Every year, paint manufacturers announce their “color of the year,” and it is notable to see what is trending. Remodelers, however, may not be as invested in these announcements as one might think.
A recent poll found that 61% of remodelers regularly or sometimes pay attention to color of the year announcements, while 16% do not pay any attention.
Remodelers’ Reactions to Color Trends
When it comes to reacting to the announced colors, remodelers are split: 32% would consider using the trending color for their projects, while an equal percentage avoid the color trends and stick with traditional choices.
Others take a wait-and-see approach, which accounts for 23% of remodelers, and a smaller percentage, 13%, remain unaffected by the announcements.
It is not surprising that some “color of the year” choices are more popular than others, with 71% of remodelers saying they have pushed back against using a trending color at least occasionally.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that only 7% of remodelers said they never push back against using a trending color, indicating that the majority of remodelers have, at some point, advised against a particular color trend.
Product Categories and Color Trends
Remodelers selected paint as the top category where color trends matter the most, at 68%. This is likely because paint is one of the easiest ways to transform a home, and the consequences of choosing the wrong color are relatively low.
Ultimately, the color decisions are those of the homeowner, but remodelers say they are still heavily involved in the decision-making process.
Nearly half of respondents, 47%, said their clients drive the color conversation, while another 37% said they make the decisions together.
Color Trends and Decision-Making
Remodelers are not ignoring color trends, but they are not blindly following them either. Color-of-the-year announcements can provide inspiration and serve as a conversation starter, but the choices are not a fit for every project.
While homeowners remain the primary decision-makers, remodelers frequently find themselves advising when to use a color trend and when to avoid it, thus playing a significant role in guiding their clients’ color choices.
And while it’s great marketing by the paint companies, does it really matter to remodelers?
