Water beds, inflatable furniture and ceiling mirrors - creepiest rental interiors trends revealed

Manor Interiors, the expert in build-to-rent furnishing solutions, has revealed which furniture items and interior design trends UK tenants find the most frightening when it comes to a rental property.

Manor Interiors surveyed 2,284 UK tenants ahead of this Halloween and asked them what items of furniture they would find the scariest when looking to rent a property?

There was a clear winner, with inflatable furniture and water beds topping the table as the thing they would find the creepiest.

Wicker furniture also ranked high, along with tile countertops, fast furniture and a jacuzzi bath.

Manor Interiors then asked which interior design trends UK tenants found the scariest when it came to looking for a rental property.

Carpeted bathrooms took the top spot, while ceiling mirrors also gave them the creeps.

Matching wallpaper and carpets were also up there when it came to a scare, as well as textured walls and ceilings and fake flowers or fruit.

CEO of Manor Interiors, Farhan Malik, commented:

“While tenants might not have a say in how a rental property is presented, it can certainly impact their likelihood to rent it and as our research shows, there are plenty of outdated interior design trends that could scare them away.

This is an important consideration for landlords and it really highlights the significance of presenting a property that appeals to the modern-day tenant. While initial factors such as size, location and cost will always drive their initial search, design, style and appearance are becoming increasingly influential.

The best bet is to keep to a clean, neutral style and avoid any blasts from the past such as carpeted bathrooms and textured walls or ceilings. In doing so, you’re going to best present your property while also leaving a little room for a tenant to put their own personal stamp in terms of their preferred style.”

Survey of 2,284 UK tenants carried out by Manor Interiors via consumer research platform Find Out Now (21st October 2021).

What would be the scariest item of furniture to find in a rental property?
Answer	Respondents
Inflatable/water bed	54%
Wicker furniture	10%
Tile kitchen countertops	10%
Fast furniture (cheap imitations)	8%
Jacuzzi Bath	6%
Bean bag chairs	5%
Futon	3%
Leather sofa or arm chair	1%
Platform bed	1%
Breakfast bar stools	1%

What are the scariest interior design trends to find in a rental property? (Tick all that apply)
Answer	Respondents
Carpeted bathrooms	18%
Ceiling mirrors	17%
Matching wallpaper and carpets	10%
Textured ceilings or walls	10%
Fake flowers or fruit	9%
Empty picture frames	8%
Lace	8%
Inspirational wall art - Live, Laugh, Love	7%
Bright coloured interiors	7%
Floral	5%