Could the most popular interior trends actually be devaluing your home?

From must-have Metro tiles to desirable dark paint colours, the results might surprise you...

New research reveals some of today's most popular interior trends could actually be devaluing our homes. A study carried out by the team at Rated People found many of the latest trends are guilty of making potential buyers less likely to buy your home.

The list surprisingly includes some of the top design trends of now, from bath-less bathrooms and dark paint colours, to copper taps and painted floorboards.

Related: The pointless home improvements that WON'T add value – should you even bother?

The team analysed a sample of 820,000 jobs, from 3 million over the past three years to reveal the most popular decor and renovation trends of recent years that could cost you, when it comes to selling your home...

The study looks into renovation and interior design trends in the UK. The findings suggest anything that’s too bold or personal could make buyers less likely to see past the decor to envision the property as their own home.

1. Rooms painted dark blue

room with dark blue walls and fireplace

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Trevor Richards)

This popular hue ranks top of the off putting trends, with 52 per cent. It does and doesn't surprise us, because dark colours are very Marmite – we just happen to love them.

2. Rooms painted dark grey

Dark grey is marginally less hard to picture living with, just behind with 49 per cent.

3. Bathrooms with no bath

bathroom with wooden flooring and shower tray

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Jamie Mason)

This is a bathroom trend the experts say more and more of us are opting for, bathrooms with only a shower. Homeowners are sacrificing baths so they can have bigger and better shows. But with 43 per cent of the vote, could this be a washout when it comes to selling your home?

4. Dark blue kitchen cupboards

It's one of THE most on-trend colours at current for kitchens, but it's clearly not for everyones taste. Dark blue kitchen cupboards doors measures high with 41 per cent.

5. Black taps

Fashionable black taps and shower fittings could potentially put off 35 per cent of viewers.

6. Painted floorboards

living room with white flooring and fireplace

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Richard Gadsby)

Is it the upkeep? The lack of carpet? Or just the look? perhaps all three, but painted floorboards attracted 35 per cent of the vote.

7. Dark grey window frames

It's most like white UPVC are the safest option, because while dark grey window frames are fashionable 32 per cent would be put off.

8. Dark grey kitchen cupboards

kitchen with grey cabinet and white walls

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

It's a familiar story with grey kitchen cupboards doors as it is with blue, with 31 per cent citing it wasn't preferable to live with.

9. Original sash windows

Many period features might put off potential buyers, possibly due to a misconception of costs to upkeep or replace. whatever the reason original sash windows are not appealing to 31 per cent.

10. Wooden double glazing

Wooden windows will deter 31 per cent of buyers.

11. Patterned floor tiles

hallway with patterned tiles and wooden bench

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Jon Day)

It seems the saleability factor is to play it safe when it comes to floor tiles, because 29 per cent are not in favour of replacing patterned designs.

12. Tiled floor in living spaces

And 29 per cent would prefer us to avoid using filed flooring in living spaces, that aren't bathrooms, hallways and kitchens.

13. Copper taps

kitchen with copper tap and marble worktop

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Chris Snook)

This trendy metallic finish is most likely to put 28 per cent potential buyers off when seen on kitchen sinks.

14. White metro tiles

This popular style of tile is not favoured by 28 per cent, used in bathroom with dark grouting. Play it safe with white grout?

15. Open plan layout

open plan living room with l shaped sofa

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole)

We can probably collectively blame Kirstie Allsopp for the open-plan living that 27 per cent aren't in favour of.

‘We know from the many completed projects in our community that dark and bold colours can look great,’ says Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People.

‘But when it comes to selling, it’s a good idea to stay up to date with the features that buyers are looking for, because the trends that were adding value just two to three years ago might now be devaluing properties.’

15 design features

(Image credit: Rated People)

By analysing over 820k historical jobs posted on the site, conducting a 51-question survey to 1,038 UK homeowners, and Q&A’s with over 600 of its tradespeople, the team at Rated People have pulled together its new ‘Home Improvement Trends Report 2020’ which highlights which interior trends can put-off prospective buyers.

Related: If you live here, you’ll really struggle to sell your home right now

So if you're looking to sell should you rethink your decorating choices. To be on trend, or not to be... that is the question.

Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.