The middle-class homeware favourites REALLY worth your money: From the £125 Our Place pan to a £190 Smeg kettle, interiors editor NICOLE GRAY reveals the brands that deliver… and what’s just clever marketing

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The interiors world is full of brands that promise to transform your home. Some actually deliver. Others are all marketing, mood boards and Instagram ads. The trick is knowing where your money will make a real difference, and where a cheaper alternative will do the job just as well.

Here’s my list of where it’s worth spending – and where you can save without sacrificing style. 

Worth the pennies: Our Place pans 

I have been through many pots and pans in my life ranging from Ikea to B&Q and Le Creuset and Our Place. And yes, you can tell the difference.

A good cast-iron pot lasts for decades, cooks food without burning it or losing half to the bottom of the pan, (Our Place cookware is non-toxic and non-stick) and still looks good in several years. It also has the rare quality of being something you can bring with you from house to house, rather than replace every five years.

Could you buy a cheaper casserole dish? Absolutely. Plenty perform admirably. But if you’re someone who cooks regularly, the quality, durability and generous warranty make Our Place one of those purchases that’s surprisingly easy to justify over the long haul. Not to mention the fact that they sell pans you can pretty much cook anything in (the Always Pan) and the array of Instagram-friendly shades available to choose from. My personal favourite is the terracotta. It goes with everything, and doubles up as decor on a hob or tablespread.

Prices start at £125 for an Always Pan. But they do currently have a sale going on…

Verdict: Fairly expensive. But rarely regrettable.

Save the pennies: Edward Bulmer Paint 

Paint brands inspire surprising levels of devotion, and Edward Bulmer has become the darling of the design world thanks to its range of nuanced, natural and breathable colours. But unless you’re renovating a listed cottage or have your heart set on an eco-first makeover, you don’t necessarily need to spend the extra cash.

Unlike synthetic paint varieties, Edward Bulmer paints are made with natural mineral pigments, which means that they require more of a specialist application. Instead of slapping colour onto the walls, Edward Bulmer needs to be applied in several thinner layers and potentially sanded in between coats to remove any bumps or bubbles. 

It costs £66 for 2.5 litres, and you will probably end up needing to order more due to applying several coats. 

If it is the colour chart you love, the brand’s earthy palette has inspired plenty of lookalikes, and many affordable paint companies now offer similarly chalky greens, soft pinks and warm neutrals for a lower price (try Coat, £58 for 2.5 litres). If you’re painting a spare bedroom, utility room or a house you’ll redecorate in a few years’ time, your budget may be better spent elsewhere.

Verdict: Undeniably gorgeous but not essential for every project.

Worth the pennies: Smeg

Yes you are paying for the aesthetic – but that’s kind of the point. Smeg’s retro appliances have become design icons that turn the everyday banality of making coffee and toast into a designer ritual. Unlike trend-led gadgets, their distinctive 1950s-inspired look has stood the test of time. Plus, who doesn’t love the humble brag of being able to say that they own a Smeg? 

Of course, you can buy a toaster or kettle for a quarter of the price on the high street. But if it’s going to live permanently on your worktop, why not choose something that looks like part of the decor? Better still, Smeg’s larger appliances combine their signature style with solid performance and longevity, making them a worthwhile investment if you’re planning a kitchen you’ll love for years. 

Prices start at £190 for a standard kettle.  

Verdict: Buy it for the design, keep it for the daily joy.

Save the pennies: de Gournay wallcoverings 

There is no denying that de Gournay’s wallcoverings are breathtaking. Hand-painted by skilled artisans and adored by interior designers, they have become the ultimate status symbol for luxury and celeb homes – hello Gwyneth Paltrow. But unless you are creating a forever home with a sizeable renovation or decorating budget, it’s difficult to justify the eye-watering price tag. Prices are only available on request. Read into that what you will. 

While the craftsmanship is exceptional, you’re paying for exclusivity as much as the finished product. A single room can cost thousands of pounds once you’ve factored in the wallpaper itself and the specialist installation.

Advances in digital printing mean there are now plenty of detailed mural wallpapers and panoramic designs that capture a similar look for a fraction of the price. They may not be painted by hand, but from across the room, guests won’t be able to tell the difference. I recommend Woodchip and Magnolia for a similar effect, with prices starting at £130 for 6 mural wallpaper panels. 

Verdict: A work of art rather than just wallpaper, but unless you’re after true collector’s craftsmanship, there are other convincing alternatives out there.

Worth the pennies: Original BTC 

Lighting is often overlooked, but it’s one of the quickest ways to make a home feel expensive. Original BTC’s handcrafted lights are made using traditional techniques, with bone china, glass and metal finishes that will patina and develop character over time.

Unlike cheaper alternatives that can feel flimsy or quickly dated, these designs are understated enough to work for decades. They’re investment pieces, but ones you’ll probably never feel the need to replace.

Verdict: A good example of buying once and buying well.

Save the pennies: Soho Home

This brand has perfected the art of selling an impossibly chic lifestyle, complete with velvet armchairs, burnished brass table lamps and the sort of drinks trolley that requires a Negroni.

The snag is that you are paying just as much for the fantasy (and it is a fantasy, as most of us do not live inside a showroom/film set) as the furniture. While the quality is undeniably good, much of the collection follows trends that have also filtered down to the high street, meaning you can recreate the same louche, members’ club aesthetic for considerably less. A rummage through vintage shops, paired with a few carefully chosen pieces from Habitat, H&M Home or Westwing will often achieve a similar room without breaking the bank.

If you’ve fallen hopelessly in love with one particular piece, then by all means treat yourself. Just don’t feel you need to furnish an entire house from Soho Home to get the look.

Verdict: Gorgeous, glamorous and annoyingly Instagrammable – but your bank balance will thank you for shopping around.

Worth the pennies: Loaf

Buying a sofa is a bit like dating. It might look lovely under the showroom lights, but the real test comes after months of movie marathons, Sunday naps and the occasional red wine spill. That’s where Loaf sofas have earned their reputation. 

While it’s certainly not the cheapest place to shop, the brand strikes a happy balance between style and substance. The frames feel sturdy, the upholstery is beautifully finished and, crucially, there’s a huge choice of fabrics, colours and sizes, so you can find something that works for your home rather than squeezing your home around the sofa. Better still, many of its designs are reassuringly timeless, avoiding the trap of chasing fleeting trends. Plus they all have fun names such as Butterbump and Curvella. 

Of course, a Loaf sofa can cost significantly more than a high street alternative. But when you consider it’s a piece of furniture you’ll use every day – often for the best part of a decade or more – the cost per sit starts to look surprisingly reasonable.

Verdict: A forever sofa, not a fast-furniture fix.

Save the pennies: House of Hackney

House of Hackney has built an empire on maximalism. Think leopard print lampshades and bold blousy wallpaper. But statement prints have a habit of dating surprisingly quickly. While the quality of House of Hackney’s wallpaper and fabrics is excellent, decorating an entire room in one of its bold designs is a costly commitment – particularly when trends are shifting towards more timeless interiors. What feels thrilling today may leave you reaching for a paint roller in five years’ time.

Fortunately, the high street has caught on. Retailers from Graham & Brown (£95 for a ten-metre roll) to Dunelm (£14 per ten-metre roll) now offer richly patterned wallpapers, cushions and fabrics that channel the same eclectic spirit for a fraction of the price. If you’re craving the look, it’s often wiser to introduce it through accessories or a single feature wall rather than splashing out on a full scheme.

Verdict: Fabulous if you’re fully committed to maximalism, but unless you’re certain you’ll love it for years to come, there are easier – and cheaper – ways to embrace the trend.

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