Defining Luxury: What it Really Means in Today's Interiors

Luxury isn’t just champagne and chandeliers anymore. It’s a much more personal thing. One person’s luxury might just go totally unnoticed by another. From a hot bath and a quiet, peaceful home to glamour and gold, we’re unpacking how luxury is defined in today’s home.

Every time I’m in a hotel room, I catch myself asking Alexa what the temperature is outside just to be reminded I’m on my own and will have to look it up myself - it’s the hardships. And later when I’m working from my laptop I miss having Alexa play my favorite background music. The everyday luxuries we easily overlook at home come to light when we’re outside of our own walls. Technology exists on so many levels now and the efficiencies it provides are a form of luxury themselves. Electric shades, motion-sensor cameras, audible grocery lists, voice calls, turning off the lights or changing the channel on the TV with just the sound of your voice. The convenience and efficiency that technology brings is a specific kind of luxury that thrives on our expectation of immediate gratification.

Another luxury today comes in the form of features offered in our furniture. Furniture was of course originally designed for function alone however today’s sofas, chairs, and tables take into consideration the feel of different cushion fills, extra plugs for the above-mentioned technology, not to mention the ability to keep your drink cold, ergonomic support for every joint in your body and temperature control. Lest you be left with a single need that hasn’t been addressed, you can just ask Alexa to have it delivered to you.

What typically comes to mind when thinking of luxury regarding interior design is the tactile and visual - the fabrics and trims, the perfect mix of colors and textures. It’s the unexpected details that are purely there for pleasure instead of function. It’s exquisite wood trims instead of basic builder-grade moldings, architectural features instead of standard door frames, custom built-ins, details in pillows, upholstery, and window treatments that go the extra step in providing something unique, something custom, and something unexpected. Luxury is recognized with the visual layering of colors, patterns, and textures, and the use of various levels of light.

While luxury means different things to different people, I think we can all agree that can be defined in today’s home as efficiencies via technology, furniture that goes well beyond just providing a place to sit or lay down, and the beauty of the unexpected visual composition created with architectural features, and design details. At Ashley Morgan Interiors we aim to not only provide luxurious spaces but also luxurious experiences for our clients as we guide them through an otherwise overwhelming construction and design process. If you find yourself desiring a bit of luxury in your life, you’ve come to the right place.