Reviewed by 
“Luxury has become much less about status and much more about supporting the way we live,” says designer Kerrie Kelly, CEO of Kerrie Kelly Studio. Her professional observation is that formerly aspirational features are now becoming standard because homeowners have realized they don’t just want beautiful homes—they want homes that make everyday life feel effortless.
Another reason why certain home features have evolved from luxurious to expected is broader availability. “Part of it is that the products have become more available and more affordable than they used to be,” says Seth Ballard of the Washington, DC-based Ballard + Mensua Architecture. What’s more, Ballard says there’s been a shift in how people are investing in their homes. Put all these factors together and what was once reserved for high-end homes is now part of the standard package.
Read on to learn which previously fancy home features pros say are considered standard today.
Mudrooms
For Ballard, mudrooms are the number one example of once-luxurious home features that are becoming standard. “I started introducing mudrooms to our clients in the early 2000’s; back then, people thought of them as a luxury—today, they're a must-have,” Ballard says. He reminisces about his grandparents’ Minnesota mudroom, which he says made sense for dealing with snowy winters and kids.
“When I started renovating homes, clients would almost always apologize for the pile of shoes, coats, backpacks, and sports gear by the front door,” Ballard says. His thought is, families don't need to apologize—they need a place for all that stuff to land. Enter: the mudroom. “Now, a good mudroom is one of the first things clients ask for because it makes everyday life so much easier,” Ballard shares.
Thoughtful Storage and Organization
One significant luxury-to-standard shift Kelly is noticing is the incorporation of thoughtfully designed storage and organization. “Walk-in pantries, appliance garages, charging drawers, and customized cabinetry aren’t about having more space—they’re about creating calmer, more functional homes that support daily routines,” the designer explains.
Marble
“Thanks to social media, everyone is loving the look of marble,” says Shannon Askinasi, an interior designer and founder of Ash & Pine Interiors in Summit, NJ. The designer shares that homeowners used to overlook marble countertops because of the easy damage that acids, liquids, and heavy cookware can cause. “But now, there are some great products on the market to protect the stone and people have become more comfortable splurging on the material knowing that they can add a protective barrier that helps prevent the etching and staining,” Askinasi explains.
Steam Ovens
When it comes to kitchen appliances, Ballard says the steam ovens that were once considered a luxury are moving in the direction of a standard kitchen fixture. “Years ago, they were considered a specialty appliance; now we're putting them into more and more kitchens because once people use one, they're sold,” the architect notes.
It all started with an appliance salesperson who once told Ballard’s client that leftover pizza reheated in a steam oven tastes better than it did the day before. Since then, he’s had five clients call him after moving in just to tell him that the pizza really is amazing! He says it’s funny, but points out it’s also true. “People discover they're using the steam oven all the time—not just for pizza, but for vegetables, bread, leftovers, and everyday cooking; it's becoming one of those features people don't want to give up once they've lived with it,” Ballard says.
Bidets
“Bidets are another thing that sounds super fancy, but is actually pretty accessible nowadays,” Askinasi shares. She attributes the shift to more brands manufacturing the bathroom fixtures than was previously the case. “And if you don’t want or can’t fit a stand-alone, you can just add a bidet seat to your existing toilet, which also saves money,” the designer points out.
Integrated Appliances
Integrated appliances were once the hallmark of high-end kitchen design. Today, they’re becoming more and more common, according to Kelly. “What was once reserved for luxury kitchens is now expected, because homeowners want their kitchens to feel warm, welcoming, and connected to the rest of the home rather than looking like a collection of machines,” the designer explains.
Specialty Water Systems in Kitchens
“We’re also seeing filtered and instant hot or sparkling water systems move into the mainstream,” Kelly shares. She attributes the shift to homeowners becoming more conscious of wellness and sustainability, and convenient access to better drinking water being less of a luxury and more of an everyday expectation as a result.
Heated Floors
Heated floors used to be the epitome of luxury living, but Askinasi says they are much easier to install these days. “Plus, they’re less expensive than they used to be thanks to things like smart thermostats, which can help conserve energy,” the designer notes. Depending on the room you pick and the kind of floors you have, Askinasi says this kind of heating—which may sound like a luxury when you first explain it—could actually end up saving you money on your wintertime heating bill.
Induction Cooktops
Kelly shares that induction cooktops are another good example of luxury turning standard. “It’s no longer simply about having the latest technology—people appreciate the speed, precision, energy efficiency, and cleaner indoor air quality it provides,” the designer explains. And in a larger sense, Kelly notes that the shift reflects a broader movement toward healthier, more intentional living.
How Luxury Is Being Redefined
“Perhaps the biggest change is that luxury itself has been redefined,” Kelly states. While a decade ago, it was often measured by what people could see, the designer says today it’s increasingly measured by what people experience. “Homes are expected to be healthier, quieter, easier to maintain, and designed for gathering,” she shares. Today, the features that have “luxury” status are ones that quietly make everyday life better. “To me, that’s the future of luxury: design that disappears into the background and allows people to focus on what matters most—connecting with family, friends, and the moments they share together,” Kelly concludes.
Ballard echoes this, noting that 20 years ago, features like mudrooms, laundry rooms, and prep kitchens were considered luxuries. Today, many of them are what he simply calls good planning. “Clients aren't asking for them to impress anyone—they're asking because they make the house function better for the way families actually live,” Ballard says.
Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
