Recent data from REHAU UK has highlighted that the textured woodgrain finishes popular in recent years are giving way to smooth, matte surfaces, with a broader spread of shades now in demand across REHAU's laminate range.
Anthracite grey remains the single biggest seller, but its grained finish is losing ground on most systems. On the TOTAL70 casement it has fallen from 42% of sales in 2024 to 40% this year, while on Rio window sash it has dropped from 20% to 16% over the same period.
Its smooth counterpart is moving in the opposite direction, however, up 4.2 percentage points year-on-year on Rio door sash, and rising on both Rio window sash and TOTAL70. Midnight black, which carries no embossment at all, has gained ground on four of REHAU UK's five main systems. This reflects trends seen in continental Europe and the U.S., with the U.S. in particular changing tastes towards black frames.
Softer shades are beginning to emerge, particularly on flush sash. Pebble grey grained has more than doubled on Rio door sash since 2024, rising from 2.5% to 5.6%, while clotted cream has climbed from 6.1% to 11.1% over the same period. Sage is gaining on both Rio window sash and SLINOVA. These softer colours are more often seen on period properties to offer a more contemporary look, while also forming a growing trend towards softer neutrals for modern houses. Warmer, nature-inspired tones are increasingly discussed, including stone, mushroom, bronze and earthy neutrals. The trend is for windows to complement the house rather than contrast with it.
Beneath the individual system movements, the colour mix itself is diversifying. On Rio door sash, the three best-selling colours accounted for 51.8% of sales in 2024, and this year they account for 46.3%, with demand distributed across a longer list of shades.
Clare Higgins, Senior Product Manager at REHAU, said: "Anthracite grey has been the keystone colour for years, but the data suggests this is starting to change. Customers are moving towards blacks, and towards softer, more subtle shades like sage and pebble grey.
"The biggest shift is in finish rather than colour. People want a smooth, matte surface now, not the embossed woodgrain effects that were so popular a few years ago. People see matte as a modern finish, less likely to date or show imperfections. How a colour is perceived in-situ is as important as the colour itself."
For fabricators, the practical consequence of that diversification is commercial. Many limit their offerings to a handful of colours because a short list is simpler to sell, meaning they often lose out when customers bring more personalised requests.
Clare added: "You cannot afford to turn business away in this market. If you don’t offer the colour, somebody else will.”
One company that is helping homeowners express their own style and colours is Olney-based Roseview, a leading fabricator supplying authentic sliding sash windows. [NG1] With a reputation for offering homeowners a wide range of bespoke colours and finishes in small batches, they are able to tailor authentic sash windows to each project.
Mike Bygrave, Marketing Director at Roseview, said: “We too have seen a marked shift towards softer, more understated shades and finishes, including chalk white – one of four different whites that we offer. At the same time, homeowners are becoming more adventurous.
“In the last year alone, we’ve manufactured sash windows in salmon pink, royal blue and even gold – it’s an eclectic mix. We also make a surprising number of windows with the sashes in one colour and the frame in something completely different. They seem to be particularly popular in coastal towns, especially in Cornwall. My favourite was pale green sashes in a black frame. The strangest was probably pink sashes in a blue frame – not what I’d choose for my house!”
This data, and the stories behind it, suggests this trend will only grow stronger, as colour and finish selection looks set to continue diversifying at the expense of Anthracite grey.
For more on REHAU's colour options for traditional to modern windows and doors, visit Rehau UPVC Colours.
