What’s hot – and what’s not
Nothing chases away the January blues like a spot of home decorating. But what style will be considered hot in 2009 and what should we avoid if we don’t want to make a design faux pas? Susan Welsh reveals all
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A FEW years ago you could hardly find a decent sponge for your bath – because everyone was using them to create special paint effects on their walls.
And old rags once considered fit for the bin were being recycled, dipped in paint and rolled on walls in the trendiest of houses.
But if you viewed a house for sale today which still bore signs of these paint effects, one word might spring to mind – yuck.
We’re a fickle lot when it comes to style, and what was considered a cool and trendy value-adder one year could see pounds knocked off the following year.
A survey commissioned to mark the launch of uktvhomes.co.uk has highlighted the speed at which interior styles change and identified the home interiors from the last 20 years that are now considered to be the height of bad taste.
Rag-rolling, stencilling and sponge-finish paint effects made popular on shows such as Changing Rooms in the 1990s topped the list of modern bad design.
These were closely followed by mirrored wardrobes, heavily patterned tiles and magnolia paint championed by the House Doctor – all feature among the top 10 turn-offs.
Surprisingly, wall-mounted TVs and large home-entertainment systems were also frowned upon by many of those taking part in the survey as fashionable homeowners revert to traditional stands and increasingly prefer to conceal technology around the home.
Outdoor designs aren’t exempt, either, with a third declaring water features, which were all the rage 10 years ago, and animal statues tacky and tasteless.
So what should the trendy homeowner be looking to do this year?
The most popular choice is a loft conversion, while renovating the kitchen comes a close second. Being green is also recognised as an important factor, with a third using environmentally-friendly materials to add value to a home.
Luxury items such as freestanding baths and American-style fridge-freezers also get the thumbs-up.
But if you want to make your neighbours green with envy, get a few solar panels on the roof – they are set to be the most coveted outdoor trend of the year.
DIY expert Gordon Whistance said: “With the housing market in its current state, more homeowners are looking to revive the rooms in their property as opposed to moving house.
“Maximising the space you have and leaving the past where it belongs is one way of beating the credit crunch – however, people should be mindful when redecorating as it’s harder than it looks.”
The top 10 home design turn-offs from the last 20 years were:
Paint effects
Mirrored wardrobe doors
Heavily patterned tiling
Animal statues
1980s colour schemes (hunter green, teal, peach and salmon, red, blue, black and white)
Net curtains
Large home-entertainment systems/wall-mounted TVs
Water features
Magnolia paint
Futon
The top 10 modern home turn-ons are:
Power showers
Heated towel rails
Underfloor heating
American-style fridge-freezers
Granite countertops
Concealed appliances
Stainless-steel appliances
Solar panels
Freestanding baths
Slate floor tiles
