AkzoNobel, a leading global paints and coatings company and the maker of Dulux, is proud to present their ColourFutures™ special edition, which this year marks Dulux’s 20 years of translating global trends into colour. Each Colour of the Year from the past two decades tells the story of a moment in time. Carefully selected using global insights and the expertise of Dulux colour specialists at the Global Aesthetic Centre, they offer us a window into the changing sentiment of the age. Over 20 years, Dulux Colour Futures™ have revealed a dramatic shift towards neutral, natural colours – a trend that reaches a pinnacle this year with a Colour Futures™ story that is inspired wholly by nature: Seeds of Wonder.
“Colour is transformative. It can change an atmosphere, boost a mood and revolutionise the way we feel. At AkzoNobel, we’re committed to offering consumers on-trend colours they need in their homes today and tomorrow. For 20 years, the rigorous trend research and colour expertise that lie behind ColourFutures™ have enabled us to present colours that work for the future,” says Palesa Ramaisa, Dulux Colour Expert.
Putting the right colour of paint on a wall can really transform the feeling of a space, and the creative possibilities offered by pairing a fresh coat of paint and decorative elements are endless.
“By translating feelings into colour, we aim to offer our customers an emotional as well as practical way to transform the environment around them. We can choose colours that conjure up an atmosphere or provoke a response. We can combine different shades in different ways to give the built environment a unique and personal stamp. We can work with natural light to make cool spaces feel warm and small spaces feel bigger. The story of our Colours of the Year over the past 20 years reaffirms that we can use colour in a positive and powerful way to respond to the mood of the times,” adds Ramaisa.
Evolving year on year, ColourFutures™ colour choices tell the story of the times and a snapshot of the past two decades, captured in colour – from the balancing blue of 2004 to the natural magic of 2023’s Wild Wonder™.
2004 to 2007 marked the early new millennium era where cooler blues came into the spotlight. During this period, cooler blues, paired with complementary shades such as deep aqua, teals and purple, largely dominated the design space.
2007 to 2013, a period when the world was becoming more unstable, yellows flourished as people sought to create a positive feel at home.
From 2013 onwards, neutrals have become the top favourite, with greyish tones gaining traction both in interior and exterior spaces. Though neutral shades speak to both cool and warm grey tones, over the past five years, tones with a more positive, warm and earthy feel have been top of the popularity charts. This can be seen across all sectors, including the residential space, as people are looking to create more inviting spaces to ease the stress we are constantly faced with.
“Over the years, we have also simplified the consumer’s journey by narrowing down the number of colours and palettes. We went from 100 colours and eight pallets to 37 colours broken down into four palettes, making it so much easier to create colour combinations for your space with confidence,” adds Ramaisa.
“It’s an incredible journey of discovery and we couldn’t be prouder of the result: 20 Colours of the Year that respond to real-world events and give the context of an era. While times and trends change, it’s the commonality that’s striking. This snapshot of our top ColourFutures™ themes from the past 20 years shows that, whatever is happening in the world, people’s needs, feelings and priorities remain largely the same. Nature is always top of mind, but cultural and social aspects of life also crop up time and again,” concludes Nathalie Sweeney, Marketing Director Decorative Paints Sub Sahara Africa.
