Simply Following Trends
Ralph Lauren interiors are having a moment, but interior decorator Kiva Brent points out that the style emerged decades ago.
For Brent, the way to make the trending style last is to draw from its colors, materials, and layered character while choosing pieces that suit the home and the person living in it.
1. Choose Subtle Equestrian Details
Horse sculptures, riding crop art, and saddle-shaped stools make the equestrian influence unmistakable.
Horse sculptures, riding crop art, and saddle-shaped stools make the equestrian influence unmistakable.
Brent suggests looking for quieter references, such as a horse-bit mirror or picture frame.
To someone unfamiliar with riding, the detail may simply look like an interesting pattern or texture.
She also recommends skipping prominent logos.
Plaid textiles, geometric patterns, jute, and leather trays or coasters can evoke the style without tying every item to a recognizable symbol.
2. Let Your Home and Your Life Shape the Look
Brent says Ralph Lauren style has more layers than its equestrian associations.
It can feel rustic, southwestern, bohemian, or cottage-inspired, depending on the setting and the person decorating it.
A New York penthouse and a Colorado log cabin will naturally bring out different parts of the look.
There's no need to fit every influence into one room. Brent’s own style is contemporary, and southwestern pillows would feel out of place in her home.
A vintage rug from her collection or cast-iron bookends would bring in an older, traditional element that means more to her.
3. Try Paint Before Buying Furniture
A plaid upholstered chair or new sofa is a costly way to test a style. Brent recommends starting with paint because wall color can change the mood of an entire room.
For this look, she points to moody earth tones, including greens, blues, and fall colors.
Painting the walls and trim the same color creates an enveloping effect; bold, contrasting trim offers another way to set the tone.
4. Build Collections Over Time
Buying an entire collection of china, artwork, or decorative pieces at once may create the look quickly, but Brent says a room can feel as though it arrived in one order.
She encourages collecting pieces gradually and choosing furniture and lighting one item at a time.
The story behind a find matters to her, too. A piece discovered during a memorable shopping trip can become something its owner wants to keep, even as trends change.
5. Keep Expensive Pieces Flexible
Brent advises making the most expensive pieces adaptable.
A faded Oriental rug, for example, can suggest the style without making as strong a statement as a bright red rug or a large leather Chesterfield sofa.
Use layers for the more specific details: a slipcover, throw pillows, plaid curtains, or even glassware.
Before making a major purchase, Brent suggests asking whether the piece would still work if the trend no longer appealed next year.
Final Thoughts
Brent’s approach is to take inspiration from Ralph Lauren interiors without treating them as a shopping list.
Subtle details, meaningful finds, and flexible furniture leave room for a home to evolve while still feeling personal.