Experts reveal the colours that could devalue your home

With the average property price in the UK now £302,000, this means a poor choice of colours could be costing homeowners upwards of £15,000 when they come to sell.

What’s more, almost a fifth of Brits believe a bad colour scheme – either on the inside or outside of a property – knocks over 10% off the value of a property, meaning the cost of poor colour choices on sellers could be even greater.

So, what colours should homeowners avoid?

The colours most likely to devalue homes:

1. Yellow

The research, which was conducted by aluminium doors and windows manufacturer, Origin’s, state-of-the-art powder coating centre, 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% of homes in Britain currently feature a yellow colour scheme, according to the study.

2. Pink

‘Peach Fuzz’ may be Pantone’s colour of the year, but heavy use of the colour could risk devaluing a home too, with research showing that pink tones are considered the ‘tackiest’ way to decorate a home.

3. Neutrals

Playing it safe with beige could also 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 amongst homeowners. In fact, Google searches for grey homes have dropped by over two thirds since 2021.

The research also investigated which colour palettes can aid a house sale.

The colours most likely to add value to homes:

1. White

White was voted both the classiest and most expensive looking colour, making it a great choice for those looking the maximise the value of their property.

2. Blue

For those who prefer a pop of colour, blue shades are a great option. The 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 over a quarter of properties featuring blue colour schemes.

3. Red

With the ‘unexpected red’ interior trend taking social media by storm, bold reds could 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’ to their property.

What the experts say

Commenting on the research, Ben Brocklesby, Colour Expert at Origin, said: “At Origin, we’ve been studying colour for over 20 years to perfect our aluminium powder coating. Given our homes are usually our biggest financial asset, we were interested to find out more about the latest colour trends and how they are impacting the value of homes across Britain.

“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. 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.”

For more advice on choosing the right colours for your property, visit www.origin-global.com