The average annual price for houses in the UK increased again in the 12 months to August, figures show.
The average price for a house in England increased by 2.3% to £310,000 in England, by 3.5% to £223,000 in Wales, by 5.4% to £200,000 in Scotland and by 6.4% to £184,000 in Northern Ireland in the 12 months to August 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
These figures represent a 2.8% increase of the average house price across the whole of the UK to £293,000.
With homeowners keen to renovate their properties for long-term ownership or to increase a future asking price, many are seeking out so-called ‘house inspo’ videos on TikTok.
Clips showing how to upscale homes are incredibly popular on the video sharing site, with hashtags like #patiopainting containing over 43,000 clips alone – with some videos pulling in over 600,000 views.
However, Checkatrade and other industry experts have warned that rather than adding to the price of homes, these TikTok trends may actually harm the value of houses and lower the number of offers when it comes to selling the property.
Yahoo News UK breaks down some of the more popular TikTok property trends – and how they may end up negatively affecting your house value.
Patio painting
Those with gardens are increasingly keen to improve their outdoor living spaces for summer get-togethers.
However, the complete replacement of patio slabs can be costly and time-consuming – so there has been a rise of painting patio slabs instead, saving the hassle of finding and paying for someone to redo the area.
While it may be tempting to brighten up spaces quickly and cheaply, designer and property expert Ali Sayed, from The Living Room London, told Yahoo News UK that home patio painting can “lack durability” – especially with the UK weather.
He explained: “There is constant maintenance required which homeowners often disregard. In prime properties, buyers typically expect premium materials like natural stones or wood that age gracefully, whereas a poorly executed patio will no doubt cheapen the overall exterior of the house, potentially devaluing it.”
Frank Fernando from building service Lion and Leinster, warned that this may only be a short-term solution – and if the job is not done properly it can result in peeling paint, “resulting in a garden that looks more unkempt than before the intervention” – potentially affecting the value of the home.
Concrete floors
Something that homeowners can do to increase the value of their property by up to 20% is to put in concrete floors – which involves removing the old floorboard and laying new plywood and cement as a base, with a decorative cement layer applied on top. They can provide strong and durable flooring and are easy to maintain.
It may be tempting to do this by following videos on TikTok, but while it may save costs to do it yourself and be a “trendy” choice, Sayed said it is a “very specialist field and at times expensive”.
He warned: ”If not properly executed, they can make a home feel cold and industrial which may not appeal to luxury buyers. Most buyers are looking for the same feeling of ‘warmth and comfort’ which is why timeless flooring like hardwood or marble is always a winner.”
Wall arches
Installing wall arches – essentially curved doorways that add to the attractiveness of a room – is not a new trend. However, it is seeing a resurgence on TikTok, with some videos offering tips receiving hundreds of thousands of views.
Flexible MDF boards are used to achieve the curved effect, but Bartos Piasecki from Arrow Design warned that the arch must be structurally sound – and is not easy to achieve by a novice watching a short clip.
He explained: “Without the right tools and expertise, you can easily end up with a crooked or even unstable feature, which could lead to costly repairs down the line.“
Ali Sayed, meanwhile, told Yahoo News UK that while these arches “can be very fashionable”, they can nevertheless “quickly date a time if not designed adequately“. He said: “One must really balance creative design with long-term marketability.”
Piasecki suggested that if the structural integrity of a property is affected by the changes and subsequent repairs, it could devalue it by as much as 25%.
Kitchen tiling
With kitchens often being a focal point of a home – and one of the first rooms a potential buyer would inspect – it is unsurprising that it is one of the more popular TikTok DIY trends.
Tiling a kitchen can be time-consuming and some homeowners have sought inspiration on more unique tile designs, including using vinyl tiles – and using videos to do the job themselves.
But the job can be tricky and not using an expert could lead to poorly aligned tiles, uneven surfaces or improper sealing that lead to an unfinished look for the kitchen.
Sayed warned that overtly personalised tiles “can alienate potential buyers who may prefer neutral styles”. He explained: ”With the kitchen as the heart of the home, the key selling point in most property acquisitions and poorly chosen tiles can make the kitchen feel outdated or be an instant turn off.
“I would recommend always keeping tiling elegant and timeless to appeal to a wider audience. If the kitchen flooring has under floor heating, replacing floor tiles can become exponentially more expensive due to the additional costs involved. So choose wisely.”
‘Cottage-Core’ inspired aesthetic trends
One of the biggest interior design trends on TikTok is the ‘cottage core’ aesthetic – which has garnered nearly 15 billion views on the video sharing platform.
For the uninitiated, this trend is one where homeowners transform their properties using vintage and rural elements – even if houses are in the middle of big cities.
The throwback to a more romanticised version of England might appeal to the people watching the videos but it doesn’t necessarily mean future buyers will be fans.
Sayed said that while the aesthetic may be “charming”, it can sometimes feel “overly niche” – which may not align with the expectation of most luxury buyers.
He added: “Overly stylised interiors can make it harder for potential buyers to envision their own style in the space, which is dangerous territory as it can often lead to reduced market value.”
Bold paint choices
Some homeowners may find the colour of their walls boring and could opt for bright reds, garish yellows or even pitch black to add some spice to their homes.
Bold colour schemes – including ‘Heinz red’ – can easily be found on TikTok. But while they may prove to be an exiting feature indoors, they can easily put off buyers.
Sayed told Yahoo News UK said that bold colours “can most certainly add personality”, they “may require repainting to appeal to the wider mass market”. Sayed explained: “Neutral colours help a home feel more spacious and inviting to a wider range of buyers.”
Read more: Homeowner’s warning after garden plagued with £4k invasive plant problem – and it’s not Japanese knotweed (Manchester Evening News)
