Color and Finish Planning

Large molded parts change the color conversation. A harness line can carry eight webbing colors; a litter box shell carries one color per tool run, with tooling and dye-lot stakes behind it, and the color is visible from across the room. The palette plan therefore concentrates harder, and the documents matter more, per the same discipline as the harness side’s colorway planning.

Palette constraints of the category

• Core neutrals carry the volume: whites, grays and darks dominate home placement and photograph consistently.
• Accent colors are seasonal or channel-specific decisions, not core SKUs.
• Two-tone shells (lid versus body) are a mid-tier differentiator with a second tooling color to manage.
• Furniture enclosures inherit decor finishes, per the furniture category.

Finish choices by resin

Documents that prevent shade drift

• A palette sheet per color: code, approved physical standard, resin and finish, per the palette-sheet habit.
• Physical color standards kept by both sides; screens do not approve color.
• Component matching rules: lid-to-body tolerance stated, drawer versus shell expectations written.
• Change control: any resin or masterbatch substitution is a written change, per the discipline in the vetting questionnaire.

Finish interacts with care expectations too: matte surfaces hide scratches and show dust, gloss reverses it, and the care copy should match the finish choice, per the materials conversation above.