New Winds: Estonians Want Homes Different from Their Neighbors and Use Bolder Colors
According to Mari-Liis Mihkelson, the director of the Tartu branch of Puumarket, the largest timber retailer in the Baltic states, Estonians are increasingly trying to distinguish their homes, and alongside classical light tones, colors are being used much more boldly – green and blue tones are particularly in fashion.
According to Mari-Liis Mihkelson, Estonians have historically had rather conservative taste, but now increasingly bold solutions are being used. "Until now, few have dared to stand out and people have tried to create homes similar to their neighbors', but now it's increasingly the opposite and that's a major change," said Mihkelson.
"Many trends reach Estonia from the Nordic countries. Currently, classic waxed or oiled white and gray wood is still in fashion. The emphasis is light – so that the beautiful wood pattern and texture remain visible. Natural and environmentally friendly tones and materials are also in fashion. For example, wooden slats are widely used in living rooms and bedrooms, which provide warmth and reduce noise," said Mihkelson.
"But increasingly bold colors are being used – green and blue tones are particularly in fashion. Wood material painted blue is currently one of the most popular. Black remains in fashion as an accent color, especially in saunas," added Mihkelson.
According to the Puumarket branch director, yellow pine cladding is no longer used much in finishing. "Spruce is preferred instead and people want a clean result – wood with an angular and smooth profile. This is also the case in terrace construction – ribbed wood has become less common and instead a smooth profile is preferred, which with proper treatment is neither slippery nor ages the surfaces," said Mihkelson.
"Contrary to the highly finished and smooth appearance, an opposite and rustic trend is also spreading – for example, using wood material with knots. For years, knots were considered a sign of poor quality and people tried to avoid them in visible places, but now technology has advanced and resin pockets are removed in sawmills. Those who buy wood with knots do so completely deliberately, because it adds character to the pattern. Such wood can be of a lower grade in terms of price, but with refinement and processing it gives an impressive result," added Mari-Liis Mihkelson.
