County news: Keep Calm and Redecorate - £500 competition

The poll revealed the dated interiors trends the South East despises most are:

1. Avocado bathrooms

2. Woodchip wallpaper

3. Bathroom carpets

4. Artex ceilings

5. Pine wood panelling

6. Animal print

7. Net curtains

=8. Fake flowers

=8. Mass-produced prints (e.g. ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’)

10. Mirrored walls

11. Lava lamps

=12. Floral wallpaper

=12. Lino flooring

14. Pastel kitchens

Despite their self-confessed hatred for these decor disasters, more than 70 per cent of people in the South East owned up to having at least one of them lurking in their own homes.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults by leading LED lighting retailer LEDHut.co.uk showed that almost one in three is living with Artex ceilings and net curtains, while nearly one in five is enduring lino flooring.

A nostalgic one in 11 is clinging on to the 90s craze for lava lamps, while a retro one in ten admitted their homes are still sporting 70s-style bathroom carpets.

However, while many may be tolerating old-fashioned styles, the South East is a house-proud region too – with the average person spending £365 each year on doing up their homes, and more than 60 per cent admitting to re-decorating within the last two years.

Home decor also appears to be at the root of arguments, with almost a third in the region confessing to bickering about it. In fact, it seems many are caught in a power struggle when it comes to making decisions about home decorating – and while more than 90 per cent of women claim to call the shots, 65 per cent of men think they’re the ones in charge.

Chris Evans, of LEDHut.co.uk, said: “This research shows that the South East has very clear ideas about what’s stylish and what’s not when it comes to home decorating – but what’s surprising is that many are still putting up with dated décor in their own households.

“Regardless of whether we’re living with sixties-inspired woodchip wallpaper or embracing the seventies trend for avocado bathroom suites, there are simple, effective and affordable ways to bring our home style firmly into the 21st century.

“For instance, thanks to the stylish, money-saving and super-efficient LED options available today, there’s no need for outdated lighting to be one of your style sins. Good lighting is at the heart of every stylish home, and at LEDHut, we want to help people get it right – which is why we’ve launched StyLED, the ultimate interiors guide to all things LED.

“It’s full of advice, tips and inspiration to help people make the most of their space using lighting. It really is a simple yet effective way to make a big impact.”

LEDHut is offering one person the chance to win £500 to spend on updating their home style at Made.com. To enter, simply share snaps of your own lighting looks on Pinterest using the #StyLEDlighting hashtag before 31st December 2015.

To browse LEDHut’s interactive StyLED guide, visit www.ledhut.co.uk/blog/styled/

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.