Published: 7 June 2025
UK house prices vary greatly based on many factors; location, size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms. But what if you stripped all of that away? What if, instead, the deciding factor for a potential homebuyer came down to something more visual, like the decor?
The kitchen is often referred to as the ‘heart of the home’, and can set the tone for the entire property. It’s where families gather, meals are shared, and guests are entertained - a true hub for everyday living. As this room plays a central role in both home design and functionality, the kitchen may hold more sway in a buyer’s decision than many homeowners realise.
To explore the impact of this space on overall property value, More Kitchens has conducted an in-depth study of 140 homes across 14 major UK cities, analysing how different kitchen features influence two key selling factors; the speed at which a home sells, and whether it exceeds its original listing price.
By examining colour schemes, styles, and overall condition, we were able to give these features an overall score and rank them: allowing us to uncover which kitchen trends are most likely to increase a home’s market appeal, and which may be holding it back.
Key Findings:
> Based on colour, charcoal kitchens are the most profitable, homes with this colour sold for on average £13,020 (4%) over the asking price.
> Based on style, the Cottagecore kitchen trend has the greatest impact on a home’s profit and selling time, selling for £6,000 (1.9%) over the original listing price.
> Based on condition, a non-functioning kitchen will add the most value to a home’s original listing price, with these properties selling for an average of £5,167 (1.6%) over the asking price.
> Interior expert on how to add ‘stop gap’ value to your kitchen in 2025 for buyers and sellers in 2025
Charcoal leads the rankings as the top-performing colour for kitchens. This deep grey tone offers a dramatic yet neutral base that offers both sophistication and versatility. Its popularity likely stems from its ability to add depth, visual weight, and also a sense of neutrality to a kitchen, without overpowering the space. The colour choice led to an average 4% increase from a home’s original listing price, and it helped properties sell in an average of 5.2 months.
Sage Green has recently surged in popularity, due to its calming qualities. This muted, earthy green, bridges traditional and contemporary design, making it a flexible and easy to work with colour choice. Homes with sage green kitchens sold for on average £950 over the asking price, which on its own isn’t hugely significant. However, this study also found that this colour helps homes sell the fastest. Properties sold under 5 months (4.8) when they have a Sage Green kitchen.
Pink is the third most effective colour for selling a home. While less conventional, pink kitchens (particularly soft blush and dusty rose tones) have become a surprising hit with buyers looking for personality and warmth. The colour adds, on average, £5,900 to a home’s original listing price - and it helps homes get sold within 5.2 months of their original listing date.
Julie Gokce, Senior Designer at More Kitchens, comments:
“It doesn’t surprise me that both Charcoal and Sage Green have ended up at the top. They’ve been gaining far more popularity in recent years, and we’ve certainly seen an increase in customers opting for these types of shades. It’s great because they appear to be fairly neutral at first glance, but they can still make a statement when contrasted with other ‘standard’ kitchen colours, like white and wood-tone.
“I will say I’m very excited to see Pink making such a splash in the kitchen sector. I’ve always thought of it as a playful way to make a kitchen more modern, especially when paired with the right accessories - brass taps, for example.”
The highest-performing kitchen trend is Cottagecore. These types of kitchens celebrate the charm of rural living, with features like open shelving, natural textures, vintage-inspired fixtures, combined with soft, welcoming colours. The cottagecore style evokes a sense of warmth and tradition, which appeals to many buyers. Homes with this kitchen trend spend an average of 5.2 months on the market before being sold, alongside an average £6,206 increase in the final selling price.
Julie Gokce, Senior Designer at More Kitchens, discusses the rising interest in Cottagecore kitchens:
“I’ve noticed that homeowners are increasingly choosing to design cosy and inviting homes, places where you truly feel like you can relax. I think the Cottagecore trend perfectly encapsulates that; after years of ultra-minimalist interiors, people are turning towards these layered, personality-filled designs.
“I think it’s partly been influenced by shows like Great British Bake Off, with its ‘lived-in’ and accessible kitchen (inside a tent) that features open shelving, lots of reclaimed wood, and that classic, natural charm.”
It comes as no surprise that Luxury kitchens score highly in the rankings for improving a home’s perceived value. Luxury kitchens typically feature premium materials, statement lighting, integrated appliances, and polished finishes. So while these types of kitchens take longer to sell (6.3 months), they do make a larger profit on their original listing price, selling on average for £8,375 more.
Interestingly, the retro, vintage trend has done wonders for the UK property market. Retro kitchens blend elements from the 1950s–1970s, with modern functionality, seeing features like patterned tiles, colourful cabinetry, and quirky appliances delivered in a highly styled way. These types of kitchens typically spend 6.2 months on the market and sell for £2,148 more than their listing price.
Contrary to conventional ideas of a ‘sought-after property’, homes with non-functioning kitchens performed better than those with modern or well-maintained kitchens in this study, both in terms of sale price uplift and speed on the market.
Non-functioning kitchens exceeded all other categories for condition and appearance. They spend less time on the marketing (only 5.3 months) before selling, and they sell for £5,167 more than their original listing price.
This unexpected trend reflects shifting buyer behaviours, particularly in areas where renovation potential is increasingly valued. This could be for a number of reasons; not only will the market have an increasing number of property developer buyers looking for new projects to invest in, but this change may be reflecting the growth of people picking up interior design and developing as a hobby.
Perhaps the most interesting point from these findings is that relatively well-maintained properties in the UK - those with very minor wear and tear - actually sold for slightly less than their original listing price (-£239.96).
Whilst well-maintained and modern kitchens don’t take the longest to sell, outdated/poorly maintained homes only take an additional ¾ of a month to be taken off the market. This shifts our preconceived ideas of what buyers are looking for in a new home, suggesting buyers are more open to a home’s “potential” and how they can put their own stamp on this living space.
According to Julie Gokce, Senior Designer at More Kitchens, the demand for a full kitchen renovation has noticeably increased over the past few years.
“While buying a ‘fixer-upper’ has always been part of the market, the types of projects are changing. We’re seeing more homeowners come to us having bought properties where the kitchen is practically unusable. Ultimately, Brits are in a competitive market with limited houses on offer, and they are willing to compromise on a functioning kitchen if the location or potential is right.
“DIY is one of the biggest video categories on TikTok, for example, and buyers get inspired when they see their favourite creators doing up homes that are in complete disrepair to build the ultimate dream home.”
Simon Grant, Kitchen Designer at More Kitchens, comments on the benefits buying a home with a non-functioning kitchen can have for those with accessibility needs:
“It’s important that homeowners no longer see renovation as a burden, but as a form of creative control. This idea that we can customise a home from the ground up presents a unique opportunity for buyers with mobility issues, for example.
While homes with non-functioning kitchens may not be move-in ready, they offer the chance to build a room from scratch with inclusive features that are often missing from ready-to-move-in properties. For example, those with accessibility needs can plan for lowered or adjustable countertops, wider doorways, or open plan living - and doing this with a blank canvas is often more effective and cost-efficient than retrofitting accessibility into an existing design.
Ultimately, ripping out a kitchen that’s in disrepair is less heartbreaking than gutting something that is well-maintained and beautifully designed, but not functionally adequate.”
While a full kitchen renovation isn’t always possible for UK homeowners, smart ‘stop gap’ upgrades can dramatically improve how the space looks and functions, as well as having a huge impact on your home’s perceived value.
Julie Gokce, Senior Designer at More Kitchens, offers 5 easy kitchen design tips that add value in 2025:
New worktops make your kitchen feel fresh and well-maintained, a key selling point for potential buyers. However, you don’t need granite countertops to impress. Modern laminate worktops are a more affordable, durable alternative and are available in a number of finishes. The wood grain finish is one that is especially fitting with the Cottagecore trend, which data shows can increase your home’s selling price further.
Painted cabinets give the impression of a recent makeover, but for a fraction of the cost. A couple of tins of cabinet paint and some new handles can completely transform tired cupboards.
I’d recommend opting for charcoal and soft greys, or sage greens. These neutral tones appeal to most buyers, and they pair well with popular kitchen styles, like the luxury or contemporary trends.
A well-lit kitchen looks bigger, cleaner, and more inviting, especially in estate agent photos. To achieve this on a budget, I’d recommend replacing dated ceiling fixtures with modern pendants or track lighting. It’s also worth trying out stick-on LED strip lights under your cabinets, this trend is incredibly popular in most modern kitchens, and it works well for an instant brightness boost.
For a quick, DIY-friendly upgrade that adds both function and a visual pop, peel-and-stick tiles or waterproof panels are easy to install and cost a fraction of real tilework. Options now mimic expensive materials like subway tile or patterned ceramics, both of which are commonly found in retro or vintage style kitchens.
Buyers love to see a tidy, well-organised kitchen, it allows them to easily imagine themselves living in the space. To help declutter your home and improve those first impressions, it’s a great idea to install inexpensive drawer dividers, shelf risers, or stick-on hooks inside cabinet doors. You can even use baskets or labelled jars for a uniform, intentional look.
However, if you’re looking for a full kitchen upgrade, check out our extensive Kitchen range of luxury, traditional and contemporary designs.
Methodology:
Using Zoopla, we analysed a random sample of UK properties to establish how quickly they took to sell from their initial listing. From this, we established whether the property selling time was influenced by the quality, colour, and style of the kitchen.
We also included their price data to see whether there were any price decreases/increases from the initial listing.
For a fair sample, we analysed 10 homes from the 14 most populous cities (spread across the UK). While these may vary in price depending on the city, we will only analyse three-bedroom properties to have a fair standard (so we know that some homes aren't being sold faster than others because more bedrooms are in more demand, etc.). Three is the most popular number of bedrooms for homes in the UK.
To calculate the overall score, we first determined the average selling time and price increase for each colour, style, and condition. We then ranked the items within their respective groups based on how quickly they sold and how much their price increased compared to the overall listing price.
Sources:
what our customers say
Great friendly service by all of the team, from the design through to installation. Our fitter Mick was a true grafter and worked so hard to get the kitchen fitted. Good job all round!
Ms Cooper, Tandem, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
We would definitely recommend More Kitchens. The quality of work was fantastic and the tradesmen on site were clean, tidy and efficient.
Mr & Mrs Naylor, Armley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
From concept to completion a pleasure to deal with. Shout out to Designer Julie, Project Manager Rob and fitter John who created our dream kitchen for us. Always easy to deal with and bent over backwards to accommodate the minor changes we asked for during the fitting of our kitchen. Big thank you to everyone we love it!
Mr & Mrs Arundale, Methley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Having recently completed our kitchen I can honestly say that More Kitchens are the best company I have employed to do major works to my home and of the three replacement kitchens we have had over the years by far the best.
From the initial visit and designs by Julie, the project management by Rob to the final decorations everything was fantastic. All the trades guys (Andy - main fitter, Dave the plasterer and finally Michael the decorator) have been excellent. Our kitchen started before the lockdown and finally completed many weeks later due to the pandemic but overall the experience was a very positive one.
I got the pictures out of the initial design the other day - Julie nailed it apart from the changes we made to decorations and lighting More Kitchens delivered exactly what we asked for. We are highly delighted with our kitchen, the works done to open the kitchen out into the pre-existing dining room and the works to our conservatory to raise the floor level to the same as the kitchen and give us much more usable room. Brilliant job all round, thanks very much!
Mr & Mrs Bennett, Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Really pleased with our new kitchen. The workmanship from start to finish was excellent and very professional, despite a glitch with the worktops. Everyone who has seen it have been really impressed, using words like "gorgeous" and "wow". Highly recommend the company.
Mr & Mrs McDanielson, Queensbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire
More Kitchens is a trading name of B&K Passmore Limited. VAT Number: 168830436
Company Number: 4164081. Registered in England & Wales. Private Limited Company.
Head Office & Leeds Showroom: Partnership House, 6 Hales Road, Wortley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 4PL
Harrogate Showroom: Unit 1 & 2 Beech Avenue Business Park, Beech Avenue, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8DS
Otley Showroom: 1A Walkergate, Otley, North Yorkshire, LS21 1HB
Mirfield Concession Showroom: Whiteleys Garden Centre, Far Common Road, Mirfield, WF14 0DQ
managed by oa.
V2
