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First-time Buyers

Avocado bathroom is biggest turn-off

Adam Williams
Written By:
Adam Williams
Posted:
Updated:
20/05/2015

Installing an avocado bathroom suite is considered the worst way to ‘improve’ a home, research has suggested.

A study by Barclays found 62% of people believed avocado bathroom suites were a property turn-off.

Other property disasters included woodchip wallpaper, which 62% of people disliked. Stone cladding (54%), flocked wallpaper (49%) and artex ceilings (47%) were also picked out as the biggest home improvement faux-pas.

More than half of people (53%) surveyed said they would choose to improve their home instead of moving to a new property. They said this was due to the time and costs involved with moving property.

The research said the typical Brit has lives in their current property for 14 years.

In total, Barclays said Brits had added a collective £164bn in value to properties by adding extensions and improving their homes.

The lender also identified the worst way to paint your home, with over a third (37%) believing lime green is the most offensive colour.

UK’s top 10 list of worst DIY home improvements:

  1. Avocado coloured bathroom suites 62%
  2. Woodchip wallpaper 60%
  3. Stone cladding 54%
  4. Flocked wallpaper 49%
  5. Artex ceilings 47%
  6. Carpets in bathrooms 47%
  7. Pebbledash 43%
  8. Strip Lighting 37%
  9. Linoleum 29%
  10. Synthetic wood 28%

Television presenter Phil Spencer, official spokesperson of the Barclays Mortgages Home Improvement Report, said: “It’s fascinating to see such a large appetite for home improvements in the UK. The freedom and flexibility this allows homeowners when adapting their properties is clearly a big draw and one that I hope continues.

“The UK’s current view on home improvements and the most offensive styles is something every home improver should be aware of. Over the years I’ve learnt that simple is best and to keep improvements as neutral as possible.”


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