Top home décor arguments housemates have

A quarter of Brits living in shared accommodation have quarrelled with their housemates about how to decorate the home, research has found

Half of Brits (51%) have argued with a housemate over what colour to paint the walls of their home – while 24% have disagreed about how to arrange furniture, research has found.

Other common quarrels between people who live together include whether to have curtains or blinds (22%), how many cushions should be on the sofa (20%), and where to hang wall art or prints (17%). And one in ten (11%) have bickered about whether to get real or fake houseplants, what fragrances should be used around the home, and whether personal photos should be on display in communal spaces.

The survey of 1,000 adults, who live in shared accommodation, found that one in four have had a décor debate with a housemate – with this typically occurring every four months. And 17% admit they are simply not likely to consult a housemate on a design decision for their home, such as painting a wall – leaving 15% feeling as though they have “wasted” money on shared décor that fits their housemate’s style, but not their own.

Deborah Dolce, group director at Homesense, which commissioned the research, said: “Creating a welcoming and comfortable home is so important for our wellbeing. Yet as many as a quarter of people have fallen out with a housemate over how to decorate – and our research shows that 15% of renters are spending money on décor that wasn’t even to their taste.

“We think that everyone should be afforded the chance to experiment with style.” The research also found that 51% believe it is important overall to have a similar taste in design as the people they’re living with. For 54%, this is because they want to feel at home in the place they live, while 42% think it results in fewer arguments.

However, this comes as nearly a tenth (8%) are unwilling to compromise on how to decorate their home. Deborah Dolce added: “Our advice is to have conversations about style, decorating, and home décor before living together, and look for ways in which differing tastes might complement each other.

“And above all, shopping for home décor and furnishings together can be great fun, and might help alleviate tensions later.” It emerged that three in ten respondents described themselves as “minimalist” – enjoying serene, Scandi-inspired décor with a contemporary feel, furniture with clean lines and simple shapes, neutral tones, and no clutter.

Nearly a fifth (18%) were naturalists, reflecting the outside in, and decorating with natural textures and earthy tones, brought to life with greenery and florals, and pops of colour. And only 5% are maximalist – taking a “more is more” approach with bright colours, quirky décor, bold prints, and pattern-mixing, according to the OnePoll.com data.

Top 14 interior design arguments housemates have:

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