Photo: AkzoNobel
Furniture manufacturers, retail buyers and designers attending the Spring 2021 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point this June had a chance to see the latest colour trends and products shaping the wood market from experts in AkzoNobel’s Global Colour and Design team for Wood Coatings.
The team from the Global Wood Coatings Colour and Design Studio work with colour designers to interpret the impact of fashion and lifestyle on colours and effects used in paints and coatings.
“Love and passion for colour and coatings is what connects us all. That is why we like to keep customers up to date on the latest trends. We know consumers are hungry for new product as a result of increased demand over the past year so we are really looking forward to returning to host more presentations in High Point,” says Rob Haley, colour trends manager for Wood Coatings at AkzoNobel.
“We like to visually demonstrate the interplay between colour and wood to our customers during consultations - and make the right decision together based on centuries of experience and in-depth market research.”
The AkzoNobel team showcased contemporary modern designs at the higher end in whites and neutral finishes. DIY projects in and around the home remain a priority for many consumers, with research showing that people want to embrace new products and showing colour trends drifting to more neutral tones with a lot less focus on grey palettes.
Brave Ground, AkzoNobel’s Colour of the Year 2021, and its complementing colour palettes, are continuing to be strong colour shades and a popular choice in the market. It is a warm and grounding neutral shade that gives people the courage to embrace change. There has also been a rise in formal designs and finishes with sheens moving upward from flat to more gloss finishes.
AkzoNobel’s wood design specialists have worked with these trends to build four distinct colour palettes on wood substrates such as cabinetry, to help designers choose on-trend colours with confidence.
These are: Expressive, Trust, Timeless and Earth colour palettes. The wood design team then work closely with highly-trained technical specialists to ensure that the finishes created are robust and can be industrialized for customers across the globe.
“Wood is exceptionally versatile, modern and the perfect companion for the various life and furnishing styles,” says Bob Averett, colour design manager for wood coatings at AkzoNobel. “We want to inspire and empower our customers with creative opportunities for combining colours and wood trends.”
