85% of Britons Stick to the Same Colour Palettes

Britain really is truly beige according to a new survey which has revealed that 85% of UK adults confess they like to stick to the same basic colour palettes when making decisions on everything from home interiors through to cars and clothing.

A recent survey which has been recently carried out shows 85% of adults in the UK stick to the same colour palettes in most areas of their lives, with the majority opting for beige home interiors and monochrome wardrobes. When respondents were asked when they last injected some colour into their lives, almost a quarter (24%) said ‘never’.

The poll was conducted by the team at Hillarys, www.hillarys.co.uk, the home interiors specialist, ahead of their Creative Colour campaign, which seeks to find the most creatively coloured home in the UK. The campaign will run throughout February (mid February), with members of the public able to submit their entries via a dedicated website https://www.hillarys.co.uk/creative-colour/, and the winner due to be announced 25th March 2016 before receiving their prize of £1500 worth of shutters. A total of 2,044 British adults were polled for the survey, all of whom were aged 18 or over.

Initially, respondents were asked “Do you usually tend to stick to the same colour palettes when redecorating, buying new things, etc.?” to which the vast majority (85%) said that they did. These respondents were then asked what items they usually bought in the same colours, revealing the following top five:

1. Clothing – 74%
2. Home Interiors – 65%
3. Smartphones and/or gadgets – 62%
4. Shoes, bags & accessories – 59%
5. Cars – 31%

These respondents were then asked, “When did you last inject some different colours into your life?” to which almost a quarter (24%) said ‘never’. They were then asked what colour palettes they usually stuck to, with ‘beige and neutral tones’ topping the list (41%) followed by ‘black/white/monochrome’ (38%).

Further to these findings, the survey also revealed that 71% of respondents taking part would like to ‘use more colour’, while 58% agreed that they felt ‘bored’ and 27% ‘depressed’ about the lack of colour in their lives.

Will Taylor, the author, creative consultant and lifestyle blogger at Bright Bazaar Blog (www.brightbazaarblog.com), is the judge of Hillarys Creative Colour campaign. Since he started blogging in 2009, he has accumulated online fame, amassing more than two and a half million followers across his blog and social media channels. He commented on the findings:

“One of the reasons I started Bright.Bazaar seven years ago was because of society’s general lack of confidence when it comes to colour. My aim has always been to inspire my readers to embrace colour in their lives, and also to give them the confidence and understanding of how to do so. This is something I am incredibly passionate about - I believe that colour is key to each of us expressing our personalities. Our home and wardrobes are the perfect 'blank canvases' onto which we can use colour to paint a personalised pictures of who we are and how we live our lives. I'm excited to be collaborating with Hillarys on their Creative Colour campaign and inspiring more people in Britain to love colour!"

Sarah Quilliam, Head of Product Design at Hillarys, commented:

"It’s sad to think of all the uniform beige living rooms out there across the nation, but it’s understandable. I think sometimes it can be a little daunting to know where to start; in fact, our most popular colour is grey! It’s easier to play it safe and just grab something inconspicuous that will fit in unnoticed, whether we’re talking about a new jumper or a pair of curtains! We want to start to change that perception and encourage the public to be braver and have more fun with their choices; colour doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. It’s just a case of deciding what you like and going for it!”