Every potential buyer has differing priorities when it comes to purchasing a new home. Data released by Nationwide building society this month showed that almost a third of buyers are looking for access to a garden or outdoor space, whilst Savills reported that buyers are increasingly looking for properties with an extra bedroom and high speed wifi. But what about kitchens? What are buyers looking for there?
Rated People recently surveyed 2,000 home buyers in the UK and found that the look and feel of a kitchen, and specifically the colour of the kitchen units, had an impact over purchasing decisions.
Light neutrals are the most popular choice, with 27% of survey respondents reporting that having a white kitchen would make them more likely to buy a property, followed by 22% who would be swayed by a light grey kitchen. More surprisingly, bold colourways like black and dark blue also made the list.
10 kitchen colours that are most likely to attract buyers
White – 27%
Unsurprisingly, the colour with most potential to influence buyers was white. This provides the most neutral base from which to build as a new homeowner, and presents a clean, light and airy space during viewings.
Light grey – 22%
The perennial popularity of light grey (Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2021 is a soft pebble grey) translates to kitchens too, with 22% of respondents more likely to purchase a home with a light grey kitchen.
Natural wood – 21%
Natural wooden cabinets, countertops, floors, and furniture are geared towards creating an appealing farmhouse quality. Just over one fifth of home buyers find natural wood kitchens to be a favourable selling point.
Cream – 19%
A fairly traditional choice from 19% of respondents, but a safe bet in creating a warm and inviting kitchen. A cream base palette can take a wide range of complimentary colours on top - navy blue, white, black, forest green, pinks - to give new home buyers a very workable base.
Off white - 15%
A warmer alternative if an all-white kitchen appears too clinical in your home – off white can introduce cool grey undertones or warmer yellow tones – designed to break the excessive brightness of white and make a kitchen more welcoming to potential buyers.
Dark grey – 11%
Left: Ascoli Kitchen by Wickes, Right: Fairford Kitchens by Howdens
One of the more sophisticated shades for a kitchen. Dark grey is a versatile choice in a new home, that can translate to traditional kitchens, with matt charcoal cabinetry and warm wooden surfaces, or more modern and industrial styles with clean lines and crisp white surfaces.
Light blue – 8%
A very on-trend choice from respondents, and one that can feel wonderfully retro, with matt cabinets, silver fittings, and fun appliances like a Smeg fridge or KitchenAid mixer, or contemporary with glossy kitchen cabinets, that bring a blue sky indoors.
Black – 8%
Left: The Bloomsbury Kitchen at deVOL, Right: Shaker Forest Kitchen at Wren
A bold choice, but one that makes it into the top 10 nevertheless. A well executed black kitchen is clean and fuss-free, and invites infinite possibilities for additional colour ways, and accent metalwork.
Light brown – 5%
5% of potential home buyers could be persuaded to invest if they came across a light brown kitchen. Wood is of course a practical and durable option for the kitchen, and there are plenty of options for light oak cabinetry, from smooth and sleek, to traditional shaker styles.
Dark blue - 5%
A more forgiving shade than all black, inky blues are usually pared with light wooden flooring and milky white kitchen counters to offset any heaviness that comes with a wash of dark colour.
