Wednesday, September 10, 2025
In a move that promises to transform the wood finishes industry, AkzoNobel has unveiled its highly anticipated Colors of the Year 2026 collection: Rhythm of Blues™. Featuring a trio of indigo shades designed to inspire and energize, this new palette is perfect for wood coatings across furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and building products. With a focus on versatility, calming effects, and creative expression, the Rhythm of Blues™ palette offers wood designers and manufacturers a wealth of design possibilities.
The Rhythm of Blues™ collection presents three striking hues: Mellow Flow™, Slow Swing™, and Free Groove™. These shades represent a harmonious blend of light and dark blues, each evoking different emotions and design possibilities. The collection is built around a concept of rhythm, offering a calming, connected, and creative vibe to any interior or product.
This carefully curated palette is designed to offer endless combinations that work seamlessly for both timeless and contemporary styles. Whether creating serene environments or energetic spaces, these blues bring balance and vibrancy to furniture pieces, cabinetry, and flooring alike.
Heleen van Gent, Creative Director at AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center, explains that the Rhythm of Blues™ collection reflects current societal moods. “People are responding to the world around them in varied ways,” she notes. “Some seek calm and recharging, while others embrace boldness and carefree expression. This collection reflects these diverse reactions, helping designers capture both tranquility and vibrancy in their projects.”
The colors of Rhythm of Blues™ are not just about aesthetics but are deeply rooted in cultural, economic, and social shifts. AkzoNobel’s team of experts, alongside international architects, designers, and journalists, conducted in-depth research to ensure the colors reflect the emotions and needs of modern-day consumers.
The Rhythm of Blues™ collection is designed to inspire creativity and deliver high-quality results. AkzoNobel has worked closely with the wood coatings industry to ensure these shades work seamlessly with natural wood finishes. Whether applying the colors on smooth, glossy wood surfaces or distressed, matte finishes, the possibilities are endless.
Henri Bijsterbosch, Color Product Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings division, shares, “Our Rhythm of Blues family enables manufacturers and designers to create stylish combinations of color and finishes. These palettes allow for personalization, infusing products with comfort, style, and contemporary vibrancy.”
With a deep commitment to helping furniture designers and joinery manufacturers, AkzoNobel provides expert guidance on combining these trend colors with natural wood textures and effects. The company’s specialized finishes are available in various gloss levels, from translucent to solid colors, ensuring flexibility for different applications.
As a global leader in paints and coatings, AkzoNobel is known for its dedication to sustainability and innovation. Since its founding in 1792, the company has pioneered technologies that help protect and enhance the surfaces they coat. AkzoNobel’s wide-ranging expertise and commitment to sustainable solutions are seen across its world-class portfolio of brands, including Dulux, Sikkens, and Interpon.
The Rhythm of Blues™ collection is no exception to AkzoNobel’s sustainability promise. Through a combination of advanced technologies and eco-friendly coatings, the company ensures that these new colors don’t just inspire—they also meet the highest environmental standards.
As the furniture and woodworking industries continue to evolve, AkzoNobel remains at the forefront of color and finish trends. By offering innovative, on-trend solutions like Rhythm of Blues™, the company empowers designers and manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve, creating products that are both stylish and sustainable.
“Every surface is an opportunity,” says Bijsterbosch. “We believe in enhancing the beauty of the materials we coat and helping customers create a better tomorrow. Rhythm of Blues™ is the latest manifestation of this belief, bringing new energy to wood finishes and design across the globe.”
AkzoNobel’s Rhythm of Blues™ collection is now available for use by furniture designers and joinery manufacturers, offering a fresh new perspective for 2026 and beyond.
By presenting three striking blues that resonate with the contemporary mood, AkzoNobel’s latest offering is set to redefine how the industry approaches wood finishes. These versatile colors offer endless design potential and align perfectly with both current trends and timeless aesthetics. Whether you’re a designer or manufacturer, the Rhythm of Blues™ collection provides the perfect starting point for creating the next generation of stunning wood products.
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Tags: AkzoNobel Colors of the Year, furniture design trends 2026, indigo wood finishes, Rhythm of Blues wood finishes, wood coatings industry
