Still crazy about zebra print cushions? In love with your leopard print throw? Well, have we got some bad news for you! According to a new survey of 1,000 British homeowners, by the UK’s leading conveyancers, My Home Move Conveyancing, you may have fallen slightly out of fashion. Animal print is apparently the least popular interiors trend for four in ten homeowners, with floral wallpaper not far behind, being disliked by 32 percent. And after a year of staring at the walls, most of us have had plenty of time to review our interiors choices.
So, what’s de rigueur in décor for 2021? And what else should we all be avoiding?
Well, some of My Home Move Conveyancing’s discoveries come as no surprise – neutral colours with bolder accents are still the firm favourite, appealing to 43 percent of those surveyed (although only 12% would favour either grey or white, and 22% soft shades). Other discoveries – a carpet (wanted by 41%) would trounce wooden flooring (29%) in the desirability stakes – may be less expected.
2021’s most wanted home interiors;
- 19% of 16-29’s want a home office in their house
- In the kitchen, an island workspace was the most desirable feature, appealing to 24% – French doors came in second place with 16%
- Open plan kitchen/dining areas with a separate living room (44%), and the traditional ‘closed’ plan (40%) layouts are still the preference for most people
- While natural light is the hands down winner for the master bedroom, with 52% saying that it was the thing that they most craved
- Clever storage is desired throughout the home, with 47% saying that it was essential for the bedroom
- While an en-suite bathroom was stated as being a must have for 46% of respondents
The most disliked interiors trends of 2021;
- Animal print décor is out for 40% of UK homeowners
- For 32% of people, floral print wallpaper is totally off-limits
- Concrete flooring is out of favour by a decisive 29% (39% of the over 60s)
- And the previous darling of the design world, industrial chic, is falling from grace, with 36% of the over 60’s saying that they would never have it in their homes (although other age groups were more forgiving)
- Only 16% of people prefer fully open plan living
So, where is this design inspiration coming from? Overall, homeowners are most likely to get interior related inspiration from friends and family (18%) and interiors TV programmes (17%). However, 19 percent of female homeowners use Pinterest, as do almost a third of younger homeowners age 29 and below (32%). While 26 percent of over sixties will go window shopping or visit showrooms for inspiration.
And despite the financial pressures of Covid-19, just over a quarter of homeowners (26%) are planning to extend their property this year (60% of whom are age 29 and below). With the kitchen (23%), loft conversion (21%) and bedroom (14%) being the main points of focus.
Dev Malle, Chief Business Development Officer at My Home Move Conveyancing, says: “Whilst the home is always a personal choice, what stood out most from the findings was that people want their homes to be calming – the kind of effect you get from neutral colours, natural light and more space, rather than wallpaper that’s too busy or animal print décor.
“As we’ve had to spend so much time at home, it is little wonder that’s what people feel most comfortable with. And we’ve also had plenty of time to work out exactly what we want in our home environment. DIY, decorating and crafts are all hobbies that have grown hugely in popularity over the last 12 months and people seem more aware of their surroundings.
“Getting the right décor in your home can make it that much more welcoming and a place where you love spending time. And don’t forget, with all those Zoom meetings, more people than ever are probably getting a glimpse of it too.”
