Data reveals top design styles to maximise returns

Property investors looking for a big return on a reno should go for a modern aesthetic, or if they want to attract a tenant easily, they should run with a coastal design.

For developers, a Scandinavian style is best to appeal to new homebuyers.

Those are the key findings from Australia’s biggest tiles and bathroom products retailer’s latest customer quiz, which has been running annually since 2017 and this year canvassed more than 50,000 people.

Beaumont Tiles’ What’s my style quiz asks customers to identify their favourite aesthetic from the top 10 global interior design trends, taking into consideration budgets as well as whether the renovation is for an investment property, a new home, to live in or to sell.

The overall top three styles, Classic traditional, Scandinavian and Coastal, were chosen by 52 per cent of all 52,000 respondents.

Those styles have maintained their status as Australia’s overall favourite since the survey was launched.

Beaumont Tiles design specialist Christie Wood said an interesting finding of the survey, however, was the fact that the popularity of the styles diverged depending on the motivation for a renovation.

“The style of a home plays an integral role in establishing an emotional connection with a potential buyer,” Ms Wood said.

“It also subtly communicates an entire lifestyle ethos which cannot be ignored.” 

Around 17 per cent of respondents said Coastal designs were the best for an investment property, followed by Classic Traditional at 16 per cent and Urban Industrial at 15 per cent.

“For investors wanting to achieve that emotional connection with renters, a Coastal home should help to maximise return on investment,” Ms Wood said.

For renovations to sell, the top design category was Modern at 20 per cent, followed by Classic Traditional at 18 per cent and coastal at 17 per cent.

Ms Wood said a different set of design styles emerged at the top of the list for those renovating a home to live in.

“Scandinavian and Coastal styles are both popular with those renovating to live in their own home as they both incorporate soft natural tones and utilise a lot of open space, so it’s not hard to see why they connect with renovators,” Ms Wood said 

“Yet, classic traditional ranked first as the most popular style within the ‘renovation to live’ category. 

“Approximately 19 per cent of respondents showed favourability towards Classic Traditional style for their own home when compared to the other ten styles – that is nearly 10,000 renovating Australians choosing Classic Traditional.”

On the flipside, the least popular design style overall was Eclectic Bohemian, which was chosen as the top aesthetic for just 1 per cent of respondents.