Millions of Americans avoid inviting people round because they are embarrassed about the state of their homes.

According to new research, 61 per cent of US adults have admitted that they don't extend invitations to friends and family because of their 'home shame'.

General mess, dated carpets and kitchens, unfinished DIY projects and the small size of their property rank highest on the list of embarrassments - which awful color schemes, shabby furniture and poor location also proved to be particularly shameful for homeowners.

Shame: More than 60 per cent of Americans have admitted to being ashamed of their own homes

In a study of 1,000 people for Sugru, makers of moldable glue, 48 per cent said their embarrassment about their home is usually confined to just a few rooms or areas, however 33 per cent acknowledge they are ashamed of their whole house.

THE MOST SHAMEFUL ASPECTS OF AMERICA'S HOMES 1.Mess 2. Dated carpets 3. Dated kitchen 4. Dirty/stained carpets 5. DIY jobs that haven't been started 6. Bad smells 7. Size 8. Cracked walls/ceilings 9. Badly decorated 10. Faded or peeling paint 11. Old/broken furniture 12. Patchy lawn 13. Too much clutter or trash 14. Incomplete DIY jobs 15. Bad/anti-social neighbors 16. Dated/shabby wall paper 17. Overgrown yard 18. Mold or mildew patches 19. Bad location 20. Bold/garish color schemes Advertisement

More than half haven't let visitors in to certain rooms, and 36 per cent steer people away from coming to visit altogether.

Interestingly, more than half of the participants (54 per cent) admitted that it is their friends whom they try to avoid inviting over, while 38 per cent were more concerned about having strangers visit their humble abodes; 33 per cent on the other hand are most concerned about work colleagues taking a peek at their home.

Top on the list of cringe-worthy rooms is the living room, followed by the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms.

What's worse, 62 per cent worry they will never get their home to the point where they are no longer ashamed by it.

Sugru spokeswoman Jane ni Dhulchaointigh said of the survey: 'When you first move into a house, most people have ideas about how they want to make it their ideal home.

'But a lack of time, money and even basic DIY skills can mean many struggle to see all, or even any of these plans through.

'Sometimes all it takes are a few minor changes here and there. Start small with a DIY project that you're going to actually enjoy, with simple tools that you're confident using and focus on one room at a time.

'The pride that you'll get from one successful project will help spur you straight on to the next.'

According to the survey, a whopping 30 per cent of people have actually pretended to be out when someone they knew knocked on their door, and 14 per cent admit that they have had someone drop them off elsewhere rather than allowing them to see their home. A further 39 per cent, at one point or another, have avoided hosting an event at their home.

Nearly a quarter of people surveyed (21 per cent) also admit to ending a date early rather than inviting their date back to their home.

Envy: Many Americans confessed that they would love the chance to take a look inside the Obama family's private living area

LIfestyle guru: Martha Stewart's home topped the list of celebrities houses people would most like to see inside

The study found that 63 per cent have plans to improve their home, with 18 per cent saying the motivation for getting it done is based on pure embarrassment.

Other motivators for wanting to work on their home include time off from work, upcoming visits from family and friends and looking at homes on TV.

THE CELEBRITY HOMES AMERICANS MOST WANT TO SEE 1. Martha Stewart 2. The Obamas' living quarters in the White House 3. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie 4. Jennifer Aniston 5. Oprah Winfrey 6. George Clooney/Lake Como 7. Taylor Swift 8. Ellen Degeneres and Portia De Rossi 9. The Playboy Mansion 10. Madonna Advertisement

And when it comes to celebrity home envy, it was lifestyle guru Martha Stewart's home that topped the list of houses the participants would most like to see, while the Obamas' living area in the White House and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's home placed second and third respectively.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 46 per cent of respondents admitted that they are struggling to make the changes they would like to their home because it costs too much money, while 23 per cent say they're not making improvements because they are planning to move soon.

16 per cent admit they don't know how to fix or repair what needs to be fixed to make their homes look presentable.

An overwhelming 88 per cent would feel less embarrassed about the state of their home if they could redecorate all or part of their home, or at least get those pesky DIY jobs done.

Ms ni Dhulchaointigh adds, 'We are all busy, which often leaves less time to pay attention to those small home improvement jobs.