These are the little luxuries I think are worth splurging on in the home

A colourful bedroom with dormer windows and pale pink walls. The double bed is dressed in white bedding with yellow, pink and burgundy accents. — (Image credit: Future PLC/James French)

Content creator Lucy Kalice is one of Ideal Home's Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on cleaning, home decor and making the most of small spaces. See the rest of her articles here.

I’d like to think I’m pretty savvy when it comes to spending money on the house (my husband might not agree). I really do think you can get some good quality pieces without spending the big bucks. But I would argue that there are definitely items that are worth spending every single penny on.

So here are some of my little luxuries that are non-negotiable in our home.

Good quality bin bags

When we did our first supermarket shop after moving in to our home, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw there were bin bags costing £4/£5…I remember thinking who is even buying them?! Oh how naive I was.

After about the 20th time of the cheap bin bags ripping because they were so thin, I tried the bin bags from a brand called Beast and wow, I have never looked back. They fit the bin perfectly, they are so strong and they have drawstring handles…chefs kiss.

Black kitchen bin on red tiled floor, next to black kitchen cabinets.

Thick Toilet Paper

Single ply toilet paper should be banned…there I said it.

Get the expensive stuff, the Andrex Ultimate Quilt is our go-to. It’s soft, it’s comfortable and you don’t have to worry about any breakage.

Two duvets

I’m proud to say we are a 2 duvet household. Summer duvet and winter duvet. I would go as far to say that this isn’t even a luxury, this is essential.

A low tog duvet for summer simply won’t cut it in the winter and that’s that.

Beige painted bedroom with a window and curtains to the left hand side and a bed with a shelf above it to the right

Comfortable bed linen

They say we spend a third of our lives in our bed sleeping, so I would argue that calls for nice bed linen. I’m not talking colour, I’m talking thread count and materials.

You want your bed linen to feel soft and comfortable so you need to work out what type you like best. I like my bed sheet to be made from cotton rather than linen, but that’s just personal preference.

Once you know what you like, treat yourself to a set that’s good quality, I find they wash better and last longer.

Good quality kitchen roll

Similarly with the toilet roll, a thick kitchen roll goes a long way. Plenty or Regina are my favourite brands.

They are a little bit more expensive but I think you end up using less anyway because the sheets do go further so it probably evens out.

White kitchen with white metro tiles on the wall and a white worktop. The under-counter cabinets are bright yellow

A good vacuum cleaner

I’ve had a fair few vacuum cleaners in my time and one thing that I’ve realised is the more expensive they are usually means the better they are (better suction, better battery life).

Vacuum cleaners are expensive anyway, so spending a bit more to get a better one will make a huge difference. My favourite is the Shark Power Detect.

Reed diffusers

A nice smelling home makes for a happy home so I have a reed diffuser going in every room at all times.

I don’t even think you need to go expensive, B&M or Home Bargains sell some good ones and they are relatively inexpensive. I just think they are such an easy way to elevate your home.

Built-in shelves painted white styled with books, decorative objects and a scented candle

Food shop delivery

Listen, I love going food shopping and having a proper mooch around. But convenience is king so paying £5 to have my food shopping delivered is worth every penny.

Supermarkets can be stressful and chaotic – I wouldn’t wish a Sunday supermarket trip on my worst enemy. I also find I spend more when I go in the shop because I see all the promotions and offers.

I can also spend the hour or so I would’ve been doing the food shop doing something else. So £5 is a small price to pay for peace and productivity.

Good quality towels

Spoiler alert: thin, hard and fraying towels are not cutting it anymore! That’s the last thing you want when you get out the shower or when you’r drying your hands.

Invest in a set of good quality towels and always tumble dry them because they come out all soft and fluffy!

Having a cleaner

We got a cleaner three years ago and I have never looked back. They come once a fortnight for two hours and it costs us £30 which I think it pretty reasonable.

Two hours is obviously not enough time to do a deep clean so I do clean the house as well but it’s a huge help for my husband and I when we have busy weeks.

What little luxuries do you have in your home?

Lucy is a content creator with a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from City University of London. Ever since buying her first home in 2022, she’s been obsessed with finding ways to keep spaces sparkling clean and organised.

From genius home hacks, to everyday cleaning routines, her content shares tips and tricks that inspire others to create homes that feel as good as they look. She shares her home with her partner, Sam, and their adorable dog Dudley, who often steals the spotlight of her videos.