Luxury vs. Necessity
Madrigal (To Miss May Forshall)
HE shouts amain, he shouts again,
(Her brother, fierce, as bluff King Hal),
"I tell you flat, I shall do that!"
She softly whispers " 'May' for 'shall'!"
He wistful sighed one eventide
(Her friend, that made this Madrigal),
"And shall I kiss you, pretty Miss!"
Smiling she answered " 'May' for 'shall'!"
With eager eyes my reader cries,
"Your friend must be indeed a val-
-uable child, so sweet, so mild!
What do you call her?" "May For shall."
—Lewis Carroll
In the realm of interior design, we often distinguish between luxury and necessity. Luxury encompasses elements that surpass basic functional needs, often incorporating high-end materials, unique designs, and custom-made pieces. Necessity, on the other hand, focuses on essential, practical aspects that ensure comfort and functionality. While luxury offers aesthetic pleasure and status, necessity provides the foundation for everyday living. However, this distinction is not as clear-cut as it seems. A closer examination reveals that these concepts are fluid and interconnected, with room for negotiation and balance.
This blog post explores the nuanced relationship between necessity and luxury in interior design. By redefining basic needs, understanding the negotiable margins, and recognizing the desires behind demands, we can bridge the gap between these two concepts. I will dispel common misconceptions about interior design, prioritize a balanced approach, and emphasize the value of personal and versatile pieces. Additionally, I will address the consumerist mindset, reframe the concept of luxury, and acknowledge the profession of interior design and decoration. Through these ten key points, I aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to harmoniously integrate luxury and necessity in interior design.
Bridging Necessity and Luxury in Interior Design
Redefining Basic Needs: Recognize that what is considered foundational today inherently includes elements of luxury, reflecting the elevated standard of living.
Negotiable Margins: Understand that the dichotomy between luxury and necessity is not absolute; it involves negotiable nuances satisfying various desires.
Desire Behind Demand: Shift focus from arguing over necessities to understanding the underlying desires driving these demands.
Misconceptions of Interior Design and Decoration: Dispel the notion that interior design is an unnecessary luxury, recognizing its role in creating balanced, delightful living spaces.
Prioritizing Balance: Balance investments in structural and architectural elements with thoughtful interior decoration to avoid ending up with a compromised project.
Value Beyond Property: Opt for versatile, personal pieces like vintage furniture over built-in cabinetry, adding lasting value beyond property resale.
Comfort and Functionality: Prioritize personal comfort and aesthetic pleasure in home decor, acknowledging these as integral to a fulfilling living environment.
Consumerist Mindset: Although sounds counter-intuitive, address the consumerist approach in property value enhancements, aiming for a harmonious blend of practicality and personal preference.
Reframing Luxury: See luxury not as an end goal but as a starting point for negotiation, ensuring that personal desires are met without dismissing them as frivolous.
Professional Recognition: Appreciate interior design as a professional service requiring materials and budget, akin to other essential professions, thus bridging its perception from luxury to necessity.
The Perception of Luxury
For centuries, the ownership of certain objects or the pursuit of unique goods was often seen as an indulgence carrying negative connotations. The term "luxury" finds its roots in the Latin word "luxuria," which means "extravagance or excess." We define luxury by discerning what is essential and by recognizing what exceeds these necessities. Anything beyond necessity is frequently dismissed as either waste or luxury, terms that are often used interchangeably. As an excess, luxury items are beyond what can be consumed, leading to their inevitable decay if left unused. Furthermore, the term "luxury" is becoming outdated in today's context. As it naturally should, the concept itself is decaying. This decay is a vital initial step in negotiating what is deemed essential and in gaining a deeper understanding of necessity.
When approaching the concept of luxury, it is important to recognize that what is considered "foundational" today is not "basic." The standard of living now deemed fundamental, or the so-called "ground level," is inherently luxurious. Therefore, our current definition of "a life worth living" is undeniably a life of luxury. As such, when we view luxury as the denial of necessity or the “basic” needs, we begin to understand that we might be immersed in opulence precisely because almost everything is restricted to us. Or, to put it simply, our needs are defined as “luxurious” or “excessive”.
But, before we address the concepts of luxury through the concept of need and necessity further, we must also reconsider the "necessary" and its associated demand. To do so, it is crucial to remember that behind every necessity there is a demand, and behind a demand lies a desire. In other words, we should seek the desire that underpins the demand.
Now, to bridge the perceived opposition between "luxury" and "necessity," it is essential to understand that this dichotomy is not absolute. Instead, there are negotiable margins and nuances that can satisfy various desires through a dialogue.
Interior Design and Decor as Luxury
Following this logic, interior design and decoration are often misperceived as unnecessary steps and a waste of money. However, when we dispel the misconception that the interior decorator is merely "the icing on the cake" rather than an equal part of the project, we achieve the best results. In my experience transitioning between architecture and interior design, I have noticed a common trend: priority is given to structural and architectural aspects, which are seen as necessities and substantial investments that enhance property value. In contrast, interior decoration is sometimes regarded as frivolous, fun and unnecessary (none if which is not untrue), leading to budget cuts in this area. Unfortunately, due to excessive and unbalanced construction demands, clients often end up with compromised projects, having spent a fortune on construction only to move into spaces with bare walls.
In a certain sense, it is true that when architecture and construction prioritize property value, decoration can introduce a consumerist mindset to this value that slightly disrupts its “common sense” considerations. This approach can provide a necessary balance, resulting in a project that clients can truly delight in without feeling compromised. For instance, when considering property value, investments in built-in cabinetry may enhance initial appeal, but they contribute no lasting value once the house is sold. Wouldn’t a better approach be opting for versatile pieces like a vintage armoire, for instance, which can be moved and retained by the homeowner regardless of future plans to sell the house? Moreover, the minute a house is sold, the plumbing fixtures, kitchens and cabinetry are all going to be pulled out. And yet, frankly, when you come home at night, just don’t you want to sit on a comfortable sofa? After all the walls are put up and after spending so much money on construction, isn’t it a shame that you end up moving into a very neat and tidy, evenly lit surgery room? Instead, wouldn't you want the things which surround you to be palatable and tasteful? It's regrettable if budget limitations necessitate sacrificing personal prefernces for less impactful features such as cabinetry costs or property market value, offering little tangible benefit to the homeowner. The value engineering comes in the understanding that there no such a thing as the opposition of “the luxuries” and the “necessary”, but that there are margins and crevices which are negotiable in satisfying different desires.
Necessity vs. Luxury
Through the lens of interior design and decoration, the opposition of “luxury” and “necessity” is omitted when we begin to see that what is deemed "necessary" is merely a desire. With this understanding, the focus shifts from arguing over what is foundational in the house to negotiating what is desirable. Ultimately, no value is truly foundational. When we label something as "luxury," it marks the start of a bargain. As such, luxury isn't an ultimate destination but a trigger for a talk or an essential phase in negotiation.
Interior design is often categorized as part of the "luxury market." This perspective is shaped by market logic, which prioritizes contributions to the common good—such as market efficiency, military strength, and technological advancements—over personal needs, labeling the latter as "bad" or "harmful". This inverted value system leads to the perception of interior design as a luxury, reminiscent of the Ancient Roman concept of "luxuria," which denoted rebellious living and sinful excess.
When bridging the concepts of luxury and necessity, it becomes clear that labeling interior design as "luxury" merely acknowledges that clients who invest in it understand it as a professional service requiring materials and a budget, akin to any other profession. The term "luxury" is not the end goal of interior design, but rather an entry point to appreciating its necessity.