Home truths with Michelle Ogundehin: ‘Why does expensive not always feel luxurious?’
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt over the years is that expensive doesn’t automatically feel luxurious, and affordable doesn’t have to look cheap. It’s because true luxury is rarely about price, it’s about experience – and this is something that is created, not bought.
The secret is knowing when to splurge and where to save. Some things are always worth the investment – solid timber, linen, wool, stone and leather, for example, have qualities that can never be faked. A wooden dining table will age gracefully; a velvet cushion cover will soften with use; a good-quality mineral-based paint gives walls a richness that cheaper alternatives will never match.
Simply put, spend on the things you touch and sit on, or that shape a room (colour, curtains, lighting). And always favour natural materials, because they don’t just look more high-end, they reflect light differently, feel better, and improve with time.
Other things? Smart shopping trumps big spending. Ceramic marble-effect tiles look every bit as elegant as the real thing – it’s a particularly good cheat, because they’re much easier to maintain. Vintage furniture often has more character than anything brand new; patinated or matt metallics are classier than shiny; bobbly pots look better than smooth. Even the most basic high-street table lamp can be pimped with a classic linen drum-shaped shade (never conical).
But the lived-in luxe look is also a matter of atmosphere – and this is often to do with lighting. Natural light and soft shadows connote calm, whereas harsh ceiling lights will make any room feel flat, even if it is filled with the most expensive pieces.
I also think less makes a stronger statement than more, because scarcity creates significance. And a genuinely comfy sofa will enrich everyday life far more than pricey designer pieces that invite only perching.
But perhaps the biggest mistake we can make in chasing distinction is in choosing matchy-matchy furniture – similar shapes, eras, tones or textures. This rarely creates the ease we seek.
The homes that feel the most effortlessly luxurious are celebrations of personality – they evolve over time, mix old with new, and leave enough empty space for each object to be fully appreciated. The bottom line is that real luxury is created through comfort, authenticity, restraint and thoughtful detail – not expenditure.
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