AkzoNobel has announced Sweet Embrace™ as its color of the year. The pastel pink shade, inspired by soft feathers and evening clouds, represents calm and welcoming spaces.

The color reflects extensive research into global, social, design, and consumer trends for 2024 which found that, in times of uncertainty, feeling a sense of belonging, feeling calm, and feeling joy, have become increasingly more important. Identified by in-house paints and coatings color experts and international design professionals, these three trends will influence how we live in the coming year.

“With society in a state of flux, we’re reassessing how we cope with the world,” said Heleen van Gent, creative director, AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “Starting at home, we’re looking to create our own ‘special somewhere’ that grounds us in our individual memories and relationships. Our Color of the Year, Sweet Embrace, and its three complementary color palettes can help us achieve that. They enable us to personalize our environments to fit the times we live in, as well as bringing a sense of stability and moments of joy to our spaces.”

As part of the 2024 ColourFutures color trend report, three decorative paint color stories have been designed around Sweet Embrace to help consumers choose on-trend and harmonious wall colors that reflect their unique personalities. The warm color story reminds you of home, a place that feels comfortable and safe, and combines shades of stone, soil, and clay.

On-trend colors, textures and special effects have been designed for the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture markets, as well as decorative paints.

“Color of the Year often inspires long-term design partnerships in our businesses,” said Jan-Piet van Kesteren, business unit director, Decorative Paints, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We combine consumer trend insights with in-depth color and materials research and market analysis in our ColorSurfaces trend collection to bring market-specific solutions to our customers and work together with them on the perfect finish for their projects.”

To learn more, visit www.akzonobel.com.