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The UK's Perfect Home

It goes without saying that the pandemic has changed what homeowners do and don’t want in their humble abode. Being stuck inside (a lot) over the past few years has led to a rise in interior interest, with homeowners and renters looking to improve the space they relax in and, most likely, work in too.

This has resulted in a home decor and DIY boom on social media platforms such as TikTok. For example, the hashtags #homedecor has racked up 13.3 billion views followed by #interiordesign with 8.5 billion views. 

With colour being one of the most vital considerations for interior design, we asked 1,500 people to tell us the colours and aesthetics they would pick for each room if given free rein to create their dream home.

In addition to this, we also wanted to find out which colours would never be picked and whether the colour scheme of a property would affect their decision to buy a new property and the offer placed on this house.

The UK’s Perfect Home- playing it safe or keeping it classy?

Using the survey results, we have created 3D images showcasing what the UK’s ‘dream home’ would look like. According to UK homeowners, the perfect home has a simple, clean all-white interior following a contemporary/minimalist aesthetic. Respondents chose plain white walls for all of the rooms in their dream home, which allows for pops of colour to be incorporated through abstract rugs, house plants and wall art, for example. 

Kitchen 

When it comes to creating a dream kitchen, it is no surprise UK residents reach for the timeless and ever-popular white paint first. A white kitchen is a classic that never seems to go out of style. In a space where safety is paramount, a lick of white paint gives the room a fresh, light and airy feel, producing a sense of cleanliness and health. Not only is white the most popular colour for the kitchen walls but it is also the top colour for the kitchen cabinets too.

 

Keeping the kitchen all white allows for a seamless transition between different aesthetics such as Japandi, scandi, contemporary and minimalist.

 

Light grey follows as the second favourite kitchen colour by Brits. Grey can provide a chic and sophisticated look to your kitchen and is a favourite shade of ‘homefluencer’, Mrs Hinch. 

 

Choosing a light grey kitchen paint can give homeowners the neutrality of white without making the room too cold. Grey also benefits from being usable across several different kitchen styles, from ultra-modern with glossy cabinets, sharp lines and no clutter to a more homely shaker style kitchen with cottagecore comforts such as wooden countertops, trinkets on display and touches of floral either in the splashback or curtains.

 

The list of top ten colours for kitchens also includes the on-trend earthy tones sage green and olive green. These shades boomed originally in early 2021 as homeowners attempted to bring the outside in (due to multiple lockdowns). Green is a colour well known for inspiring calm - a mood that should be enhanced in what is usually the most stressful room in the home. Little Greene’s Sage Green is the perfect shade for a kitchen, or for a lighter shade but similar powdery green their Boringdon Green shade is a great choice.

Top 10 Kitchen Colours


Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Light Grey

3

Cream

4

Magnolia

5

Steel Grey

6

Silver

7

Sage Green

8

Pastel Yellow

9

Greige

10

Olive Green


Top 5 Kitchen Cabinet Colours


Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Light grey

3

Dark grey

4

Black

5

Light wood


Living Room 

Similar to kitchens, Brits’ dream Living Room colour is white. Despite seeming plain and boring, white paint is perhaps the most practical on so many levels. It looks fresh, crisp and new and it also allows you to be more creative with your decorating. Modern properties are often painted white as it provides the perfect blank canvas to inject your personality into the room. White walls mean it is easier to go big with abstract prints, patterned carpets and plush velvet sofas. 


Coming in a close second place is light grey again, which has been a popular trending colour due to Mrs Hinch, Stacey Solomon and Vicky Pattison, whose home decor has had a huge influence on this. Similar to white, painting your living room light grey will lighten the room helping smaller spaces appear larger, whilst providing that slight warmth giving it a cosy feel; grey is also more practical than white for those with younger children with grubby hands. 


Breaking the white, grey and cream mould is navy blue and teal, which places 9th and 10th in the list of most popular colours. Teal is a versatile colour shade right between green and blue, which can be used to warm up or cool down other colours within a room. Teal’s popularity boomed in summer 2021 with a trend towards colours inspired by nature and bringing the outside in and Aegean Teal was Benjamin Moore’s colour of 2021. Navy blue has seen a rise in interest thanks to the Dark Academia trend which centres on gothic touches and a dark palette, think grown up Ravenclaw Hogwarts vibes.

Top 10 Living Room Colours 


Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Light Grey

3

Cream

4

Magnolia

5

Steel Grey

6

Silver

7

Beige

8

Greige

9

Navy Blue

10

Teal



Bedroom 

There is a lot to consider when decorating a bedroom, with colour playing a big role in your mood and quality of sleep. When it comes to dream bedrooms, UK homeowners tend to favour light shades such as white, light grey and cream (do you sense a theme developing here?). White is a great colour for the bedroom, making the space clear and fuss-free, and aiding it to become the perfect sleep sanctuary. Cream is another great choice for the bedroom, creating the same minimalism without the room feeling too clinical - which can prevent some from relaxing.

 

Shades of both pink (particularly baby pink and blush pink) and blue are also in the top ten favourite colours for a bedroom. Pink has gained popularity for its warming effect, often being used for accessories such as velvet scallop chairs and bed frames. Blush pink works especially well styled with natural accents like dried pampas grass and rattan furniture, giving a dreamy bohemian look. Blush pink and grey has also become a popular interior combination; you can add pops of blush pink into a room with grey walls to help warm up the room and add a touch of femininity. Farrow and Ball’s Middleton Pink is a beautiful shade of baby pink and Nancy’s Blushes also by Farrow and Ball is a fantastic blush pink choice for the bedroom. 

 

Two shades of blue also made the list. Sky blue was 7th and Navy Blue 10th. Blue is one of the most recommended colours for the bedroom by psychologists because of its ability to promote relaxation and therefore a good night's sleep. Associated with the colour of the sky and ocean, blue has a naturally cooling and calming effect which works well to inspire tranquillity in the bedroom. For a dusty sky blue, Farrow and Ball’s Lulworth Blue works well; for a navy style shade, Stiffkey Blue, although a little lighter than navy, is a very popular choice from Farrow and Ball’s collection.

Top 10 Bedroom Colours 


Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Light Grey

3

Cream

4

Silver

5

Magnolia

6

Steel Grey

7

Sky Blue

8

Baby Pink

9

Blush Pink

10

Navy Blue


Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert for And So To Bed, gave her thoughts on how to ensure your bedroom is the perfect sleep sanctuary:


"Your bedroom should be a sanctuary for sleep. If you go into your bedroom and all you can see is a mess and piles of unfinished projects then your mind will not be calm and clear to aid sleep. As simple as it sounds, tidying your bedroom and putting things away is actually very beneficial for sleep. 

“You could use a candle or diffuser to fill your bedroom with scents such as lavender, or any smell that you find pleasant - filling the room with a fragrance you love will help you feel relaxed. If you feel happy in your bedroom then your mood will be in a better place for sleep.

 

“Bedroom lighting is also important, as bedtime nears we should be reducing light levels to help us produce melatonin, which is our sleep-promoting hormone. Bright lights actually stop our brains producing melatonin and mean that we might be too awake for sleep. In order to have lower light levels in the bedroom you could use bedside lamps, a dimmer switch for your overhead light, or use candles to light the room. Opt for warm bulbs in the bedroom, in the main ceiling light and any lamps. Cooler bulbs emanate daylight which confuses our brains and hinders sleep. Also, you should try to block out external light during the night to make sure that you aren’t disrupted by early morning sunshine or car headlights from passing cars during the night. Thick curtains can help with this, or you could even wear an eye mask.


“In an ideal world, your bedroom should only be used for sleep and sex and nothing else. However, unless you are particularly wealthy, your bedroom may also have to double up as an office or even an exercise room. If you can do those things elsewhere that would be great for your sleep, but if you need to work in your bedroom then make sure that you tidy up your workspace when you have finished and don’t work in the bed itself”.

Bathroom 

Once again, white has been voted the favourite colour of bathroom paint; this classic colour is a perfect complement for the traditional white porcelain sink and bath, which half of homeowners would opt for. The bathroom is the one room in a house that benefits from appearing clinical as, being the least hygienic room, it is important that it appears clean in order to ensure users feel comfortable.

 

Sky Blue is also a popular bathroom paint colour - a great choice if you are going with a nautical-theme. Bathrooms can be one of the most difficult rooms to paint in your house; water, steam and cleaning products can be tough on paint, so it is important to do it right to avoid damp or mould. If you are unsure how to paint a bathroom, take a look at our handy bathroom painting guide.

Top 10 Bathroom Colours 

 

Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Light Grey

3

Sky Blue

4

Steel Grey

5

Cream

6

Magnolia

7

Silver

8

Sage Green

9

Teal

10

Mint Green



Top 5 Bathroom Suite Colours 

Rank

Colour

1

White

2

Cream

3

Grey

4

Black

5

Blue


Hallway

White is the chosen colour for hallways as well, providing an ideal blank canvas and a spacious feel.

 

A hallway is a visitor's first impression of your home and sets the tone for the rest of the interior style throughout. When it comes to painting it, the world is your oyster really - you can either go for bold statement hues or choose a more simple, soft palette. 

 

All of the colours in the top ten for the hallway are neutral and/or earthy tones, showing that homeowners tend to prefer to keep this space minimalist. 

 

Having a white hallway does not mean the space has to be completely colourless though; vibrant accents of colour can be added in other ways such as a patterned stair runner, abstract paintings, bold light fixtures or mirrors which can help make the space look even bigger. 

 

Top 10 Hallway Colours 

 

Rank

Colours

1

White

2

Cream

3

Magnolia

4

Light Grey

5

Silver

6

Steel Grey

7

Greige

8

Beige

9

Sage Green

10

Plaster Pink

 

Home Office 

Due to the pandemic, working from home has become the ‘new normal’ and by now most people would have set up their home office. Colour can have a big impact on our productivity levels and focus. 


Despite white and grey shown to encourage sad and depressive feelings, these colours remain firm favourites. White can make a small space look larger and the cleanliness of the white walls can help focus. Greys, beiges and whites keep your home office space neutral helping you to ignore any distractions.


The list of top ten colours for a home office also includes sky blue and sage green. These colours have benefits when it comes to productivity making them great choices for a workspace. Green is known to spur creativity, teamwork, efficiency and focus, while having a positive effect on anxiety. Blue is also good for the mind and the body, invoking the body to produce calming chemicals. It is also said to be the best colour for productivity. 


Top 10 Home Office Colours  


Rank

Colours

1

White

2

Light Grey

3

Cream

4

Magnolia

5

Steel Grey

6

Silver

7

Sky Blue

8

Greige

9

Sage Green

10

Beige


Top 5 Front Door Colours

The colour of your front door can have a big impact on the curb appeal of your property and in some instances can affect the price of your home. Colour carries a great deal of significance so the one you pick for your front door can have hidden meanings you didn’t even think of. If you are looking to revamp your front door be sure to check out our guide on painting front doors.


The most popular front door colour picked by UK homeowners is black, one of the most popular colours for traditional houses. Sometimes described as “mysterious”, black is predominantly seen as stylish, sophisticated, formal, strong and powerful- hence being the choice of Number 10 Downing Street’s door. 


White comes in second here - a popular colour for more modern properties. The colour is often associated with clean, organised and peaceful homes. 



Rank

Colours

1

Black

2

White

3

Grey

4

Red

5

Brown/wood


Contemporary is the most desired aesthetic in the UK


Whilst being criticised for being cold and uninviting, contemporary is the most popular aesthetic in the UK. ​​Contemporary is based on the here and now. It is an aesthetic most known for sleek surfaces, subtle sophistication, crisp furnishing, cutting-edge art and deliberate use of texture, and is often used to showcase spaces rather than things. Colours used within a contemporary aesthetic tend to be neutral with dashes of vibrancy using brightly coloured sofas, paintings and art pieces. 

Top 5 Interior Aesthetics 

Minimalist is also a favourite amongst UK homeowners. Similar to contemporary, minimalist aesthetic colour palettes are muted and light which follows the UK’s top colours for each room being white, greys and creams. 


Furnishings tend to be kept simple and streamlined. A minimalist aesthetic involves stripping things back to the bare essentials to create a simple, clean and uncluttered space.

Neutrals are always a popular choice, but it seems in 2022 people will be moving away from the light, cool greys and opting for warmer neutral shades such as the popular Farrow and Ball Elephant’s Breath, a warm and contemporary grey.

Rank

Aesthetic

1

Contemporary

2

Minimalist

3

Urban

4

Modern farmhouse

5

Shabby Chic

 

Although the top three aesthetics are all modern, clean styles of interior design, the aesthetics in fourth and fifth are more earthy. Modern farmhouse and shabby chic centre around touches of rustic, with wooden furniture, earthy tones and plush soft furnishings.

The UK’s most hated colours

The research conducted also reveals the UK’s least favourite colours to paint their homes. The majority of the most hated colours tend to be bold, bright and garish - perfect for a home in a different era, but less so today. Painting your home with these neutral colours is a safe and timeless way to go. On top of that, interior aesthetic trends such as minimalist and monochromatic aren’t going anywhere anytime soon so will be sure to stay popular for the foreseeable future. 

 

Bold, bright and often overwhelming colours can make small rooms even smaller, or unpleasant and uncomfortable. Bright colours often draw attention away from furniture and other decor accessories. Despite this, certain trends such as the neon aesthetic, have meant colour is making a big comeback in our homes. 

 

Fuschia took top place as the UK’s most hated paint colour for the home closely followed by neon pink, yellow and green. Painting your walls neon, bright colours are certainly a bold design choice which many would shy away from.

 

If you are feeling brave, using bright paint colours can be an easy way to add a vibrant expression of your style to your home, or simply to provide a bold accent to an otherwise serene space. If the thought of painting your whole room a bright colour is too much, start by incorporating a few bright accents into the colour scheme. This could be through an accent wall or decorations such as brightly coloured cushions, artwork or throws. 

 

Black also took up a place as one of the UK’s most hated paint colours for the home. Black walls can make the room feel cosy, sophisticated and make the perfect backdrop for any type of aesthetic. With trends such as Dark Academia - which draws inspiration from European gothic architecture - becoming more and more popular on social media, we may see a shift in darker paint colours such as black and browns becoming increasingly popular.

 

1

Fuchsia

46.73%

2

Neon Pink

45.00%

3

Neon Yellow

43.20%

4

Lime Green

42.53%

5

Scarlet

40.13%

6

Hot Pink

39.87%

7

Electric Orange

39.40%

8

Black

38.33%

9

Lemon

38.13%

10

Electric Blue

37.53%



Colour Palettes of the UK

 

Interior colour schemes can vary depending on upcoming trends and seasons, and also from region to region. It turns out that every region has a slightly different taste when it comes to the colour schemes they are choosing to paint their homes. While most opted for beige, white, cream and grey shades, there were a few surprises with bright reds and greens thrown into the mix.

 

A very simple monochrome colour scheme is favoured in London, with the top colours chosen to decorate their homes being white, grey and black. Muted and easy to design, these colours are often associated with the popular Scandinavian style interior aesthetic.

Those more daring with their colour scheme include Aberdeenshire, Antrim, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire. Shades of pink and blue can be seen within these regions' colour palettes suggesting they are braver when it comes to painting their walls, daring to move away from the nation’s favourites and go for something a little bit louder.

Generation gap

 

When looking at homeowners across different generations, the research revealed most age groups were very similar in their colour schemes throughout the home. Most age groups stick with the white, neutral colours as their favourite. There was a slight difference between 18-24 homeowners choosing light grey as their top paint colour than the older generations who played it safe with white. 

Nearly four in ten of UK residents would offer less for a house based on its colour scheme - and 19% would be put off altogether

It seems first impressions do count when it comes to selling your home, with 39% of Brits admitting they would offer less for a house based on the colour scheme. Nearly one in five would be put off from making an offer completely. 

 

This demonstrates that the colours we choose to paint our homes in do make a difference to the value of a property. 

 

When asked how much less they would offer the seller of the property due to an undesirable colour scheme, the majority of UK homeowners would make an offer of £2,000 less. Almost one in six homeowners would offer over £10,000 less because of the colour scheme alone!

 

It’s important for your home to be warm and welcoming to prospective buyers, therefore taking note of the most popular colours above may be beneficial for you when it comes to selling up.



Methodology

The Paint Shed conducted a survey of 1500 UK citizens to discover what colours they would paint their perfect home along with other questions.