Common Design Trends That Can Devalue Your Home

When preparing to sell your home, every detail counts. While it might be tempting to follow the latest design trends, some choices could actually decrease your home’s market value. Interior design expert, Nial Osbourne from Dendo Design gives us some popular design trends along with estimates on how they might affect your home’s resale value in the UK property market.

Overly Bold Colours

Bold and vibrant colours can express individuality but might not appeal to the majority of potential buyers. Bright and unconventional paint choices in areas like the kitchen or living room usually require repainting and could reduce your home’s value by up to £1,000 to £3,000, as buyers often consider the cost of repainting when making offers.

Highly Customised Kitchens

While a bespoke kitchen might seem like a value-add, overly personalised designs can alienate buyers. This might reduce your home’s value by approximately 5% to 10%, especially if the new owner needs to undertake significant renovations to neutralise the space.

Wallpaper

Bold and textured wallpapers can make redecorating a daunting task for potential buyers. The cost and effort of removing wallpaper can decrease your home’s appeal, potentially reducing its value by £500 to £2,000, depending on the extent and complexity of the wallpaper used.

Excessive Open Floor Plans

Too much openness can detract from a home’s functionality. Completely removing walls to create expansive open areas could reduce your home’s value by up to 3% to 5%, especially if it sacrifices desired separate living spaces.

Elaborate Landscaping

Complex landscaping can intimidate buyers who are concerned about maintenance, potentially decreasing your home’s value by £2,000 to £5,000. Buyers generally prefer simple, low-maintenance gardens.

Converted Garages

Converting a garage into living space can seem like a good idea, but many UK buyers value a garage for parking and storage. This could devalue your home by up to 10%, particularly in areas where parking is at a premium.

Carpet

While carpet can make a home feel cosy, it can also raise concerns about cleanliness and allergens, potentially reducing your home’s value by £1,000 to £3,000. Many buyers prefer hard surfaces like wood, which are perceived as cleaner and more durable.

Interior Designer Nial Osbourne from Dendo Design says:

Personalising your home is part of the joy of homeownership, but it’s important to consider how certain design choices could impact its resale value. Opting for designs with broader appeal can help ensure that your home remains attractive to potential buyers, making their vision of living there easier to realise.