The New Luxury is Emotional – and I'm Designing Homes That Feel, Not Just Look, Expensive

Interior designer Zoe Feldman is one of Homes & Gardens' new Editors-At-Large for By Design, sharing her thoughts on decor through her lens, clever color palettes, and family-friendly materials. See the rest of her articles here.

Perhaps it was the pandemic, or perhaps it’s always been this way, but lately, luxury feels less about appearances and far more about how a home actually feels. Of course, everyone wants a beautiful house – that goes without saying – but what people crave most now is comfort, tactility, and atmosphere. The spaces we truly love don’t just look exquisite; they envelop you. They remind you why home is, quite simply, better than anywhere else.

It’s a modern take on Louis Sullivan’s famous adage, ‘form follows function’, which I mentioned in my last letter. Today, function isn’t just about how a chair works – it’s about how it feels to sink into one for three hours at a dinner party. Clients want sofas upholstered in cashmere and filled with down that practically beg for a nap. They want beds layered in linens that feel broken-in from the moment you climb in. They want luxury kitchens where the countertop edge is a soft double bullnose rather than a harsh 90-degree corner. In short, the details matter more than ever, because they’re what make a house feel like home.

This new idea of luxury lives in the little surprises: the sherpa texture your hand brushes as you pass a sofa arm, the way wool-satin curtains turn sunlight into a soft, flattering glow, or the silk or linen wall covering you only notice when you lean in and realise the room feels warmer, quieter, softer. That’s the moment you think – this is special.

The shift is that people are no longer chasing what glitters. They seek spaces that cocoon. A home that feels layered, lived-in, and thoughtfully considered will always outlast a glossy showpiece. A mohair throw draped over a chair, lined drapery that just grazes the floor, a silk-wrapped light switch discovered by accident – these are the details that whisper luxury. They don’t demand attention; they quietly earn it.

Of course, ‘effortless’ design is a myth. To make a home feel indulgent, every detail must be carefully considered. The sofa can’t just look chic; it has to invite you to sink in with a book. Dining chairs should read as sculptural from afar, yet let you linger over dessert without shifting in your seat. Materials must withstand dogs, toddlers, and the occasional glass of red wine – all while remaining timeless. Emotional luxury is its own discipline: part science, part magic, all restraint.

And yet, it’s deeply personal. Comfort doesn’t look the same for everyone. For one client, it’s crisp percale sheets; for another, a velvet quilt that feels like a hug. Some find it in candlelight and silence; others in the hum of a full house. The point is that a home isn’t a stage set. It’s a living, breathing reflection of the people who inhabit it. Emotional luxury honors that truth.

In an age of perfectly styled rooms and endless scrolls of inspiration, emotional design feels like an antidote. Pretty is easy. What lingers is how a space makes you feel. The homes that endure aren’t the ones that impress at first glance; they’re the ones that let you exhale, curl up, and never want to leave.

The future of luxury isn’t about more – it’s about meaning. It’s about beauty you can touch, craftsmanship you can feel, and rooms designed to be lived in, not merely admired. True luxury doesn’t shout; it hums quietly in the background, revealing itself over time. The most extraordinary home isn’t the one that looks the part – it’s the one that feels like you’ve finally arrived.