Decorating Guides
11 Ways to Add Luxury to Your Home
Fabulous fabrics, gleaming surfaces and refined designs can take your home from everyday to elegantly luxurious
The word ‘luxury’ means different things to different people: For some it will be a freestanding clawfoot bath, for others a high-end kitchen or an OTT crystal chandelier. However, there are also certain materials that have come to symbolise a way of living that’s considered indulgent, lavish and, yes, generally expensive. Marble, velvet, crystal, silk, solid wood or gold can signify luxury, as can anything bespoke, top quality or solidly traditional, with a sense of history and even regality. Here’s a look at some different ways to do luxury in the modern age – gold-plated bath taps not required.
2. Develop the Midas touch
The traditional choice of kings and queens, shimmering gold is perhaps the ultimate luxury material. Once gold-plated taps were a byword for tacky, but actually a golden sheen can still look spectacular in bathrooms. This baroque-style console and chest of drawers are elegant and grand, and wake up this white bathe-dress space brilliantly.
Browse through images of homes accentuated with gold
The traditional choice of kings and queens, shimmering gold is perhaps the ultimate luxury material. Once gold-plated taps were a byword for tacky, but actually a golden sheen can still look spectacular in bathrooms. This baroque-style console and chest of drawers are elegant and grand, and wake up this white bathe-dress space brilliantly.
Browse through images of homes accentuated with gold
3. Play around with details
Luxury is about letting your imagination loose – indulging in the design details you might not otherwise consider if you were only able to stick to the basics. A freestanding bath is a modern luxury that’s become much more accessible thanks to the plethora of high-street options. This tub goes to the next level with its glittering mosaic sides: A little bit boho, a lot special.
Luxury is about letting your imagination loose – indulging in the design details you might not otherwise consider if you were only able to stick to the basics. A freestanding bath is a modern luxury that’s become much more accessible thanks to the plethora of high-street options. This tub goes to the next level with its glittering mosaic sides: A little bit boho, a lot special.
4. Ramp up the crystal
Crystal lighting is a long-standing staple of the luxury look, whether you go for a spectacular antique French chandelier or a modern crystal concoction. These beautiful sidelights give this plush bedroom extra sparkle and sophistication, and subtly complement the sheeny pillows and quilts.
One piece of advice: Cheap crystal lighting can sometimes look, well, cheap, so always check the quality and think about how your light will look in situ.
Check out these chandeliers for all spaces
Crystal lighting is a long-standing staple of the luxury look, whether you go for a spectacular antique French chandelier or a modern crystal concoction. These beautiful sidelights give this plush bedroom extra sparkle and sophistication, and subtly complement the sheeny pillows and quilts.
One piece of advice: Cheap crystal lighting can sometimes look, well, cheap, so always check the quality and think about how your light will look in situ.
Check out these chandeliers for all spaces
5. Do luxury 1970s style
The 1970s are slowly coming back into vogue, both in fashion and interiors, and this playful party pad shows its groovy idea of luxury off, with a large sunken pit seating area, plenty of shag-pile carpet and look-at-me lighting. Here luxury is also about the confidence to use your space in a unique, fun way.
The 1970s are slowly coming back into vogue, both in fashion and interiors, and this playful party pad shows its groovy idea of luxury off, with a large sunken pit seating area, plenty of shag-pile carpet and look-at-me lighting. Here luxury is also about the confidence to use your space in a unique, fun way.
6. Go hell for leather
Leather goes in an out of fashion in homes, but, used well, can still be a highly effective luxury device. In this super-glam penthouse, the table is unusually topped with white leather. It might not seem like a practical everyday solution, but then luxury isn’t about practical – it’s about fantasy. Also try leather wall tiles for something different.
Top marks for the boxy crystal light, marble floor, silky curtains, gold lamp shades and abstract painting, too – all luxury signifiers.
Here are ways to make interiors stylish with leather
Leather goes in an out of fashion in homes, but, used well, can still be a highly effective luxury device. In this super-glam penthouse, the table is unusually topped with white leather. It might not seem like a practical everyday solution, but then luxury isn’t about practical – it’s about fantasy. Also try leather wall tiles for something different.
Top marks for the boxy crystal light, marble floor, silky curtains, gold lamp shades and abstract painting, too – all luxury signifiers.
Here are ways to make interiors stylish with leather
7. Fall for a high-end kitchen
Luxury doesn’t have to shout. In fact, it’s often about the quiet, functional details: Cabinets that quietly click open and shut, surfaces that don’t peel or chip. This understated kitchen is modern luxury embodied: Sleek, top-quality cabinets, plenty of space and a chic, stainless steel island. We all know kitchens are the hub of the home these days, so buying the best fit-out you can afford makes sense.
Luxury doesn’t have to shout. In fact, it’s often about the quiet, functional details: Cabinets that quietly click open and shut, surfaces that don’t peel or chip. This understated kitchen is modern luxury embodied: Sleek, top-quality cabinets, plenty of space and a chic, stainless steel island. We all know kitchens are the hub of the home these days, so buying the best fit-out you can afford makes sense.
8. Combine decorative details
Forget minimalism – old-school luxury is all about embellishment, design flourishes, elegance and glamour, and this light-filled bathroom has the lot. With a distinctly Art Deco feel, it ties together a number of decorative details, including a delicious Venetian mirror, a glittering globe light, diamond wallpaper and a circular velvet pouffe.
Forget minimalism – old-school luxury is all about embellishment, design flourishes, elegance and glamour, and this light-filled bathroom has the lot. With a distinctly Art Deco feel, it ties together a number of decorative details, including a delicious Venetian mirror, a glittering globe light, diamond wallpaper and a circular velvet pouffe.
9. Glam up your stairs
This striking showcase stairwell ticks a number of luxury boxes. Cool marble steps – an essential hallmark of palaces – an elegant curving shape and a cascade of crystals that add light and drama. Simple and chic.
Take a look at these staircases guaranteed to impress
This striking showcase stairwell ticks a number of luxury boxes. Cool marble steps – an essential hallmark of palaces – an elegant curving shape and a cascade of crystals that add light and drama. Simple and chic.
Take a look at these staircases guaranteed to impress
10. Hang top-notch wallpaper
Good-quality wallpaper can give period homes an old-school clubhouse atmosphere. This hand-blocked green stripe in a hall might be ultra-traditional, but it helps set the scene, creating a mood that’s steeped in history, upmarket and even a little escapist.
Good-quality wallpaper can give period homes an old-school clubhouse atmosphere. This hand-blocked green stripe in a hall might be ultra-traditional, but it helps set the scene, creating a mood that’s steeped in history, upmarket and even a little escapist.
11. Invest in a design original
A classic piece of furniture can be a fast track to elevating a room into a luxurious designer space. These iconic Egg chairs by Arne Jacobsen look as stylish as ever thanks to their beautiful sculptural shape and the craftsmanship behind their design – both qualities that exude modern luxury.
They may be off-budget for many of us, but designer chairs are investment pieces that will stand the test of time, another luxury must.
Read more:
10 Ways to Bring Luxury Into Your Home
Tell us:
What says luxury to you? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
A classic piece of furniture can be a fast track to elevating a room into a luxurious designer space. These iconic Egg chairs by Arne Jacobsen look as stylish as ever thanks to their beautiful sculptural shape and the craftsmanship behind their design – both qualities that exude modern luxury.
They may be off-budget for many of us, but designer chairs are investment pieces that will stand the test of time, another luxury must.
Read more:
10 Ways to Bring Luxury Into Your Home
Tell us:
What says luxury to you? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
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It’s been around forever, but velvet has a soft sheen and indulgent quality that’s truly timeless, and that lends a debonair atmosphere to any space. In this elegant living room, a structured armchair adds warmth, texture and colour. Velvet works best in jewel hues and this rich purple works well with the silver and mirrored surfaces for a subtly regal effect.