Before design blogs were rampant and magazines were practically the only outlet a design junkie had, I often found the casually listed luxuries to be a bit silly — plate warmers and multiple dishwashers and how many bathrooms? However, even in a modest home some "extras" are totally worth their weight. What are yours?
Over the last few years, as I've tried to think of my home as more of a lifestyle investment and less of a crash pad, I've found that there are certain weekly, monthly, yearly, and long term indulgences that make home life seem like the sweet life…
Weekly:
• Fresh flowers. Nothing brightens or changes the mood more than fresh flowers. Usually I'll buy one or two bouquets and spread them around the house in my own arrangements.
Every Other Week:
• Cleaning service. I never really considered cleaning help, but a year ago I did a tiny bit of research and found a service that we could afford. It makes a world of difference to have someone help out with deep cleaning tasks on a regular basis. We have kids and a dog and so we started off with a weekly service, but found that every other week was sufficient.
Monthly:
• Nice hand soap at the bathroom and kitchen sink. When I was growing up, one of my aunts always had the prettiest most wonderfully smelling soaps in her bathroom, and I always associated her home with luxury. Looking back, I realize that she lived in a modest little townhouse in the suburbs, but little details went a long way in making it feel luxe.
Yearly (or Every Few Years):
• New towels and sheets. Depending on what kind you buy, these items may last a lot longer than a year, but changing them before they become threadbare makes a huge difference in your daily routine. Wrapping up in a plush towel after a warm shower or falling into a bed with crisp linens can make your home feel like a vacation spot.
Long Term:
• A good mattress. We've had our mattress for six years, and it's still the best investment we've made. It wasn't high end, but when we bought it as students it was a splurge. However, it's totally spoiled us in terms of sleeping anywhere else. Even getaways in wonderful hotels don't have the same appeal!
• A good shower head. I honestly don't know why we waited so long to replace our ridiculously low-pressure, drippy shower head. Switching it out makes everyday start off a little better.
So that's my short list. Ideally, what's yours?
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I agree with all of the above, and I'd add a really good vacuum cleaner. I have allergies, and having a wonderful vacuum cleaner has helped.
Good kitchen knives. Which, alas, I no longer have.
Beautiful light fixtures.
Two bathrooms minimum. I love my spouse, but I want a separate space.
High end mattress
Large TVs, which are usually replaced every 5 years or so.
Nice kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Midrange living room chairs, leather sofa and dining set.
Iknow it's not the 1970's, but I really love my hot tub. And I second Sally305 on the knives! Life is better AND safer with really good ones.
Good lighting. We all love to read and there is nothing worse that trying to read in the dark.
And, yes, a good vacuum is the best.
a REALLY deep tub, with jets. and a rice cooker.
Amen on the knives and towels!
jarich - ditto on the good lighting. Must have good lighting.
We desperately needed a good bed. Ours was just a handmedown that we didn't like looking at, and it was so uncomfortable. We finally found a great one and have had fewer sleepless nights and back pain! It was totally worth spending that much money on a decent bed.
I second the good vacuum. One that always works & lasts a long time. For me, anything that can make my mornings better is where my money is best spent. I bought lots of lamps in varying intensities to help the morning transition. And warm slippers & robe.
A comfy sofa for blog reading. I bought my Moran 7 years ago and they are still fantastic. And i would count my iPad as it makes it easy to surf the web from any room rather than sitting in the computer nook or at the dining table with a laptop. ( too hot if you actually keep on your lap for long!)
I love a nice set of knives!
Ginger scrub by origins. My husband does the scrubbing ;)
We live very simply and modestly and enjoy a great vacation.
We have good knives, a nice shower head, and a good vacuum, but recently my favorite indulgences have been the curtains I bought for our library. They make the space more cheerful when they're closed, and they frame the big window nicely when open, too.
A jacuzzi is definitely worth it- no better way to unwind!
A comfortable couch! We waited until we'd saved up for a good one, and it was so worth it!
A nice TV is important to me, too. It's my favorite way to relax.
good insulation!
Towels from Restoration Hardware. Original art. Amen.
A luxury for me is ironed sheets. Most of my friends & all of my family think I'm crazy, but there's nothing like crawling into a crisp bed. It costs me nothing but time & I iron them while watching tv.
- A good, comfortable couch. No ikea quality here!
- Wireless Internet!
- A good mattress. Having had both, it's worth it!
- Good lighting and plenty of it.
- Decent storage space
a cordless drill and stud finder
The bathroom is definitely worth a splurge. We lived in East Asia for a few years, and getting a place with a nice bathroom was a dealbreaker for us when looking for an apartment. And I even brought some nice Bath and Body Works hand soaps in my suitcase - they went miles towards making us feel at home in a foreign land.
New windows!! My 1890's house is freezing. I can't wait until my new windows are installed. Just 3 more weeks.
Also I 15th good kitchen knives. A comfortable couch and artwork are also important to me.
We just put in a wood stove and are surprised how much we love it. Everyone gathers around all the time to soak up the warmth and it looks beautiful. It's Tulikivi Zevio, we were lucky to buy a floor model at discount.
cleaning service, comfortable furniture, good location/walkable neighborhood
A little getaway reading nook.
Weekly cleaning help.
Fresh flowers often.
A bathtub.
A couple of my friends got married right out of college and registered for really nice knives. At that time I was single but I loved to cook. Before going back to grad school, I used my last paycheck to buy a set of good knives.
Just because I wasn't getting married any time soon was no reason to go with out necessary tools. The splurge was so worth it. I still have them 10 years later.... now if I could only get them sharpened regularly.
i like the idea of a really deep tub with a rice cooker.
1. Good shelving/organizing systems in my closets
2. Repainting whenever a space gets tired or dingy
3. Oh yes, knives, knives, knives!
4. Comfortable, beautiful chairs at the table for leisurely meals and playing games. I'll be saving for them for a while though ;) why are chairs so expensive?!
My favorites:cleaning help, good knives, a comfy mattress, and fluffy towels.
DOWN COMFORTERS!
I absolutely agree with nice hand soaps. I'll gladly spend an extra couple of bucks for a little luxury when I'm washing up. Also, the first thing I've done at every place I've lived is replace the shower head. Lastly, great art. And get it framed.
I know that my house will feel like home when I finally have:
-Good lighting
-All the kitchen stuff that I feel like I'm missing
-A comfortable couch
-A comfortable chair
-Good dining chairs
-Reading area
Right now we have a hot tub, and though it is nice, we have found that we just don't use it enough to justify the energy & maintenance cost. If it was a really nice one, we might like it more. But it's not anything spectacular and it's expensive. Came with the house.
2 more things (that we have and love having):
-A nice fire pit. This was our first "luxury" item for the house- I built it last summer and everybody likes to sit around it!
-A large enough yard for out of town friends to camp out in the summer or for the kids to run around.
built in storage everywhere possible
great sheets and towels
quiet dishwasher
completely wireless Sonos sound system
hardwired exterior lighting in the garden
I second Leah's list of long term items and would add to it a total of at least 1-1/2 baths for a home. At least one of the baths shouldn't be accessed through a bedroom. I've lived both ways, and this worthwhile luxury circumvents domestic conflict and undignified loss of privacy. I also second a good vacuum cleaner, good lighting, and good seating.
Actually, I consider good sharp cooking knives to be a necessity and not a luxury.
For me, the real, and ongoing luxury, is having a cleaning guy and keeping him even when I lost my job and our income decreased by about 1/3. I could do the cleaning myself, but then I'd feel like I was doing nothing but. This frees up time (and precious mindspace) to work on some needed home improvement projects and turn this out-of-work time into a much-needed mental break.
dimmer switches
fresh white tulips
good food, good wine, good friends
silence when I need it
Nice accessories. My Alessi kettle and cork screw, an Eames hang it all in Walnut and Jonathan Adler bathroom accessories. Cute luxuries that make me happy.
I bought a really nice shower head when I was in college and it has moved with me to 5 different apartments. I just purchased new towels and it really makes my bathroom feel like a spa, a very worthy investment.
I would spend money for a cleaning service if I wasn't so paranoid about a stranger having total access to all of my belongings.
My last cleaning help told me she couldn't work for me anymore because I didn't know Jesus. I'm going to splurge on a Dyson animale vac instead this year.
Good knives make life so much easier.
My other splurge are fresh flowers and other seasonal decorations, including candles for the winter.
My china. I know it sounds silly and you definitely don't *need* it, but every time I see our china cabinet with all of our pretty and colorful china it just makes me happy. I suppose a $100 china cabinet isn't considered a splurge but I got really lucky on craigslist with a homeowner moving who just wanted her 1920s solid wood cabinet to go to a good home. Plus, the cherry wood picks up the coral details on our plates beautifully.
I agree with all of the previous posters (knives, sheets, towels, etc). Also, since we have lived in rentals for the past seven years (and prior to that in an unfurnished McMansion) I've found that decorating and organizing the space is the most important splurge. Hanging curtains, having the closets, cabinets, and drawers organized and labeled make me feel like I'm not a transient. I've got a box in the garage that is full of various organizing equipment. In one apartment we mounted the iron and ironing board on the wall with a wall mount organizer. Since we have a laundry room door now, we use an over the door organizer. I could go on and on. We never know where we'll be next year so I hold onto those types of things.
When I purchased the curtains and rods, I bought the rods all in the same color so that they all matched in the next place regardless of how many windows are in each room. I did something similar with the curtains. It feels expensive, but it really wasn't.
I am missing a tub for 10 years now. This is the first thing I would add to my list. But there is no room ....
Good down comforters, surely.
At least one good knife (mine is japanese). Storage, storage,storage.
And a cleaning help, please. I can afford it, but I still don't feel comfortable with the thought of having somebody else cleaning my dirt. (I am tidy, but still).
Nice soaps are a regular for me, I am frequent customer of L'Occitane. I really forgot that this is luxury.
Good cotton bedding is natural to me, I prefer soothing colors to calm my mind.
And central heating. My latest trip was to Ethiopia and I have never felt so cold (in Africa, mind!)
Oh, hot and cold water supply. We forget so easily!
I second the wood stove. I installed one with a glass face two years ago use it as my primary source of heat even though I live in an apartment in the city. The very efficient zoned warmth, the living light, the wall of wood, it's all wonderful.
My garbage windows will be replaced in three weeks (same as moke076 above) and I'm hoping they become my second favorite luxury.
music in every room; a good reading lamp and comfy chair; sharp good knives for kitchen; good lighting in kitchen; nice towels; and a spot for a comfy dog bed for my pet. A doorbell that has a speaker; and auto garage opener. That's it!
Sunny outside space. It could be the tiniest, junkiest balcony, just give me somewhere I can sit in the sun.
You can always iron your sheets when they are on the bed so much easier I have just bought another set of 1000 thread count - luxury but so worth it
toto neorest
Seriously. This is a great post. Because even when you are pinching those pennies hard, a few good luxury items will make the days easier:
Bath Sheets - leave the regular bath towels behind and never look back.
Cotton/ Flannel sheets - a good night's sleep is an investment that pays again and again.
One good chef's knife, one good paring knife. Bliss. (keeping them sharpened, however, seems beyond my simple skill set - I have that draw-thru sharpener, I just never get around to actually sharpening the tool, and I know this is critical. Habit to change!)
My ROOMBA! I had been asking for one forever & my husband just got me one htis past Christmas....it's Amazing. It cleans the floors everyday & is one less thing I have to worry about!
1) good knives
2) dishwasher
3) deep freezer
4) microwave
5) front-loading washer
6) bread maker
7) V.G. electric knife sharpener
8) cuisinart
9) kitchenaid mixer
10) wi-fi
We are in the process of looking for a new home right now and our dream luxury is a guest room (or even a nook or alcove or some separate space). It's not possible for everyone, of course, but I would love that! We have lots and lots of overnight guests, at least 1-2 every month and sometimes more like 5-6, and it would be so nice for them and for us to not have to have them sleep on our living room sofa and to have a place for them to store their bags, etc.
Oh, yes, a hand-held shower head.
a reading chair w/lamp
electric mattress pad for my arthritis
Nice plush pillows to rest your head on after a long hot soak in your water temperature controlled tub.
Weekly - healthy, unprocessed food (lately I've been getting my milk from a nearby dairy...its delicious and I never knew what I was missing)
Monthly - Sturdy Baking pans/tools
Yearly - Photographs of scenery (some taken from vacations & others bought from local artists). It helps me take a moment to see the world through someone else's eyes.
My little luxuries all seem to be second-hand, but very me: a piano purchased from the Salvation Army several years ago. I stripped the ugly finish and oiled it with some Howard's Feed-N-Wax and it's lovely. Now if I can just manage to get it tuned...
A Wedgewood stove purchased from CL which needed major cleaning, most of which I did myself. It's one of those big monster ones with the grill in the middle and it just barely fits in my kitchen, but I love it. It replaced an old 1970s electric oven. It's just so much nicer to cook with real flames.
What I once thought of as a luxury item (before I had one), but now I totally depend on --- my wine aerator! I was shocked how much it really does make a difference in the taste of a not so wonderful bottle of wine. For when you don't have the time to decant or don't want to because you're just having a glass and not the whole bottle.
A nice kitchen faucet. Preferably a muilti-spray with a high neck and great water pressure. On par with the shower head and knives if you ask me.
We are remodeling our bathroom and splurged by including a hand-held bidet spray with a mixer valve for hot and cold water!
Flowers are a must for me.
But let me just say I love the photo posted with that bath in that loft. Love. It.
Instant hot water dispenser! And of course now I need more good tea.
I ditto the dimmer switches. As soon as we bought our home, I was on you tube figuring out how to install them. I hate harsh lights and they make all the difference (plus they are cheap and can be installed in 5 minutes!)
Light fixtures - they make a place look and feel like a home to me. I notice lighting and light fixtures everywhere I go, so I knew I would be ok spending money on them in my own home. I'm doing it slowly - as I stumble on good deals @ antique shops and such. I am hoping it will make my place more "charming'' and detract from some of the not so cute features. I really can't stand the ugly generic ones currently in my home -yuck
The knives are a must for sure.
Despite it's hefty price tag, I felt really grown up purchasing a gorgeous couch (one I was lusting after at Jayson home & Garden and scored big at the floor sample sale). I feel great knowing that it's a quality piece in a classic shape that I can recover 20 years from now :)
I was indifferent about fire places but we lucked out that our condo came with one....now I would never buy another place without one! It just screams "cozy"
I'm also telling myself that jumping on the container's store 30% off Elfa storage is totally worth it as well :) We'll see....right now, looking at my closest stresses me out...organization will definitely feel luxurious
I'm thinking about the lux things for which I've paid more and DO notice the difference (e.g., mattress), and for those that, in the end, are enjoyable but don't necessarily enhance my life (e.g., crystal lamps).
Don't get me wrong --I wouldn't give up my crystal, but I can't make the argument that a $350 lamp provides better light or ambiance than a $35.00 lamp, any more than a Mercedes gets me to work better than a Toyota.
Worth it:
mattress (comfort and durability)
sofa (comfort and durability)
knives and cookware (ease of food prep and quality of turn out)
draperies or window treatments (insulation)
rugs or carpet (durability)
paint (better coverage, doesn't spatter)
shoes (some people would call this "closet floor decor" -- and yes, quality makes a diff)
vacuum cleaner
twice-monthly cleaning service (hallelujia)
dimmer switches
shower head (ever feel like you have to run around to get wet?)
Not so much:
linens (I sleep about the same in mediocre sheets and dry off fine with an average towel)
utensils or serveware (doesn't affect food taste or texture)
crystal lamps (or other fancy)
case goods (as long as the latches or sliders work)
glassware (this is hard, because I'm a stickler for fine glassware... but the wine isn't any better for the glass it's in --arguably, it's the company and the food that improves a bottle)
good knives
fresh flowers
dish washer
high end rugs
quality sheets/towels
at least 2 bathrooms
all my favorite treats
lots and lots of organic soaps and body scrubs
washer and dryer
good lighting
great art
I second a lot of these, and add solitude as needed--not necessarily expensive, but priceless. I also add a home washer and dryer, a home luxury that's been worthwhile because I live in a house and don't drive. With them, I manage the laundry without my husband's help.
I love our high end dishwasher! It makes virtually no noise.
Also, some "luxuries" I couldn't live without are my mattress, kitchen faucet and shower head.
Definitely the heated floors in my bathroom, which is directly above an unheated storage unit. Nothing beats coming out of the shower in the morning and landing on a warm - not icy - floor.
Location - definitely a long term luxury in my neighborhood
Good quality bed pillows
Good desk chair
Soft close toilet seats
I never realized some "luxury" things I was missing till I got a cold/flu and wanted to be as comfy as possible. So these are the things I figured out during my first sick day:
Need a nice body scrub and hand lotion
Plush bathroom shower bathmat
Really comfy cotton pajama top and bottoms
dimmer switches in the bathrooms (have dimmers everywhere else in the house)
Thats all I can think of right now.
My goodness, people...Yes on the good knives, and they HAVE to be sharp. This is no big deal w/ your sharpening steel. If one didn't come w/ your knives, excellent ones can be had for between $12-$20. Just run the knife over the rougher side at a 45 degree angle on one side only, then wipe the burrs off both sides of the knife w/ a couple of quick swipes on the less-rough side. Piece of cake. Luxury for me: knives sharpened professionally once a year, lucky to have a man who does this at my Farmer's Market. He agrees that, with consistent use of the sharpening steel, once a year is plenty. Or Google tool sharpening in your area. Sharpening is not expensive, makes less-fine knives better, makes cooking faster and much more fun.
Bath sheets, because I like walking around in my towel and its nice when they're not soaked before your dry...
Bathtub, cause after a REALLY long day and REALLY long soak sorts me out... to go along with his I will have a really big water heater/boiler (whatever you want to call it...)cause it sucks having to get out of the bath cause the water is cold and there is no more hot water =0(
Bed cause hubby broke his back a few years ago and if hubby's not happy neither am i lol
Good pillows, I've got a bad neck and if I'm not happy neither is anyone else!
wok... I use it to make everything... I'm guessing expensive knives would be nice... I've just got normal ones..
Wasn't it Frank Lloyd Wright who said, "Surround yourself with luxuries, and the rest will take care of itself."
Of course, he was constantly in debt.
My electric blanket. I never knew how good it could feel to get into bed until it was a nice, WARM bed in the middle of winter. I wish I had bought it years and years ago.
Washer and dryer, although I really consider them more of a necessity. But I appreciate these each and every day as a luxury.
Fresh air all year round, and being able to get it into the house.
A clothes line outside.
And the cut flowers for inside.
Iron the sheets on the bed! What an absolutely great idea!
My monthly cleaning service...a nice vacation (traveling somewhere I've never been), when I can afford it...my gooseneck kitchen faucet w/spray...good organic food when I have extra $...splurged on a good steam cleaner to try to get off chemical cleansers. I wish I had more natural light and more windows and a garage.
fresh flowers, original art, good knives (love my kyoceras...no sharpening required), dyson to keep up with my animals, and a good long sleep every night.
Neccessities: knives, towels, sheets, mattress, showerhead etc (I'd sooner give up chocolate & wine than live without those)
Luxuries:
Good knife sharpener
Induction Cooktop - you can use it as bench space at the same time as cooking - great for a small kitchen
Husband that irons and cooks (should that be under the necessity list)
Luxuries creep with income, of course :) I find the more repetitive ones are out of my price range (Fresh flowers and a cleaning service) but I'm very grateful I invested in a quality bed and am slowly amassing quality shoes.
In the kitchen, I notice good knives, definitely prioritize the slightly more expensive whole-grain products instead of white, and won't drink cheap alcohol (but I don't drink very much). :)
I think the take home from this long list of comments is that no matter what your station in life, it is possible to have a small handful of possessions that improve your life in valuable and tangible ways. Everyone has at least one or two, and maybe more.
The trouble is finding that balance between something a little nicer, a little better than we would normally get for ourselves, and making a habit of buying "luxuries". When that happens it's a sign that one might be living outside of one's means.
Buy the best quality you can afford, but don't buy better. That just leads to empty pocketbooks and uneeded financial strain.
loads of books, good art, and sterling flatware
Crystal cat litter. Relatively expensive but keeps the stench down. Really classes up the whole joint, and I'm not kidding, to remove the constant odor of cat poop.
1) A recirculating pump for the hot water heater so we have (almost) instant hot water from any location in the house.
2) Art
3) Silk pajamas (that get dry cleaned)
4) Housekeeper & gardener
5) Nesti Dante cypress soap
6) Fabulous bedding
7) A secure gate at the street level (never, ever a solicitor)
8) French press coffee every morning
Real glassware. Preferably something with a little heft. There's just no excuse for drinking out of plastic. Glassware is inexpensive, so this is hardly a luxury.
Plates and serving ware that's free from chips. I don't hesitate to replace anything with a chip.
Dimmers on just about every light source where possible.
Original art work. Doesn't have to cost much or be created by a name artist. I just prefer stuff that not everyone else has.
Real wool rugs. I have a weakness for Persians, but there are cheaper alternatives. I much prefer natural fibers underfoot than synthetics.
A comfortable and ergonomic work chair. I only have one back, one neck and one set of shoulders, so I'm willing to shell out as much as I can to keep them in good shape. Of course, this chair must be visually appealing. Style need not suffer for ergonomics.
dish washer - LOVE having a dish washer, such a lifesaver!
central air - we run super hot and can't sleep when we get sweaty, so having central air in LA heat is a blessing.
on line bill pay and banking OH! direct deposit! (guess that's just general luxury)
water pressure
sharp quality knives
high ceilings
balcony garden
thick walls!
TWO parking spaces!
Pure linen sheets and 100% wool blankets. I am amazed by how much the quality of your sleep improves when you switch from cotton to linen sheets, and from a down comforter to a wool blanket. Linen and wool are both natural temperature and moisture regulators.
Granite/stone counter tops and hardwood floors.
My boyfriend and I have really nice dishes and glassware that we have picked up here and there secondhand! Crystal wine glasses that have the most beautiful sound when you toast!...cool teal and gold vintage shot glasses that we pull out of our antique wood and blue glass liquor cabinet when guests come over...organic, fair trade, shade grown coffee from the local roaster in jonathan adler mugs...
I like to keep mounds of fresh fruit around the apartment. Right now I have a pink depression glass bowl overfilled with grapefruit and granny smith apples in an etched glass bowl It's gorgeous!
1. could live without a shower but must have a tub & some Kneipp eucalyptus bath oil...I also have a TV on a shelf at the end of the tub so I can watch stuff I've tivo'd
2. a quiet neighborhood
3. need total darkness in the bedroom, so I have drapes AND shades
4. if you're looking for someone to sharpen your knives professionally, call the nearest restaurant & ask who does theirs
5. a great view and lots of windows
Replacing your towels yearly? This is incredibly wasteful! Please think of the massive environmental impact if this caught on as the advisable course of action. I love my bright white linens. They make me feel like I'm in a hotel and I take pride in keeping them clean and tidy at all times. I would advise buying high quality linens and taking great care of them over buying new ones each year. Have you found an animal shelter to which you can donate your used towels?
A fridge with an ice maker and a really good coffee maker.
real luxuries totally worth if if attainable: steam shower, outdoor soaking tub, attached greenhouse, commercial kitchen, privacy & views :)
Tub with jets...never would have considered it before kids but it feels like "going to the spa." (not that I've actually been there..but I believe the advertising!) We actually didn't spend a lot on it but it makes our days a little brighter.
Nice everyday flatware that we registered for instead of silverware. They have a nice weight and make our day to day meals feel special.
Dishwasher. What an amazing concept.
Tea in real Teacups.
Pretty coffee mugs for coffee and a little tray for evening snacks.
Lit candles.
Super soft blankets.
I would love someone to clean my house...but I think that day is very far away!
...and radiant heat floors
1. My electric throw rug. I can snuggle under it on the couch and also use it in between my top sheet and quilt in winter. Unbelievably goooood!!
http://www.sunbeam.com.au/Pages/Browse/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1039
2. Enviropet pine pellet kitty litter & sifting tray. No cat wee stink. At. All The pine naturally absorbs all the odour
3. iPhone - life changingly good
A hubby who has brought me coffee every morning for 30 years. I can live without anything else!
Some one mentioned Air conditioning as a luxury, sorry, here in sticky, hot and humid Florida A/C is a necessity in the nearly 7 months of summer. On the plus side we never turn on the heat! the windows are kept open as much as possible. in the month of spring and 4 months of fall/winter. does that add up to a whole year?
I looked at every one of these posts and I'm amazed to see that no one mentioned towel warmers! Truly a luxury I enjoy, even in MS in the winter.
Superb post, Leah!
For me it is:
Sheets
Mattress
artwork (though i have none)
knives
a maid
professional rug cleaning
contract with pest control dudes
stunning antiques that will never break or go out of style
the arco lamp
The biggest luxury one could have is a single family home. I only lived once in a condominium and although it was pretty "lux", the fact that you have to live at the expense and mercy of other people's respect or lack-of just ruins any comfort within your home.
At home, I agree with a good set of knives and a good set of pots and pans. I own Lifetime and Renaware and I would highly recommend them.
1. Cleaning service. I succumbed this year due to a demanding work schedule and now all I wonder is why I waited so damn long.
2. Luxury bath products Because why stop at nice hand soap?
3. Nespresso machine Oh my god why is this not on anyone else's list? Say goodbye to Starbucks for good.
4. Projector With a projector, my office converts into a home movie theater every night. I don't even remember how I ever watched movies on a TV before I bought a home movie projector.
Fine linens: napkins, tablecloths, bedding
Good shower head
Good mattress
Don't know how I forgot this, but a dishwasher would be LOVELY!
Nice mattress and bed linens
Hotel robe and slippers
a big cashmere blanket for lounging and watching tv (I am always cold)
Setting the table every night we eat at home with cloth napkins, and attractive plates and glasses
I would love a cleaning person, if I found the right one. A gardener would be wonderful-
I love a beautiful garden, but don't enjoy gardening and am not good at it.
morning: burr coffee grinder
noon: iMac
night: nice bedding
cleaning products or household products in general that look nice enough to be left out in the open (aka, GOOD packaging!) i know youre really paying more because of the packaging, but somehow, nothing makes me feel statelier than when even my toilet bowl cleaner looks like an accessory (im lookin' at you Method Lil' Bowl)
After living in 4 different very old rentals in 2 years, I appreciate what I have just a little more. It's the things that most of us in newish homes take for granted. Good insulation, a dishwasher, two toilets, heating .................. basically anything that makes everyones life easier and more comfortable. Also a comfy couch, good knives, good mattress and good vacuum for the same reason..... I'm still saving for the good mattress and vac and I KNOW it'll be worth it. I'm also planning on seriously splurging on art after I get the 'essential luxuries' but maybe I should be thinking about getting an air conditioner..... oh my, it's humid today. :)
Oh, and the internet! How could I forget to mention the internet? I can't imagine not having it so I think of it as a necessity but really I guess it's really a luxury. :)
Original art, even if it's a hand-made mug. I can honestly say I've never regreted buying something handmade.
I never realized how much I would miss these things when I moved into an 80 year old home last year...
1) Dishwasher- washing the dishes turned into the most depressing part of my day.
2) Good Lighting- When only one or two of your rooms are lit well enough to use comfortably, you start to miss the fact that you live in a place with extra rooms.
3)Modern windows and insulation- living on a fire and ambulance route gets loud when all the windows are single pane and drafty
4)Good paint- ceilings look dingy if you get the cheap stuff.
1. A classic, quality sleeper sofa that looks sleek and that others claim is actually comfortable to sleep on.
2. Dishwasher. Will NEVER live without one again.
3. Too many cookbooks and the knives to realize their inspiration.
4. Sterling used as daily flatware (and thrown in said dishwasher).
5. Built-in bookcases in the bedroom.
6. A great mortgage.
Beautiful dishes, glasses, and flatware!
-Art from friends
-Sheep Skin throw / rug. eeee yeah - non vegan. sorry. haven't napped on the couch in months in favor of the dense wool comfort of this rug.
When I finally own a home, I am buying the biggest water heater I can find. I know it's bad for the environment, and probably for my skin, but I just can't seem to take a shower that lasts fewer than 30 minutes. No apartment so far has been able to stand up to them.
Add a dishwasher and a hot tub, and I might never see dry land again.
Great list!!
A soaker tub and pictures of loved ones in the best frames that you can afford! Also some element that makes you happy in your home whether it be a scent, a throw or a lamp. Just something that makes you smile.
Without any hesitation, I respectfully disagree with everything that was said above. The biggest luxuries are space and silence. They are also the least affordable ones. I think that they are the most valuable things you can invest into.
As for the smallest luxuries, I totally agree with everyone. My personal preferences go to beautiful sheets (after all, I sleep 8 hours in them per day), flowers and nice bathroom towels.
A little more expensive are my silverware and fancy china set.
I still think that having good tool and a well-thought home is a huge luxury. My current house is oddly shaped, and I'm having the hardest time making it functional. Making my house efficient would be a great luxury for me, instead of hurting myself on that stupid wall nook each time I go to the laundry room.
I love this thread, it is full of small often affordable tips to boost your everyday live.
I started to buy flowers almost every week and they make me happy during the week. I also got some small nick-nacks like a ginger granter in a kitty tummy shape and it makes me smile everytime I look at it. Some with my Jonathan Adler fish shaped salt and pepper...
I second the real, flax linen sheets (for hot weather). I'm normally very frugal, but I'll never be without 'em now that I know the difference they make.
This came with my 1800s-redone-in-1950s house: a tall, flat radiator set into the wall of my bathroom right under the towel rack. The luxury in the winter of stepping out of the shower into a warm, totally dry towel is incomparable. ::Sigh::
Three other luxuries I appreciate every single day are all just useful, excellent storage pieces:
1) The antique lockers I put in my living room (full of short shelves I installed to hold shoes, etc.).
2) The old steel medical file I put in my entry way, which has divided drawers that hold cell phone, iPod, digital camera plus chargers, dog's leash, all my mittens, mail ready for recycling, all my files, plus miscellaneous office supplies.
3) The old card catalog in my kitchen, which has 30 drawers and holds every single miscellaneous item I could possibly need: batteries, light bulbs, OTC medicines, first aid, pens, note pads, sewing kit, pliers, tape measures, extra keys, tiny hardware, etc., etc..
Great storage items are worth their weight in gold - but if you scavenge junk stores and flea markets, you can get them crazy cheap. If I were starting again as a 20-something, I would save and scrimp until I could buy great storage early on, and avoid the years of cramped drawers and closets and disorganization!
Mary
My whole apartment is furnished in ikea and target so anything would be luxury for me. I did just get organic cottons sheets at target for $30 and I do feel like they make a nice difference.
House Plants! Large House plants and lots of them to make you feel like you live in a tropical jungle! That is luxury for me!
overture: i also take really long showers most of the time, and we've found that our tankless water heater is more than up to the challenge. added bonus is that it takes up MUCH less space than a traditional water heater, let alone a giant one.
A friend of mine just gave me her old kitchenaid mixer - I'm in heaven! And yesterday I went and bought my first Restoration Hardward bath towel. I would also add nice hand lotion and face moisturiser.
Very specifically, heated bathroom floors and towel warmer.
More generally, agree with Loora above: space and silence.
My luxuries are:
1) down comforters on all the beds
2) down pillows
3) nice textiles around the house from arty textiles on the walls to micro fleece sheets on the beds (currently only my daughter has them)
4) wood burning stove
5) Good shower head
Tub. Big tub. No jets. Just soak.
I have a deep jetted tub and an on-demand water heater...and I never use the tub! For me, luxury comes from fresh flowers every week and splurging on really high quality food.
I would love to live in a more walkable area - that would truly be a luxury for me. Or cutting out a commute altogether and working from home!
at those that recommended linen sheets - where is a good place to find some?
good showerhead, wine fridge (in overheated NYC - a must), soaking tub, nice bed linens, space (again in NYC, very rare)
My organic buckwheat hull mattress topper is the most luxurious thing I own, even though it is the most natural thing I own - I love digging my toes into it every night, feels like I am at the beach! I make them, here is a picture: http://www.etsy.com/listing/53066455/organic-buckwheat-hull-stuffed-mattress
For me, good bedding, towels and table linens; great toiletries; and storage that works (have spent the last few years adding elfa units to the closets during theri yearly sale). A great matress, knives, and cookware are necessities. I am also appreciating the joy of applicances that work since our drier recently died and the new one is so much better--dries a load in half an hour, instead of the two hours plus the last one took.
The thing about these kind of daily things for me is that they really do bring joy to life everyday--and that is where we live most of our lives--in the daily.
Solid wood interior doors.
It's a part of the house that people will be touching and operating--and hearing. Hearing the solid contact of a heavy door when it closes makes me feel good and right :)
Really it should go unsaid, yet so often where I live builders think that slapping up those cheap hollow-core doors is an acceptable way to save money. Just spend the extra $75/door!!
japanese soaker tub... not the american soaker tubs with an overflow valve at 17", i'm talking sit and soak up to my ears. :)
Thick Fuzzy throws, Rug pads (makes a big difference!) Towel Warmer, Chair massager. Ditto on everything above.
I agree with whoever above said silence. I have worked really hard to make my home a comfortable oasis, and for the most part it is except for my neighbors' dogs.
Also, I feel extra whine-y for admitting this, but I would kill for refrigerated air (I have a swamp cooler.)
An espresso machine with an E61 grouphead and a PID.
Top quality chef's knife.
Nice soap (hand, bath, and dish).
Whole Foods.
Big TV with blu-ray and DVR.
Dyson vacuum (actually I don't have one, but I imagine it's fantastic).
Silk curtains. I got mine on ebay. I had to move into an apartment due to a job relocation, after being a homeowner for many years, and the silk curtains make the place look a little more "glam", and a little less "pre-fab".
I agree with all of these, especially the cleaning person. Particularly if you're not the sort of person who works off their stress by scrubbing the kitchen (and yes I know some of those people), it's a life-saver.
I would add that with furniture or lighting, spending a little more for the thing you really want, rather than settling for the budget option, is worth saving up for if you can. I have several items in my home that gave me heart attacks when I first bought them (lighting fixtures that cost more than some of the furniture, e.g.), but which have given me pleasure every single day that I have owned them. Totally worth the price.
Getting a maid (or PC "cleaning service") was the best decision ever. I work a lot and hate coming home and cleaning. Coming home to a clean house? AMAZING.
Down comforters and original art. The original art doesn't have to be expensive, just save up during the year and when art fair season rolls around buy one or two pieces that strike your fancy. Or you could go the gallery route, but that might mean buying one thing every few years.
Just the right hand thrown mug for my coffee. Triple-milled good smelling soap, high quality sheets and down comforter. Good knives are no use without an often-used knife sharpener. Light bulbs that emit natural-seeming light, and well-placed skylights. Mmm.
This thread reminds me of a pretty useful book I read, A Housekeeper is Cheaper than a Divorce, by Kathy Fitzgerald Sherman.
Our landscaping/yard maintenance service is worth its weight in gold, especially in the Texas summers when mowing could be lethal.
Privacy, peace & quiet and a killer view.
His and hers bathrooms
Lots of closet space
Lots of kitchen counters
My new electric blanket (why did I wait this long to get one. )
The best cookware - knives and pot and pans. When we first got hitched we bought some really pricey pots pans and knives and I will never regret it!
The best towels - We go a lot of towels as wedding gifts and there are only a handful that I like using.
The best mattress - I have the worst back and am a rough sleeper so this means the world to me!
The prettiest rugs - ties together any room!
I hate folding laundry so my ultimate luxury is having the laundry sent out. It comes back clean and folded and I just have to put in away.
Fresh coffee in the morning, and five minutes of silence.
A few good knives.
A completely dark bedroom with warm flannel sheets in the winter and smooth linens in the summer.
a view and time to enjoy it
This is a great gift list!
The luxury I can't do without: my cat. Costs about $25/month, not including vet bills. Still a lot cheaper than therapy. :D
Mmm, My tea set. I uses it every weekend in the morning for breakfast (and for tea parties) and it's just so mentally relaxing. i love it.
Hand knit socks. You can't FIND better. Unless you knit a pair in Cashmere. Divine.
Duvet set from Resto H. 100% Italian silk (600 thread count).
Portable space heater. I love mine.
Two luxe items I'm saving for are a high-end mattress and a whirlpool tub for the master bath. I have fibromyalgia and experience has proven the value of a whirlpool in my daily life.