Interiors expert reveals how the wrong paint shade can make your home look like a ‘fast food restaurant’ with ‘gravy walls’ – as the UK’s favourite regional decor colours are revealed

After years of enduring a beige white wall in rental flats, the creative freedom that comes with owning your own property is second to none.

It can be tempting to pick up the paint brushes with little plan or vision – with bright and bold options often top of a newbie’s list. 

However, interiors expert Jordana Ashkenazi has warned that homeowners should not be fooled into thinking they can splatter any colour on their new walls without enduring deep regret soon after. 

She told The Daily Mail: ‘One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming a colour they love will automatically work on a wall. 

‘I think people often assume certain colours will make them feel happier, calmer or more energised, but the reality can be quite different once you’re surrounded by that colour every day.

‘Just because you love a colour doesn’t mean you need to live inside it.’ 

It comes as new research from Wickes has revealed that certain regions of the nation favour particular paint colours in a bid to brighten up, or in other areas seemingly neutralise, their home. 

Londoners have purchased white paint more frequently than other nations, while the south West of England prefers orange and Wales is partial to a yellow wall. 

So, how can you successfully style each colour to bring a sense of luxury to your home, rather than a ‘dated’ or ‘intense’ look that is bound to leave your neighbours talking? 

Read on to discover the colours you should be avoiding, and which to embrace, when decorating your new home…

White 

Purchased most frequently in London 

While seemingly plain and boring, white continues to dominate across London homes – with more than 70 per cent of the capital selecting white as their go-to colour.

According to Jordana, this result is far from surprising.

‘Many homes are compact and people are looking to maximise light and create a sense of space,’ she explained.

‘However, one of the biggest mistakes I see is people assuming that because a room feels dark, the answer is simply to paint everything white.’

For those favouring white, Jordana suggests carefully considering the shade and tone to ‘avoid your ‘dream’ home from looking synonymous with a ‘dental surgery’.

She explained: ‘My preference is usually softer off-whites, chalky whites, warm ivories and layered neutral tones. Sometimes it’s also important to lean into the mood and character of a property rather than fighting against it. 

‘A darker room doesn’t always need to become a white box. White can be timeless, but brilliant gloss white can sometimes feel more dental surgery than dream home.’

Red

Purchased most frequently in Scotland

A bright and bold colour that slightly deviates from the norm – Wickes’ data has revealed that red has been purchased more frequently by north of the Border than in any other region.

So, how does one select the correct red to match the atmosphere of the room?

According to Jordana, while red ‘can create warmth, comfort and a sense of cosiness’, she would advise against using it on a living room, bedroom and ‘certainly not a kitchen’ wall.

‘If I wanted to bring in those richer tones, I’d do it through artwork, cushions, upholstery or accessories rather than paint. Burgundy, oxblood and terracotta can be beautiful as accents, but covering walls in red is something I struggle with,’ she said.

‘Used heavily, it can start to feel more psychological thriller than relaxing family home. Bright reds in particular can quickly veer into fast-food restaurant territory, which isn’t usually the atmosphere most people are trying to create in their living room. 

‘For me, red is a supporting character, not the main event.’

Purple 

Purchased most frequently in the south east and east of England

Across the south east of England, 0.51 per cent of the population reached for a purple pot of paint when considering their next room renovation, yet this was the highest across the entirety of the UK.

The reason for the lack of nationwide interest in purple, Jordana suspects, is that too much of the colour can quickly make your home feel ‘less luxury townhouse and more theatrical dressing room’. 

‘It can evoke tufted velvet sofas, heavy drapery and slightly over-the-top boudoir interiors,’ she added.

‘Purple is probably the most challenging colour on this list for me personally. Bright purple walls are a definite no from me. 

However, if I’m using purple at all, it would only be the softest lilac tones in a nursery, children’s bedroom or through small decorative details. 

‘Purple should be a guest in the room, not the host. Beyond a very soft lilac, it simply isn’t a colour I would generally specify.’

Beige 

Most frequently purchased in the north east of England 

Popular with the likes of Molly Mae and other influencers, beige is certainly growing in prominence across UK homes, and particularly in the north east.

Wickes’ data shows that 7.65 per cent of the nation spent money on a pot of beige paint to give their rooms a neutral yet sophisticated feel.

For Jordana, there is a clear reason why online content creators favour a beige-base home. 

‘Beige often gets criticised for being boring, but I think that’s completely unfair. Beige isn’t boring. Poorly designed beige is boring,’ she said.

‘The secret is texture. Layered properly with timber, stone, linens and boucle fabrics, beige can look timeless, elegant and incredibly sophisticated. 

‘The beauty of beige is that it provides a fantastic backdrop for introducing colour through artwork, cushions, rugs and accessories. Beige works almost everywhere and is one of the safest colours to build a scheme around.’

Cream

Purchased most frequently in the West Midlands

A relatively inoffensive colour that works in virtually any room in the house, cream was favoured most highly in the West Midlands, according to Wickes’ data. 

Jordana explained that the reason many homeowners almost reach for cream without thinking is that it is ‘the interiors’ equivalent of a little black dress’.

‘It works almost everywhere and never really goes out of style,’ she added.

‘The beauty of cream is that it gives you flexibility. You can introduce colour through furnishings, artwork and accessories and change the look over time without having to repaint every room. 

‘It’s warm, elegant and one of the safest long-term choices you can make.’

Yellow

Purchased most frequently in Wales

With connotations of warmth, happiness and sunshine, yellow is a bright colour that many may hope will bring a sense of cheeriness to their home, particularly on bleak days.

According to Wickes, 0.95 per cent of the Welsh population have purchased yellow paint, more than any other region in the UK, which could perhaps be attributed to the colour of the Welsh national flower: a daffodil. 

However, Jordana advises thinking carefully before picking up your paint brushes. 

‘Bright yellow walls are one of those things I regularly come across when renovating homes and often find myself wondering what the original thought process was,’ she said.

‘I suspect the idea is that if the sun isn’t shining outside, let’s bring sunshine inside. Unfortunately, it rarely works quite like that. Bright yellow often ends up feeling more highlighter pen than happy home.

‘Softer buttery yellows can work beautifully, particularly in traditional homes, cottages and period properties where they complement the character of the building. In a modern home, however, yellow can often feel dated or overpowering very quickly.’

Orange 

Purchased most frequently in the south west of England 

Certainly a unique choice, it seems unsurprising that a mere 0.40 per cent of the south west have purchased orange paint – however, this is the highest percentage across the UK.

Recognising that orange paint is a firm no when it comes to selecting the colours in your home, Jordana said: ‘The challenge with orange is that once you’ve committed it to the walls, you then have to ask yourself what furniture, fabrics and finishes are actually going to work with it. 

‘It’s one of those colours that looks exciting on a paint chart and then leaves you wondering what on earth is supposed to go with it.’

However, she noted that there can be exceptions to this rule. Notably, a ‘very soft terracotta or Tuscan-inspired tone that leans more towards a dusty pink or clay colour than a true orange’.

‘Those softer shades can work beautifully in the right setting,’ she explained.

However, ultimately, she concludes that ‘orange belongs in a terracotta pot rather than across four walls’.

‘I’d much rather bring those warmer tones in through cushions, artwork, ceramics and accessories. For most homes, I think orange is best kept as an accent rather than the main event.’

Brown

Purchased most frequently in the north west, Yorkshire & Humber and East Midlands

In recent months, brown appears to be making a resurge across UK homes, as indicated by the data which highlights that several regions of the UK were reaching for it as their go-to paint colour.

However, Jordana warns that while brown’s simplicity is appealing, the shade of the paint used ‘makes all the difference’.

‘There’s a huge difference between sophisticated mushroom tones and looking like you’ve accidentally painted your house the colour of gravy,’ she explained.

‘If I use brown, it’s usually through very soft mousse, taupe or mushroom tones that sit somewhere between beige and brown. 

‘The only places I’d really consider using those colours on walls would be a study, home office, pantry or perhaps a bathroom where you’re looking to create a cocooning feel.

‘For most living spaces, I’d still be more inclined to use beige or cream and introduce brown through furniture, timber finishes and accessories. Brown works best when it whispers rather than shouts.’