Everyone suddenly wants the same things in their kitchens, experts at B&Q reveal

Thirty-somethings have ditched minimalism in their homes and are embracing country cottage shabby chic once more according to the country's leading DIY store, just like their parents did in the 80s and 90s.

Terracotta tiles, range cookers and farmhouse Belfast sinks their parents embraced are making a youthful comeback.
In fact 40% of Millenials say cottage-core is the style of the moment.

Retro items that are now appearing in kitchens up and down the country, include farmhouse sinks (42%), china butter dishes (31%), French doors (31%), range-style ovens (26%) and stone floors (20%).

The research from DIY retailer B&Q also found that a quarter (26 percent) of us have reverted to using a teapot, while 24 percent now have shaker kitchen units.

Other retro items that are back with a nostalgic bang include tablecloths (22%), water jugs (21%), exposed brickwork (20%), Welsh dressers (15%) and dado rails (13%).

Floral wallpapers, butchers' blocks and rocking chairs are also seeing a huge spike in popularity.

Almost three quarters of home owners under 40 say they find design inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest and design websites.

But while the younger generation might be following in their parents' footsteps when it comes to cosy cottage interior design they wouldn't be without their 21st Century mod-cons.

Kitchen essentials they could never live without, according to the B&Q survey, including air fryers (37%), coffee machines (29%), USB plugs (23%), coffee grinders (17%), kitchen islands (13%) and milk frothers (13%).

But two thirds admitted that despite the gadgets their focus is on comfort rather than style and they believe traditional homely looks are less likely to date than ultra-modern minimalist looks.

Tori Summers, Kitchen Showrooms Director at B&Q, which commissioned the study, said: “The resurgence of the retro farmhouse aesthetic reflects a desire for comfort and timeless design in our homes.

“With the kitchen often being the central place for socialising and entertaining in our homes, we know many of our customers want to ensure it reflects their personalities and is welcoming to guests.”

To help customers create the retro farmhouse aesthetic at home, B&Q has launched two new shaker kitchens – Ashmead and Tydeman – to its range and two new trend-led colours to the Alpinia collection. Each is fully customisable, with Tydeman available in a range of trend-led colours, including a rich blackberry and dusky antique rose.

B&Q customers can browse a range of designs on diy.com and design their dream kitchen with B&Q’s online 3D planner. For more information visit: https://www.diy.com/kitchen.cat