“Over 90 percent of the consumer’s initial assessment of your product quality is related to its color and appearance, so having the right color and right finish is extremely important.”
— Angela Simone, Director of Global Color Marketing, AcromaPro
Get this year’s top colors. When consumers ask for it, you’ll be ready.
2016 WOOD TRENDS
Trends with OEM customers include minimalist, European-style cabinets without a face frame, seen most prevalently in urban areas, says Doug Clark, Sales Manager for Timber Products Company. For 2016, Clark is seeing real wood interiors in maple and other varieties, a departure from laminate.
“We’re seeing mix and match now in a lot of kitchens where the island might be natural wood and perimeter cabinets may be painted or some sort of another surface.”
In the area of durable finishes, scratch-resistant finishes and prefinishes are gaining popularity. In the Midwest especially, customers are switching to plank match using walnut to get a true lumber look.
Wood and core types are leaning toward veneer, MDF and particleboard. In the commercial area, Clark is seeing more color options and different textures. — Kitchen Cabinetry Trends: Finishes & Colors for 2016, Woodworking Network
2016 TOP COLORS
Christina Mogk of mecc interiors rounded up paint manufacturers’ top colors of the year for 2016:
- Simply White, Benjamin Moore
- Ivory Keys, Behr
- Alabaster White, Sherwin-Williams
- Cappuccino White, Glidden
- Buckwheat Yellow, Sico
- Cherished Gold, Dulux
- Paradise Found, PPF
- Blue Cloud, Olympic
— meccinteriors.wordpress.com
CABINET STYLES ON TREND
Designer Loretta J. Willis follows and reports on interior design and decorating trends. “Although European-style cabinet frames are leading kitchen and bath renovation choices, traditional styles will continue to be a popular choice with wood finish, raised panels in frames [being] more popular than flat panels in frame,” she says. Based on a summary of purchase volumes within the United States, kitchens and baths will continue looking stylish and enjoyable in 2016 if you follow these trends, Willis says:
Kitchen Cabinets — Type of Cabinet Frame
- Frameless (European Style)
- Face-framed (Traditional Style)
Kitchen Cabinets — Type of Door
- Wood finish, raised panel in frame
- Wood finish, flat panel in frame
- Glass panel in wood frame
- Laminate with raised panel look
- Wood finish, flat panel with no frame
- Laminate finish, flat panel with no frame
Bath or Vanity Cabinets — Type of Cabinet Frame
- Frameless (European Style)
- Face-framed (Traditional Style)
Bath or Vanity Cabinets — Type of Door
- Wood finish, raised panel in frame
- Wood finish, flat panel in frame
- Glass panel in wood frame
- Laminate with raised panel look
- Wood finish, flat panel with no frame
- Laminate finish, flat panel with no frame
—alightreflection.com
WHAT’S HOT, WHAT’S NOT
“The life span of popular colors has continued to decrease and today some colors last only 2-3 years before they are considered to be out of style,” says Angela Simone, Director of Global Color Marketing for AcromaPro.
Simone reports that fading trends to phase out include strong red undertones in stains, having too many effects at once (keep it simple), country/rustic in kitchens, stain on glaze in kitchen cabinets, and white and red oak (except quartersawn).
Trends with staying power include warm grays as a neutral, any colors with a neutral undertone, clear wood grains, consistency — from finish to furniture style — and contemporary looks popular with loft-style living. — Kitchen Cabinetry Trends: Finishes & Colors for 2016, Woodworking Network
Next steps: Consider having a color palette assessment with Accessa Coatings Solutions to see if what you’re selling has room to improve, and whether your current coating system and finishes are the best fit for your needs.