1. Sustainability & eco-friendly materials
Global warming and other environmental concerns are making the headlines of news outlets Australia wide. It’s not surprising then that many Australian consumers are looking to lessen their carbon footprint.
In a recent article, Dwell Home Design president Michela Abrams says: “Sustainability is at the heart of anything that is being manufactured today. Recycling, repurposing, reinventing and reusing are all things that consumers are beginning to consider when they make purchases today.”
With this in mind, we predict that timber garage doors will become an even more popular choice. These days many garage doors are constructed from red cedar, which is one of the most sustainable of building materials. Production of red cedar also requires less energy, and that in turn reduces greenhouse gases. Garage doors made from red cedar include those in the Danmar Raised Panel, Louvre Panel, and Classic Panel series.
2. The colour of the year is white
Unassuming, warm tones were a hit in 2015. The year saw many Australians use greek blues and olive greens to refresh the look of their homes. 2016 is set to simplify things further with whites making a comeback. Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore even went so far as naming ‘simply white’ as the 2016 colour of the year.
Benjamin Moore creative director Ellen O’Neill said of the decision: “White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential. The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry. Of the top ten best-selling Benjamin Moore colors, variants of white occupy five spots. It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our Color of the Year.”
For a classic white garage door, check out Colorbond® roller doors. Colorbond® steel is available in a wide range of white and off-white colours and custom colours can be arranged too.
A Gliderol roller door in off-white
3. Contemporary materials with a natural finish
Described as a softer approach to industrial design, this new trend combines modern materials with natural accents. This means combining things such as exposed steel with wood, or aluminum fittings with glass.
It can also mean using contemporary materials, which feature a natural look. Because of this, we predict that timber-look garage doors will become a hot choice. Timber-look garage doors give homes the aesthetics of natural timber while also being constructed from Colorbond® steel, a hardy and versatile contemporary material.
Colorbond® timber-look panels can be applied to a range of garage doors. Including those in the B&D Panelift range.
4. Art deco style patterns & custom designs
Art deco is one of those looks that seems to be constantly coming in and out of fashion. Despite this, US real estate and home improvement website Zillow is calling art deco the look of 2016.
The Zillow Home Design Trends 2016 forecast states: “Art deco will make a bold new comeback in 2016. Look for the style's trademark geometric patterns and honeycomb shapes to weave their way into everything from wallpaper to artwork, adding elegance and dimension to any space.”
So what does this mean for garage doors? More custom made doors and unique designs – such as those found in the Selections designer range. These doors can be built to match your preference and to feature art deco style patterns.
5. Gadgets & automatic devices
It’s no secret, Australia loves its gadgets. From choosing what to watch in the evening, to ordering a pizza, new technology has made thousands of every day tasks faster, easier and more convenient.
This demand for simple, practical devices doesn’t stop at iPhones and Android devices either. More than ever Australian homeowners are choosing to install automatic garage door systems. Like all good tech, automatic garage door openers make the task at hand (opening and closing your garage door) faster and easier.
So it’s very likely that 2016 will see more Australians installing automatic openers for their new or existing homes. You can check out our range of automatic access systems here.
A Merlin automatic opener
That’s our picks for the top five garage door trends of 2016. How do you think we did? Did we get it right or miss the mark? We’d love to hear your thoughts on our Facebook page. If you are excited to explore the possibilities for your new garage door get in touch or browse our other garage services for inspiration.
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