With new figures showing anthracite grey and woodgrains losing ground to smooth colour options and new colours it’s time to rethink your colour offer, according to Darren Woodcock, General Manager, Deceuninck.

One thing in life is certain. Trends and taste change. So is anthracite grey, the go-to PVC-U colour for installations for the last decade, about to join avocado green bathrooms, burnt orange kitchens and sepia brown deep rug-pile carpets in the colour graveyard in the sky?

According to Deceuninck, the answer is ‘yes’, just not quite yet.

“Our colour offer has evolved massively in the last decade,” says Darren Woodcock, general manager, Deceuninck. “Anthracite grey is on borrowed time,” he adds.

Established foils in decline
The latest figures for UK and Ireland from Renolit, show that there has been a big shift in PVC-U foils in the last year. According to the laminate finish specialist greys took a massive hit in volume, with anthracite grey the biggest loser – down 31% in 2024. Gale grey, slate grey and hazy grey, dropping by 27%, 98% and 9% respectively.

“If you think those figures are out, you have to look at the starting point. Anthracite grey and gale grey still currently makes up 34% of the market,” Darren continues. “So, we and everyone else are still doing a lot of volume – but if you’re looking at what’s trending and what isn’t ‘greige’ seems to have had its day.”

Woodgrains left for dust by solid colours
The other big shift according to figures from Renolit is the wider shift away from woodgrains to solid colours. A trend first flagged by Deceuninck in its consumer research.

The YouGov Deceuninck commissioned national consumer survey found younger consumers favoured smooth and solid colours above woodgrains and patterns.

This tallies with data from Deceuninck’s sales of foiled product in 2025, which reveals a clear preference for solid colours at 84% over foiled product at just 16%. According to Renolit this compares to 83% versus 17% for the UK and Ireland as a whole.

Tracking the UK and Irish markets as a whole, the Renolit figures reveal sustained growth in solid colour options from 53% of the market in 2016, rising to 83% in 2025.

“We can see that there has been an overwhelming shift to smooth colour finishes over the last 10-years Darren continues.

“Woodgrains still make up a considerable share of what we do, but the popularity of solid and smooth foils, is significant. It’s evidence of a general growth in appeal, but also that they have also gained ground specifically with a younger demographic.

“We should be applying that insight in how we target homeowners and particularly consumers in their 30s, 40s and 50s.”

Which colours are trending for windows and doors in 2026?
So, if anthracite grey is coming to the end of its shelf-life, what’s replacing it? Well, according to the Renolit figures beck brown/black brown is very much in the ascendency, with 12% growth year-on-year accounting 24% of total volume in the market as a whole this year.

Agate grey saw a 18% rise to account for 4% of the market for coloured foils last year. Pebble grey smooth seeing a 100% uptick, with cement grey seeing 64% growth and pebble grey achieving 14% growth.

Deceuninck leading the way on trending colours for windows and doors
“What’s interesting is to compare figures for Deceuninck and its customers last year, to the national trends for the UK and Ireland,” Darren says.

“Anthracite grey, while still important as part of our colour mix, made up less than 13% of Deceuninck and Deceuninck customer sales – this compares to 34% nationally.

“Our customers are selling a far broader mix of colours. This includes crystal white which singularly accounts for more than any other foil finish at 21% of all foils we sell, compared to only 1% nationally.”

In addition to its core offer from Renolit, Deceuninck has also added five new premium finishes in Continental’s Conti mattex range to its offer. Available in beige grey, shine beige, shine dark graphite, green grey and Turner malt oak on white, solid colours closely resemble powder-coated aluminium.

“It’s an exciting product for us,” says Darren. “The finish is superb its robust while delivering an ultra-matte appearance and nudges our colour offer a little further along with further incremental wins for our customers.”

Agility when fabricators and installers need it
Deceuninck’s broader colour offer, includes more than 200 special foils and 350 different colourways, including single and dual colours. With matching end caps, cills and ancillaries. This includes 30+ different colourways from stock, with a further 20 available in just 15 days.

Darren continues:

“The other trend that has perhaps defined the market for PVC-U foils this year is the demand from installers for rapid lead times.

“The retail environment has been challenging and winning business has sometimes been about expediency.

“With 30+ stock colourways and 20 more available on lead times of only 15-days, including our new Conti mattex ranges, we are bringing a unique product and finish choice to home improvement. That lead is winning our customers business.”