AkzoNobel’s Colors of the Year 2026 are set to bring the Rhythm of Blues™ to the wood finishes market, with a trio of upbeat and versatile colors that are calming, connecting and creative.
The Colors of the Year 2026 Rhythm of Blues family comprises three indigo shades: 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.
“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 Center. “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.”
The company says Rhythm of Blues is the result of extensive research into the color, design, cultural, economic and social trends that shape our society. The colors, textures and special effects that take center 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 colors 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 colors. 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.
AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center has been translating trends into desirable colors for more than 30 years. Its annual ColourFutures trend forecast meeting brings together in-house experts, international architects, designers, and journalists to share insights into how our reactions to the world around us impact our color choices.
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 colors with natural wood finishes, be it on smooth or distressed surfaces, from matte to high gloss and from translucent to solid colors with variation of possible finish effects,” says Bijsterbosch.
For more information about our Colors of the Year 2026, visit akzonobel.com/en/about- us/initiatives/color-of-the-year-2026