Color Trends are Changing

Written by: Michael Richardson - Sales & Marketing

Over the past couple of years, dark finishes and stains have been a popular trend in the hardwood plywood world, but in 2012 there is light at the end of the panel.

Les Lawrence, Paint Lab Manager and Color Specialist at States Industries, says there’s been a steady transition from heavier-dark tones to redder tones with lighter accents. “In 2010, there was a high demand for darker finishes - mocha's, espresso's, etc… But towards the end of last year and now in 2012, we’ve seen more demand for brown and red variations of these dark stains.” Lawrence adds, “The color change allows for more of the natural wood characteristics to show, giving the panels a more traditional, natural appearance.

The Kitchen Cabinet Industry, the largest consumer of hardwood plywood in the US, is beginning to validate this trend. As the economy recovers and new kitchens are being built, homeowners are demanding styles and colors that stand the test of time. Certain contemporary styles and those that are easily dated are beginning to give way to more traditional, timeless looks.

“The extreme dark and light colored cabinets really limit what you can do design-wise in a kitchen,“ says Kimberly Thomason, interior designer in New York City. “By bringing a lighter color out in the darker stains, the entire kitchen becomes more versatile with respect to design.”

But it’s not just the colors that are transitioning. Degrees of gloss in the finishes are decreasing to satin levels and below.

“Lighting has become a major part of kitchen design. The way light reflects off of the cabinets can really influence how the entire kitchen looks and feels. Too much gloss and it takes away from the overall appearance of the cabinets.”

Are you seeing these trends in your markets? Let us know what you’re noticing.