Boo-ware of the attic! 1 in 5 Brits are scared of their own home, new findings from Homebase reveal

• Homebase has uncovered the spookiest rooms in the house
• Over 33% voted the attic as the room they’re most afraid of  
• Expert shares ways to eliminate unwelcoming spaces in the home 

In a chilling revelation just in time for Halloween, new research exposes the haunting truth about British homes. Homebase, the one-stop shop for all your home needs, surveyed the nation to uncover the spookiest rooms in the home that we avoid entering after dark; the results suggest that the real frights this Halloween might be closer to home than we realise! 

The findings revealed that a spine-tingling 21% of Brits are too terrified to enter certain rooms alone after dark and nearly a quarter (23%) sense an unsettling presence lurking in the shadowy corners of their own abodes.  

Top 5 spookiest rooms in the home:  

1. The attic (33%) 

2. The spare room (10%) 

3. The boiler cupboard (7%) 

4. The bathroom (6%) 

5. The conservatory (5%) 

Known for its creaky floorboards, whistling winds and mysterious shadows, the attic received the highest number of votes from respondents as the spookiest room in their home! Surprisingly, in second place is the spare room, which received reports of eerie echoes and the feeling of being watched. Closely followed in third spot as one of the spookiest rooms in the home was the boiler cupboard, which people voted for due to unexplained noises and lurking shadows!  

For those experiencing similar feelings to rooms in their home, a simple DIY project could be the solution! Samuel Platt, creative design manager at Homebase has shared expert tips on how to effectively transform neglected spaces from spooky to spectacular!  

“We often associate fear with the unknown, but these findings show that for many, it’s the familiar spaces that are giving us goosebumps! Interestingly, the most neglected areas – attics (33%) and spare rooms (19%) – are also considered the spookiest. Whether it’s a creaky floorboard or poor lighting, there’s usually a practical explanation behind these feelings. 

This Halloween, we’re encouraging people to face their fears and tackle those neglected spaces. A fresh lick of paint, improved lighting, or a simple decluttering might be all it takes to banish those ‘haunted hotspots’ and make every room inviting. 

• Utilise textiles: Taking your room from dark and cold to warm and positive can be simple. If your room has a lot of hard surfaces, consider layering textiles, starting with a large rug to soften the space and feel warmer underfoot. You can never have too many cushions of varying colours, sizes and patterns and these can double up as floor cushions for extra guests when gathering around a coffee table to play a board game or serving up some afternoon snacks.  
• Incorporate houseplants: Houseplants are a great way of bringing the outdoors in and can help to improve positivity in any room due to their connection with nature. Also, the colour green associated with houseplants creates a calming environment. Houseplants come in all different shapes and sizes suitable for both sunny and shaded rooms. 
• Choose the right colour for your walls: Your walls are key to making a room feel welcoming and sometimes underestimated. Painting your walls in white is a natural default colour to brighten up a space, but this can have the opposite effect in the cooler months and can feel lifeless and empty.   

Think about the functionality and use of your space and use paint to help you achieve this. Colour drenching is very popular right now, whereby you apply one colour to all aspects of your walls including the woodwork and ceiling. Double drenching using two colours in the same room can help to divide a space into loved cosy spaces. 

• Think about your lighting choices: Another common mistake is too many bright lights which can saturate a room, making it feel uncomfortable. Try adding a variety of lights that can be switched on and off depending on your mood or functionality of the space. Dimmable lights are great, along with a combination of floor and wall lights, as well as table lamps and functional lights to create a cosy reading nook.” 

To find out more about the nation’s spooky hotspots, plus home improvement projects that can help transform your living spaces, please visit the website here.