Composite Panel Association

10/22/2026

When your design needs to make a lasting first impression, aesthetics matter. That’s why selecting the perfect decorative surface for reception spaces and lobbies becomes a defining welcoming choice.
Decorative surfaces are workhorses that need to meet the demand of constant activity, so the materials within them must look elevated while performing day after day.

For commercial interior designers, a few considerations can guide the process:

•Use: Reception desks and countertops in high-traffic areas call for surfaces designed for durability. Surfaces like TFL (Thermally Fused Laminate), HPL (High Pressure Laminate), 3DL (3-Dimensional Laminate), and Decorative Foils and Papers, offer a wide range of patterns, colors, and finishes while providing the durability and long-lasting performance that busy commercial spaces demand. Decorative surfaces provide a cohesive look and design flexibility.

•Finish: With the versatility of decorative surfaces, options range from high gloss to matte and deep texture. Performance characteristic options such as fingerprint-resistant and anti-microbial are available for surfaces that see frequent touch in public spaces.

•Continuity: Decorative Surfaces also provide realistic woodgrain patterns, stone looks, solid colors, and metallics that can be coordinated across vertical and horizontal surfaces, carrying one unified aesthetic from the lobby to the conference room.

The right decorative surface on substrates like particleboard and MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) give designers a wide range of options to balance looks and functions throughout the workplace.

To find the right North American manufacturer or explore more about finding the right decorative surface, click the “Industry Products” in the bio.

10/16/2026

Drama begins at the surface.

What are decorative surfaces? Decorative surfaces bring designs to life with their beautiful aesthetics that have a durable composite panel core like MDF or particleboard.

Decorative surfaces bring unlimited colors and patterns with deep texture that defines the design, from realistic woodgrains and stone looks to solid colors. The versatility of decorative surfaces is limited only by imagination.

A quick guide to terms worth knowing:
• TFL (Thermally Fused Laminate)
• HPL (High Pressure Laminate)
• 2DL and 3DL (Two- and Three- Dimensional Laminates)
• Decorative Papers and Foils
• Coatings (liquid and powder)

Each type of decorative surface offers its own range of designs, textures, applications, and performance characteristics, giving designers and specifiers a wide field of options. Choosing the right surface for a project helps achieve a cohesive aesthetic while meeting the functional needs of the space.

Designers and specifiers can learn more about each decorative surface and find North American manufacturers by surface type, application, and more in the Product Finder. Looking for design inspiration and case studies, the Design Portfolio.

10/12/2026

10/08/2026

Beautiful spaces can be built sustainably, and North American composite wood panels make it possible.

Composite panels are made primarily from recycled and recovered wood, such as sawdust and wood chips left after forestry operations. Turning these recycled materials into panels locks carbon into long-lasting products, while new trees grow and absorb more. Composite panels store more carbon than is used in their production, which makes them a carbon negative product.

This carbon-storing wood product is the core of many finished products including cabinetry, furniture, and flooring.
For green building projects, composite panels made by Eco-Certified Composite (ECC) manufacturers can contribute toward Green Build and LEED credits.

Stewardship of the planet and its resources have long been central to the composite panel story, guiding every step from the forest to the finished space.

Explore the sustainability story behind composite panels at Panels for the Planet by visiting the link in our bio.

09/11/2026

Fall palettes are warm, rich and the perfect combination to create a cozy atmosphere.
Earthy terracottas, decadent espresso browns, and sun-baked amber tones are showing up everywhere this season, and decorative panels are no exception. From cabinetry to wall panels, this year’s fall palette brings warmth and dimension into spaces that have previously leaned into neutral tones.
Decorative panels can help achieve all of these looks in virtually any space, from high-traffic commercial areas to residential interiors. The versatility of decorative surfaces on composite wood panels, including thermally fused laminate (TFL), high pressure laminate (HPL), and 2D and 3D laminate (2DL & 3DL), makes it possible to bring these looks to life across a wide range of projects.
Swipe to see the Fall tones defining decorative panels. To find North American manufacturers or to learn more about decorative panels, click the link in the bio.

Gray has gotten a warm upgrade .

Cool gray tones are transitioning to a softer shade often called “greige”, which is a mixture of cool and warm gray that softens the starkness of pure gray while still feeling neutral and versatile. It’s quickly becoming a go-to choice for designers looking to bridge the gap between the flat minimalism of recent years and the more textured direction trending now.

Wood tones are turning up the warmth this fall.

Warm woods are the standout trend this year, bringing texture and richness back into spaces. Decorative surfaces like TFL and decorative foils and papers, offer the versatility and look of wood and stone while delivering on performance and design.

Earthy tones are still in demand.

Earthy tones like sage and deep walnut wood patterns are still in high demand bringing a grounded, organic feel to spaces. This pairing works especially well on decorative surfaces, where the richness of walnut woodgrain can be balanced against the softness of sage, creating a look that feels both natural and elevated.

Minimalism just got warmer.

While “greige” continues to trend upward, many designers are looking to introduce natural patterns and textures to complement the color.

08/24/2026

The hardest-working room in the house deserves better design, created with the right materials.

Mudrooms are dedicated entry spaces where families can shed shoes, coats, bags, and each day’s mess before stepping into the rest of the home. That means this space often works harder than any other room in the house, absorbing heavy wear while still needing to feel like a natural extension of the home’s design.

Composite panels, finished with decorative surfaces like thermally fused laminate (TFL), high pressure laminate (HPL) or 2 and 3 dimensional laminates (2DL & 3DL), give designers the flexibility to build dedicated storage, built-benches, and cubbies without compromising on style and durability.

From woodgrain finishes that echo the rest of the home to bold colors that make the entryway feel elevated and intentional, decorative surfaces allow a mudroom to be both a workhorse and a design statement.

An intentionally designed mudroom sets the tone for the entire home, right from the first step through the door.

Ready to start designing? Find the right composite panels and decorative surfaces from North American manufacturers in the Design Portfolio.

08/11/2026

Bold color on every surface, from wall to cabinetry.

Color drenching is a modern term for a traditional design element that dates back to the Victorian Era.

What is color drenching? It’s an interior design technique where an entire room is designed around a single tone. This creates a seamless, immersive, and cozy space with minimal effort.

This trend is now evolving into two-tone color drenching, where a room is divided between two complementary or contrasting hues rather than a single saturated tone. This approach adds depth and visual interest while the cohesiveness that made color drenching popular in the first place. It also gives designers more flexibility to delineate zones within a room, a lower cabinet can run in one tone, upper cabinetry in another, without breaking the sense of intention behind the palette.

For designers, this trend rewards precision. Color drenching must read consistently across every surface, from trim to decorative panels, which makes material selection and finish matching critical. Composite panels finished with decorative surfaces like TFL, HPL, or 3DL, offer the color versatility and consistency needed to carry a saturated palette seamlessly from wall to cabinetry.

Whether committing to one color or balancing two, the versatility of decorative surfaces makes it possible to carry the chosen palette consistently across every surface in the room.

Explore the surfaces behind this bold trend in our Design Portfolio.

08/07/2026

Flat and cool minimalism is out. Texture, warmth and lived-in spaces are in.
Wall panels continue to have their moment, and the direction is unmistakable. After years of flat minimalism, design is leaning into warmth, texture, layers, and rooms that feel lived-in, not staged.
Wall panels bring all that together, effortlessly, adding dimension, sound control, and character to a plain wall without overcomplicating design.
This year’s biggest wall panel trends interior designers are leaning into:
Warmth and depth
Acoustic panels used as design features
Wide slat panels
Color drenching
Curves and arches
Each of these looks is achievable through the versatility of composite panels, finished in the decorative surface that suits the project, from thermally fused laminates (TFL) to 2D and 3D laminates (2DL & 3DL) to high pressure laminates (HPL).
Read the full breakdown of wall panel trends, with insight from leading interior designers, on CPA’s blog.

Special thanks to these designers for lending their expertise:
Nomad Soul
Sara Davis
House Designer®

07/24/2026

Healthcare environments are essential spaces that command the most thoughtful design. From warm and inviting common areas to hygienic, comfort-focused therapeutic settings to functional, practical work areas, decorative surfaces offer the durability and functionality needed for high-touch areas throughout these demanding spaces.
When composite wood panels are paired with the decorative surfaces, it makes it possible to produce designs at scale while still allowing for full customization. Materials like three-dimensional laminate (3DL) offer seamless, durable surfaces incorporating antimicrobial technology help keep spaces clean, which is essential for healing, while also making them beautiful, which is essential for the patient experience.
Swipe through to see how decorative composite panels perform across different healthcare settings.
Explore our Design Portfolio for the most comprehensive product information on North American composite panels and decorative surfacing solutions.