Kim Kardashian's Home Is the Definition of Spa-Core—Yup, It's a Thing Right Now

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(Image credit: @kimkardashian)

Stains be damned. There’s an emerging home décor trend I don’t think even the most type A clean freaks are ready for: spa-core. It’s pretty much everything you’d expect from such a name. Think palettes of calming shades like oatmeal and white along with earthy, minimal accents. It's a "less is more” approach that’s meant to soothe and relax versus overwhelm the eye.

Perhaps the best example yet of the aesthetic comes from none other than the queen of neutrals, Kim Kardashian. In an IG post captioned "My fave room in the house,” Kardashian unveiled a glimpse of her infamously bare living room (if you’ve seen that episode of "73 Questions,” you’ll know exactly what I mean), in which nothing in the room is darker than a piece of toast. Immediately, my thoughts jumped to all of the likely scenarios in which I’d completely ruin a pristine space like that with accidental coffee stains. Next, I couldn’t help but marvel at its stylish immaculateness.

While the shift toward neutral décor has long been a thing, especially for millennials, spa-core takes things to a whole new level of minimalism. There seems to be a few pillars to achieving such a zen, spa-like atmosphere. A white couch is a key element as well as a light-colored rug to help pull everything together, among more. Keep reading to see how tastemakers are pulling off the spa-core trend and to learn how to bring a little relaxation into your own home. Yes, it may require some upkeep, but there’s nothing a bit of bleach and a Magic Eraser can’t fix.

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

The Key Pieces

Piece #1: The Sofa

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

A common thread for those who stick to the spa-core interior aesthetic is the white couch. It may sound like an exercise in futility, but owning one isn’t as demanding as you would think. (Even a sometimes messy eater like me can keep one clean.) I love how it instantly brightens up a room, adding a feel of airiness you can’t get with a darker-colored couch. If you’re still concerned with long-term durability, a slip-covered option is infinitely easier to clean. Bouclé, on the other hand, is the It fabric of the moment.

Piece #2: The Rug

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(Image credit: @jessieandrews)

Now, let’s move on to the next order of business—the rug. Not only does it serve as the centerpiece of the room, but it also sets the soothing tone for the rest of the space. I know a neutral carpet doesn’t sound like the most exciting thing, but feel free to play with varying degrees of muted patterns for a little more interest. Some advice: Avoid bright-white rugs and opt for shades of creamy beige or off-white for a warmer effect. 

Piece #3: The Chair

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(Image credit: @kimkardashian)

Whether you’re thinking about creating a zen-like sanctuary for your living room or bedroom, a comfy accent chair is always a wise choice. Beyond the practicality of additional seating, it creates extra dimension by bringing another element to your space. Since sticking with light, neutral tones is the goal, a quirky shape can bring some charm in lieu of bold colors.

The Extras

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(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Here’s where everything comes together. From wall art to curtains and side tables, add these soothing pieces to complete the spa-like experience. Go for items with unique textures and details to avoid looking monotonous. 

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(Image credit: @jordanrisa)

Up next, A Guide to the Biggest Y2K Shoe Trends, From Platforms to Thongs

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Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.