Kirstie Allsopp the roundhouse© Photo: Getty Images

Kirstie Allsopp reveals the one colour you should never paint your home

Do you agree with her?

Lifestyle Features Editor
Updated: December 3, 2021

Kirstie Allsopp has advised homeowners to "think twice" before painting a room in their home grey. Although the colour has become increasingly popular in recent years, the Location, Location, Location presenter said she is "yet to see it done really successfully", especially when it comes to enhancing the natural light in a room.

MORE: Inside Location, Location, Location star Kirstie Allsopp's stunning homes in London and Devon

The mum-of-two, whose festive show Kirstie's Handmade Christmas airs on Friday at 8pm, said that painting walls grey can impact on the light in a room, and instead recommended paler tones and off-white for the best effect.

WATCH: Katherine Heigl shares tour inside stunning living room

"Think twice before painting a house grey, even the palest grey," Kirstie tweeted back in 2019. "It seems to be very fashionable at the moment and I’ve yet to see it done really successfully."

She continued: "Grey indoors swallows light, we’re a Northern hemisphere country we need to maximise light in our homes not eradicate it."

However, she’s not against using the colour entirely; Kirstie said she likes grey furniture and carpets, but painting whole walls in the hue can "risk light loss", and she instead recommends an off-white paint colour. "Then use pictures, cushions & fabric to inject colour," she explained, adding: "Without light bouncing off the walls colour can’t sing."

MORE: Here's how you can rent Kirstie Allsopp’s ‘homemade home’ in Devon - with a discount!

MORE: 21 grandest royal homes: Kate Middleton, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne and more

More recently, however, Kirstie has suggested an alternative colour for her followers, tweeting back in June: "For anyone tempted by grey, this is a great alternative ‘nutmeg white’ from @duluxuk." She also said it's best to go for a "pale" colour if you do decide to go grey. 

© Photo: iStock

Kirstie Allsopp has advised her followers to think twice about painting rooms grey

Kirstie also claimed that dark grey is not an environmentally friendly option for our homes as it forces homeowners to use artificial light to brighten the room, rather than natural light. She tweeted: "In addition grey is environmentally unfriendly because it often requires more light, therefore more energy use. We should all find ways to add light without having to switch it on."

The TV presenter's series Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas returns with a new season on Friday 3 December and will see Kirstie share some fabulous festive ideas and tips, including how to make and personalise Christmas crackers. She will also be joined by her TV husband Phil Spencer, who will show off his wrapping skills, and her florist sister Sofie, who will create some spectacular floral arrangements to add some natural sparkle to the season. 

Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

More Homes

See more