Brush up: the top 20 most loved Instagram paint colours for 2022

If choosing a paint colour for your latest room makeover is an un-palette-able prospect, the power of the public may offer some inspiration.

An assessment of the most frequently searched interior design colours on Instagram has revealed the 20 shades with the brightest social media appeal.

With names a dazzling as the hues, it was Hague Blue, by Farrow and Ball, that reigned supreme over such colourfully ascribed counterparts as Elephant’s Breath, Cornforth White and Sulking Room Pink.

Accumulating an impressive 54,100 hashtags to date, the chart-topper is described as a “dramatic yet elegant blue hue that adds a touch of sophistication to your abode and easily warms up your living space when paired with neutrals like cream or beige”.

Farrow and Ball’s Green Smoke ranks as the second most Instagrammed paint colour, racking up 34,100 hashtags.

This smoky green with a hint of blue apparently “evokes calmness and is a versatile shade that would fit any room from the kitchen to bath - pops of golds also go exceptionally well with this colour”.

In third was Stiffkey Blue. Having garnered 26,800 Instagram hashtags, this rich inky blue hue “adds character to a contemporary-styled room, especially when paired with warm metallics. Contrast the deep blue with light greys for a cocooning vibe.”

There’s no room for black or white in this discussion but there’s ample grey.

Rounding off the top five most Insta-worthy paint colours are timeless grey shades, Dove Grey (26,100 hashtags) and Paris Grey (24,000 hashtags).

Popular Farrow and Ball pink shades, Sulking Room Pink and Setting Plaster place seventh and fourteenth.

Heath Alexander-Bew, Director of Personal Lines at Alan Boswell Landlord Building Insurance, offered guidance for landlords on choosing the right paint colour for rental properties.

“Picking the right paint colour for your rental home could be one of the most crucial design decisions to make - a visually appealing room will certainly help attract tenants,” he said.

“You want to use something on-trend but not too striking or niche so it suits a larger audience and ensures your property isn’t left unoccupied for long.”

Alexander-Bew said neutral colours are a safe bet, providing tenants with a blank canvas that allows them to personalise their space much easier.

“Light beiges, tans, creams and soft greys are all ideal colours that will give the illusion of a larger space.”

“To save money in the long run, it’s also best to invest in quality durable paint that takes knocks and scratches.

“Remember to take pictures of the areas you’ve added a fresh coat of paint to before renting out and keep your receipts, so if a property’s walls are damaged, you have proof when it comes to who should bear the costs of reinstating the area back to its original state.”

Sulking Room Pink, at number 7, creates a soft and effortless effect.

Chic Shadow rounded out the top 20.

Renovate or sell?

With buyers in the box seat this spring selling season, many Aussies may be considering whether it’s a good time to sell up or renovate.

Recent Great Southern Bank home ownership research data shows many owners are prepared to unleash their inner creativity and work with that they already have, despite recent material and labour shortages.

Great Southern Bank Survey data of 1500 respondents shows:

• Close to 40 per cent are considering renovating or investing in home improvements on their current property to better fit their lifestyle.
• Half would rather renovate outdoor and garden areas than relocate for the same improvement. Only 27 per cent would make the move for this lifestyle change.
• Close to the same amount (47 per cent) would rather renovate existing kitchens, bathrooms or living areas than move for the same improvement. Just 29 per cent would prefer to pack up and go.

They may also be able to secure a stronger result if they sell up after a renovation is complete.

Megan Keleher, Great Southern Bank’s Chief Customer Officer, said improving an existing home can be a good option for homeowners who may be unsure about selling their home to buy a different property in the current economic climate.

“What we need or want in a home often changes over time, in line with our lifestyle or family needs but this doesn’t have to mean buying a different home, especially if you love where you live.

“Renovations can be a clever way to add personal and financial value to your house or apartment.

“Homeowners planning a renovation can consider a top-up to their existing home loan or refinancing their loan.

“Renovating can also be a good way to avoid the additional costs involved in buying and selling – like agent’s commissions, stamp duty, lenders’ mortgage insurance and even removalists.”

Sam Inan, Principal Director, Belle Property Brighton & St Kilda, said buyers were definitely attracted to newly upgraded properties.

“Despite difficulties with sourcing labour and materials, newly renovated properties are being favoured by buyers, as it removes the uncertainty of being able to complete renovations at a reliable cost.

“The demand for finished and fully improved properties is there because it takes buyers away from original condition properties.”