AkzoNobel Bright Skies Wood Coatings

December 3, 2021

Bright Skies, AkzoNobel’s Color of the Year 2022, exemplifies changing tastes. It is an airy, light blue that captures the optimism and desire for a fresh start felt across society. Extensive research conducted by the company’s in-house paints and coatings color experts and international design professionals reveals that, after a spell of feeling shut in, people want open air, connections to the great outdoors and a fresh approach to everything. 

AkzoNobel’s wood coatings experts have worked with these trends to build four distinct color palettes around the Color of the Year:

• The Studio – soulful, warm and modern tones
• The Salon – embracing artful qualities
• The Greenhouse – reveling in nature’s influence
• The Workshop – creating flexibility in multifunctional spaces

Modern furniture designs and higher-end influences being reflected in the latest products from the AkzoNobel team include the trend for fresh looks rather than distressing, the preference for less gray and more color, and the growing popularity of natural designs and smoother woods, such as birch, cherry, burl, walnut and maple — all bringing the outside in. Consumers are also opting for organic elements, such as rattan, jute, sisal and stone, while moving away from pale and desaturated furnishings. 

These will be a key influence on home decor – including furniture, flooring, cabinetry and building products – in the coming year. The wood design team then works closely with highly-trained technical specialists to ensure the wood finishes are robust and can be industrialized for customers across the globe, across a full range of substrates.