Home truths with Michelle Ogundehin: ‘Why does expensive not always feel luxurious?’
Over many years, Michelle Ogundehin has learned that expensive items do not automatically feel luxurious, and affordable pieces do not have to look cheap. True luxury rarely depends on price—it is about experience, and this experience must be created rather than purchased.
The secret lies in knowing when to splurge and where to save. Some investments always pay off, solid timber, linen, wool, stone and leather possess qualities that cannot be replicated. A wooden dining table ages gracefully; a velvet cushion cover softens with use; high-quality mineral-based paint gives walls a richness that cheaper alternatives will never match.
Spend on items you touch and sit on, or that define a room’s colour, curtains and lighting. Always choose natural materials, because they appear more premium, reflect light differently, feel superior to the touch, and improve with time.
For other elements, smart shopping beats large spending. Ceramic marble-effect tiles look just as elegant as genuine marble; this is a particularly good choice because they require far less maintenance. Vintage furniture often carries more character than brand-new pieces; patinated or matte metallic finishes appear more sophisticated than shiny ones; uneven pots look better than perfectly smooth ones. Even a basic high-street table lamp can be enhanced with a classic linen drum-shaped shade (never conical).
However, the lived-in luxe appearance also depends on atmosphere; this often relates to lighting. Natural light and soft shadows create calm, whereas harsh ceiling lights make any room feel flat, regardless of how expensive the furnishings may be.
Less can make a stronger statement than more, because scarcity creates significance. A genuinely comfortable sofa enriches daily life far more than costly designer pieces that invite only brief perching.
Perhaps the greatest mistake when seeking distinction is choosing matchy-matchy furniture, similar shapes, eras, tones or textures. This rarely achieves the ease people seek.
The homes that feel most effortlessly luxurious celebrate personality; they evolve over time, mix old with new, and leave sufficient empty space for each object to be fully appreciated. Real luxury emerges through comfort, authenticity, restraint and thoughtful detail, not through expenditure.
