Composite Panel Association

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.

07/13/2026

One of the biggest kitchen trends right now? Glass cabinet fronts done right!
Glass kitchen cabinets open up a kitchen and invite the eye in. But what the eye lands on next, are the textures and tones of the cabinet frame, that is where the real design story unfolds.
When composite panels are paired with the versatility of decorative surfaces, it gives designers the flexibility to let glass do what glass does best, while the surrounding surface carries the heavy load of long-term durability while providing the desired rich color, texture, and warmth. Whether the vision calls for moody dark woodgrain, a soft sage matte, or a crisp clean white, decorative panels set the tone for the entire space.

Swipe through for some kitchen inspiration and save this post.

Ready to start your next project or see the full line of decorative surfaces? Connect with North American manufacturers directly. Visit the CPA Design Portfolio. Link in bio.

07/07/2026

Your aesthetic. Your panels.

Interior designers know that the right surface can make or break a space. Whether the vision calls for warm organic textures, moody dramatic tones, or fresh botanical energy, decorative panels deliver the versatility to bring any design vision to life.

From rich dark woodgrains and bold forest greens to soft sage and golden warmth, decorative panels come in a virtually unlimited range of colors, textures, patterns, and finishes. That means no two projects have to look alike, and no design vision is out of reach.

Swipe through to explore some of our favorite panel-inspired mood boards and find the aesthetic that speaks to your next project.

Cabinets. Vanities. Storage. Wall panels. Shelving. Furniture. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination and your existing space.

Save this post for your next mood board session and tag a designer who needs to see this.

Need a list of North American manufacturers, get Full Access to the Design Portfolio and start specifying for your next project now.

07/04/2026

06/22/2026

Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL), formerly called melamine or textured melamine, is a decorative panel designed with form and function in mind. Commercial designers regularly specify TFL because it delivers the aesthetic versatility and durable surface performance needed to meet the demands of any commercial interior spec. With a virtually unlimited range of colors, patterns, deep textures, and finishes, including woodgrains, solids, high-gloss, and matte surfaces, TFL gives designers the creative freedom to bring any vision to life with furniture, storage, cabinetry, displays, and architectural wall panels across retail, hospitality, healthcare, and office environments.
When paired with North American Eco-Certified (ECC) composite panels, TFL also supports sustainable design goals and can contribute to LEED credits, making it a smart choice for green building projects.
Ready to elevate your next project? Visit the Design Portfolio in our bio to get full access to North American TFL products and manufacturers.

06/16/2026

When decorative surfaces are paired with sustainable composite panels, they can bring any design to life.

What are decorative surfaces?
They are the finishing layers that defines how a surface looks, feels, and performs. From matte and glossy finishes to deep, rich textures and a wide range of colors, decorative surfaces give designers and specifiers the tools to create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.

Decorative surface types include thermally fused laminates (TFL), high pressure laminates (HPL), 3D and 2D laminates, coatings, wood veneer, and decorative papers and foils. Each brings its own distinct performance properties, aesthetic range, and ideal applications to the table.

Whether the design is residential cabinetry, commercial office furniture, healthcare interiors, or hospitality spaces, choosing the right decorative surface elevates the renewable, sustainable wood panel beneath it into a finished product that performs for the long term and looks intentional from every angle.

Learn how you can specify and work with North American manufacturers on your next project.

👉Download the Design Portfolio to get full access now.

06/05/2026

What is TFL?
TFL, or Thermally Fused Laminate, was formerly known as melamine, and if that name sounds familiar it’s because it has been a leading choice in furniture and cabinetry manufacturing for decades.

What is Thermally Fused Laminate?: Thermally fused laminate (TFL) is a decorative panel made by permanently bonding a decor paper to a wood-based composite panel core such as medium density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard under high heat and pressure. The result is a hard, seamless surface that delivers both design versatility and durability.

Where it shows up: Thermally fused laminate (TFL) can be found in cabinets, furniture panels, shelving, retail displays, office furniture, and wall panels, earning its place as one of the most widely trusted and specified surface solutions across residential and commercial spaces.

Why designers and manufacturers specify TFL: Thermally fused laminate is cost effective without compromising on aesthetics. TFL is available in a wide range of colors, deep textures, wood grains, and tactile finishes that match any style.

How durable is it: Thermally fused laminate is resistant to scratches, and stains for everyday use. Advances in technology have improved the overall performance of TFL surfaces, resulting in greater resilience than earlier generations and a smarter choice for designers and specifiers.

Sustainability : TFL made with sustainable, North American-made, Eco-Certified (ECC) panels can contribute to LEED credits for builders and designers, making it easier to meet green building standards without compromising on performance or design. From recycled wood to responsible manufacturing practices, TFL panels are built with sustainability in mind from the start. Learn more about the composite panel industry’s sustainability efforts at Panels for the Planet.

Explore Thermally fused laminates (TFL) and connect with North American composite panel manufacturers in the Design Portfolio. Link in the bio.