Getting the Ralph Lauren aesthetic isn’t about buying everything from one collection. It’s about understanding the specific elements that make a room feel tailored, layered, and quietly expensive. These must-haves show the building blocks of that look—the colors, materials, and details that define Ralph Lauren style.
Navy & White Tailored Palette
Deep navy and crisp white create the foundation of Ralph Lauren’s most recognizable color scheme. Navy wall panels with white moulding add architectural detail that looks custom and considered.
A cognac leather Chesterfield sofa brings warmth against all that navy, while white linen accent chairs with navy piping keep the palette consistent. Walnut coffee tables with brass caps and navy herringbone rugs layer pattern and material.
Tailored cushions in navy and camel, plus brass picture lights over bookcases, complete the look. Warm layered lighting makes everything glow. This palette works because it’s grounded and classic—navy and white never look dated, they just look right.
Equestrian Art (Faceless Silhouettes)
Large black faceless horse silhouettes framed in thin brass bring that equestrian reference without being too literal. Keeping the art faceless and simplified makes it sophisticated rather than kitschy.
Neutral plaster walls let the art be the statement, and sand linen sofas with camel leather lounge chairs create a warm seating arrangement. Black lacquer console tables and stacked vintage books add layers of curated detail.
Brass sconces and soft daylight through sheer curtains provide gentle illumination. This works because the equestrian element stays understated—it’s a nod to the heritage without turning your living room into a stable.
Saddle Leather Seating
This living room during the holidays shows how key Ralph Lauren elements work in real life. Those tan upholstered chairs and sofas create the neutral foundation, while plaid throw pillows bring in that signature pattern mixing.
The dark wood coffee table and media console add weight and richness—those darker wood tones are essential to the look. That patterned area rug layers texture underfoot, and the traditional table lamps provide warm ambient lighting.
The Christmas tree and holiday decor show how the aesthetic holds up through seasonal changes. The dining area visible in the background continues the traditional wood furniture theme. It’s Ralph Lauren style adapted to real family life, not a showroom.
Wood Paneling & Heritage Walls
Dark-oak wall panels create instant architectural gravitas. Built-in shelving with warm brass library lamps turns walls into functional display that looks collected over time.
Emerald velvet loveseats add jewel-tone richness, and low marble coffee tables with thin brass rims keep surfaces elegant. Curated decor in leather and glass adds finishing touches.
Moody ambient lighting makes the whole space glow without harsh overhead fixtures. Wood paneling works because it adds texture and warmth that paint alone can’t achieve—it makes rooms feel substantial and permanent.
Velvet Upholstery for Rich Texture
Deep-emerald velvet sofas bring tactile luxury that cotton or linen just doesn’t have. Camel cashmere throws layered on top add another texture and the signature camel color.
Black wood coffee tables ground the rich upholstery, and brass floor lamps provide warm task lighting. Navy drapes frame windows with weight and color, while neutral wool carpets keep the floor soft.
Faceless equestrian sketches leaning on walls add that casual-but-curated feeling, and soft golden-hour lighting makes the velvet glow. Velvet elevates everything—it’s the difference between looking put-together and looking luxurious.
Must-Have: Brass Accents & Lighting
Soft gray walls create a neutral backdrop that lets brass shine. Brass sconces, floor lamps, and brass-trim side tables scatter metallic warmth throughout the space.
Boucle sofas in warm stone tones provide texture, and walnut media units with brass knobs tie wood and metal together. Soft 3000K lighting and framed monochrome art complete the look.
Brass adds warmth without yellow gold’s intensity—it’s sophisticated and works with both cool and warm tones. Scattering it throughout the room in lighting and hardware creates cohesion.
Plaid Textiles
Camel tartan wool throw blankets and navy plaid cushions bring that prep school, equestrian energy. Layering them on ivory linen sofas keeps the plaids from overwhelming.
Oak coffee tables and dark leather side chairs add contrasting materials, while boxwood in ceramic planters brings living green. Soft daylight through white shutters keeps everything bright and fresh.
Plaid works in Ralph Lauren spaces because it’s done with quality materials in sophisticated color combinations—camel and navy rather than primary colors, wool and linen rather than cheap cotton.
Dark Woods (Walnut or Mahogany)
Rich mahogany cabinetry and walnut beams create that heritage club feeling. Leather sofas in chestnut tones work with the dark wood rather than fighting it.
Stone-top coffee tables add natural material, and low bookshelves with brass rails and ladders make storage look intentional. Persian rugs in muted jewel tones layer pattern and color underfoot.
Warm cozy ambient lighting prevents all that dark wood from feeling heavy. Dark woods add gravitas and permanence—they make rooms feel serious and collected rather than light and temporary.
Layered Rugs & Warm Neutrals
Layering jute and wool rugs creates depth and texture underfoot. Stone boucle sectionals with camel leather cushions mix fabrics beautifully.
Oak sideboards provide storage, and small faceless equestrian prints on walls keep the theme consistent. Woven baskets add natural texture, and warm natural daylight keeps neutrals from looking dull.
Layering rugs is a signature move—it adds visual interest and makes spaces feel more collected and less catalog-perfect.
Statement Fireplace
Tall stone fireplaces with dark wood mantels become the room’s anchor. Leather armchairs positioned near the fire create cozy seating zones, and velvet ottomans add comfort.
Navy patterned rugs define the seating area, and brass lanterns with fire tools add functional decoration. Structured lighting creates warm shadows that make the whole space feel intimate.
Fireplaces work even when not lit—they give the room a focal point and create automatic gathering spots around the hearth.
Curated Books & Heritage Objects
Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with leather-bound books create instant sophistication. Globe bar carts add that worldly, collected feeling, and saddle-brown leather sofas provide classic seating.
Walnut desk-console hybrids blur the line between furniture types, and brass reading lamps provide task lighting. Dark navy accent walls behind the shelves add depth.
Warm 2700K glow makes everything feel intimate. Books and heritage objects make rooms feel inhabited by interesting people—they suggest history and curiosity.
Indoor-Outdoor Sophistication
Black-framed French doors opening to terraces blur interior and exterior boundaries. Linen sectionals in warm sand tones with navy-striped cushions bring the indoor palette outside.
Teak accent tables handle weather while looking refined, and brass lanterns provide evening light. Boxwoods in ceramic pots add structured green.
Blue-hour light mixing with warm interior lighting creates magical moments. This works because it extends the living space and shows the aesthetic isn’t just about formal interiors—it adapts to outdoor living too.
Ralph Lauren style comes down to specific elements layered intentionally: navy and camel color schemes, brass details, dark rich woods, saddle leather, velvet upholstery, plaid textiles, and equestrian references. Get these building blocks right, and the look comes together naturally. It’s not about perfection—it’s about quality materials, considered combinations, and that collected-over-time feeling that makes spaces look like someone with taste actually lives there.