Elizabeth Taylor's living room epitomizes 'old money' style

elizabeth taylor on a wood background — (Image credit: Bettman via Getty Images)

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If I am being honest, 'quiet luxury' has never been my favorite interior design style. I'm a bit of a maximalist, and the modern cream and tan 'old money' rooms that appeared on my timeline felt too sterile for my taste. It turns out, I just needed to go back in time to find the stealth wealth aesthetic that appeals to me: Elizabeth Taylor's living room.

A series of photos from 1987 shows Elizabeth reclining on the gray sofa in her Los Angeles home. The room has dark wood walls, with a Tiffany lamp behind the sofa and a small tree in a woven planter. In the background, one catches a glimpse of Liz's ornate chandeliers. It's quintessential quiet luxury, the '80s way.

What do I love about Taylor's space? First, the living room is expensive-looking, but understated. Rather than flashy finishes or high-drama materials like marble, she opts for a more classic dark wood look that feels simultaneously grounding and elevated. The cream sofa is a timeless bright spot that whispers its high price tag. It's proof that there's no single aesthetic for a quiet luxury living room.

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Tiffany-Style Lamp

This stylish tiffany lamp is a beautiful celebration of the classic look. It would look perfect on a console table behind a living room sofa.

Easy assembly

Latitude Run Aquarine Upholstered Sofa

Understated yet elegant (just like Elizabeth's sofa), this piece's understated design makes it a versatile choice for every kind of home. It features supremely comfortable upholstery and plush back cushions that add a sumptuous feel to its classic image.

Coastal Vibe

Seagrass Planter

This woven planter is similar to the one in the background of Elizabeth Taylor's living room. It's perfect for adding some subtle texture and elevation to your favorite plant.

Secondly, I love that this living room feels uniquely Elizabeth Taylor. Rather than simply tapping into the most popular trends of the moment, it features antiques and personalized art that celebrate the Hollywood icon's taste.

The figurine candlestick holders and the unusual, bikini-clad statue in front of the actress are the best examples.

elizabeth taylor in her black and white living room

Finally, the contrast of the more modern gray living room sofa makes the room all the more interesting.

Rather than sticking to a single modern or classic aesthetic, Elizabeth Taylor's space merges the two for an eclectic and intriguing space. It's a signal not to be afraid of mixing different styles, and that sometimes the most 'old money' luxurious rooms can be created in the merge between the two styles.

'Quiet luxury' has more than one meaning, as evidenced by Elizabeth Taylor's living room. What does it look like to you? Let us know in the comments.

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.