AkzoNobel’s posits a trio of blue hues as its Colour of the Year for 2026
AkzoNobel’s colours of the year 2026has unveiled choice of three blue shades – dubbed the Rhythm of Blues family – to the wood finishes market.
Described as a trio of upbeat and versatile colours that are calming, connecting and creative, the eye-catching indigo shades range from a light blue Mellow Flow, a dark blue Slow Swing and the vibrant Free Groove – three different rhythms that offer endless scope for furniture, cabinets, building products and flooring.
AkzoNobel’s Rhythm of Blues comprises light, dark and vibrant hues – from left: Mellow Flow, Slow Swing and Free Groove respectively
“With everything that’s happening in the world, we see that people are reacting in various ways,” explains Heleen van Gent, creative director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre. “They’re either slowing down and recharging their batteries, wanting to feel in tune with others and celebrate kinship. Or they’re choosing to be bold, have fun and feel carefree.”
Rhythm of Blues is the result of extensive research into the color, design, cultural, economic and social trends that shape our society. The Colours, textures and special effects that take centre stage in the collection have been designed to help designers and manufacturers find on-trend wood coatings to differentiate their projects, while making it easier for customers to choose Colours and combinations that match their design preferences.
“Our Rhythm of Blues family provides inspiration to create stylish color and finish combinations that reflect customer style preferences. They come with three palettes of harmonious Colours. These enable us to personalize our environments to fit the times we live in, while bringing calm, comfort and vibrancy to projects and products,” says Henri Bijsterbosch, Color Product Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings business.
Complimentary tones are natural tones redolent of suns, soils, sands and skies
Specially crafted finishes are required for different end uses, as wood coatings are often applied to highlight the natural beauty of the wooden substrate. “We help customers combine the trend Colours with natural wood finishes, be it on smooth or distressed surfaces, from matt to high gloss and from translucent to solid Colours with variation of possible finish effects,” says Bijsterbosch. AkzoNobel’s highly trained technical service team works closely with the Global Color and Design and technical team to ensure finishes are robust and can be industrialised for customers around the world.
