Colour can have a significant impact on how much we're willing to pay for a home, and new research by Origin has found that house-hunters will pay on average five per cent less for a property with an 'unappealing colour scheme'.
In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, Origin has investigated the colours (whether the interior or exterior of a property) that's most likely to devalue homes, and the colours which can actually aid a house sale.
Here are the results...
• White
White was voted both the classiest and most expensive-looking colour in the study, making it a great choice for those looking to maximise the value of their property.
House Beautiful says... Classic and clean, white is a failsafe option when selling a home, but it's actually one of the trickiest colours to get right. White can make a space feel too bright or clinical, so you just need to find the right undertone. For example, yellow-based whites will lift a north-facing room and cooler whites with a blue or green undertone work best for east-facing rooms.
READ MORE: DECORATING WITH WHITE
• Blue
Origin's research found that blue is considered to be the most stylish colour to incorporate in a home. It’s also one of the most commonly used colours in British homes, with blue colour schemes featuring in over a quarter of properties.
House Beautiful says... Incredibly versatile, blue is an inherently calming colour. As the colour of the sky and sea, blue in all its shades (from pale sky to duck egg) makes us feel at peace and in control.
• Red
With the 'unexpected red' interior trend taking social media by storm, bold reds can also add value to a property. The colour was voted the 'most daring' by Brits, making it a great option for those looking to add some wow factor.
House Beautiful says... Red can be passionate and daring, yet intimate and comforting, and this year the colour has become particularly stylish too. Also, there's nothing more classic than a red front door, so if this is the first thing a buyer sees, we're not surprised they'd be willing to pay more.
More on... Colour
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• Yellow
The study found that Brits consider yellow to be the 'cheapest-looking colour' when incorporated into a property. This is a concern for sellers, given that 10 per cent of homes in Britain currently feature a yellow colour scheme.
House Beautiful says... A happy and uplifting shade, yellow is reminiscent of sunshine and sunflowers, so this result is arguably surprising, as who wouldn't want to feel happy in their new home? But, if used in the wrong shade, place, or quantity, it can appear overwhelming and overstimulating, which could explain why people are put off by yellow. As a colour, it's also quite like marmite, some love it and some hate it, so if you're putting your home on the market, it's best to steer clear if you're trying to appeal to the masses.
• Pink
According to Origin's study, pink tones are considered the 'tackiest' way to decorate a home, with heavy use of the colour likely to devalue a property.
House Beautiful says... Pink fans may be squirming in their seats, but remember that while pink can be a comforting and calming hue, it also varies enormously from shade to shade. A hot pink can appear garish and uninviting, while a soft pink is, well, soft and delicate. It's also a shade that's stereotypically and historically associated with being girly, but it can be paired with the right colours for an enlivening or stimulating palette in grown-up spaces.
• Neutrals
Playing it safe with beige could impact a property's price, with Brits dubbing a neutral palette the most 'boring'. This is closely followed by grey, with the once-coveted colour fast losing favour among homeowners. In fact, Google searches for grey homes have dropped by over two thirds since 2021.
As a nation we're getting bolder and gaining more confidence with how we use colour in the home, so seeing an all-beige or all-grey property undoubtedly feels a little bland.
House Beautiful says... Neutral shades vary greatly. Timeless and uncomplicated, neutrals can be cosy and comforting or clean and contemporary. A versatile foundation for any room in the home, neutrals also give you the freedom to add colour.
'It's fascinating to see the stereotypes attached to certain colour palettes, particularly shades like pinks and neutrals which are used in so many homes but appear to be falling out of favour,' says Ben Brocklesby, colour expert at Origin. 'However, it’s encouraging to see that Brits remain open to the use of bold colours both inside and outside their properties, with our research showing that blue and red tones are being coveted by style-conscious house buyers in 2024.'
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The Colour Edit
