AkzoNobel Showcases 2018 Color, Styling Trends for Wood Coatings

 AkzoNobel experts on wood coatings design presented the latest findings on color and styling trends at the Fall 2017 High Point International Home Furnishings Market.

At the event, trends for furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building products were presented to a select group of manufacturers, designers and product developers across the wood industries. During the presentation, Heart Wood was launched as the 2018 AkzoNobel Color of the Year.

Robert Haley, Color Trends manager for AkzoNobel’s Wood Coatings business, presented the color and design influences driving the industry in the next year. He explained how specific styles within the wood market are moving into 2018.

In his talk, Haley identified the importance of the open home design concept that is dominating new home construction and home renovations. ”Open spaces provide opportunity for a flow of styles between areas within the home due to the absence of distinct rooms. This flow impacts design elements including building products, flooring, cabinetry and furniture selections. It also provides infinite combinations in design, creating distinct and individual living spaces”, said Haley.

    Historically Modern – Dominate wood tones, mixing contemporary looks with historically relevant pieces
    Reclamation – Products that are weathered, raw and organic that show the imperfections in wood
    Pearl & Metallic – A mix of modern and transitional that sparkle with a contemporary shimmer
    Opaque – The style dominating cottage and lodge design, with two-tone looks that can also be used to create a dramatic contemporary style

“These trends influence many designs,” says Haley. “Our job is to help our customers translate these trends into interesting colors, unique techniques and wood finishing processes in support of their business objectives. Sharing how the company’s Color of the Year, Heart Wood, can be expressed on different wood substrates and used in a measured tonal value provides product designers an on-trend and broader palette to consider.”


Designers were enthusiastic about the trends research and presentation. “Collaborating with the AkzoNobel Color Studio helps my team and me create unique looks for our product development work” said Dudley Moore, president, Otto & Moore, Inc., an award-winning boutique furniture design company. “The finish on a furniture collection is an important selling feature and our work with AkzoNobel is important to my business, given the research they do on color trends and finishes. The Color Studio team is connected to manufacturers we work with, so a custom look created for a prototype piece in the US can be made locally or overseas and AkzoNobel is there to support the customer and ensure a beautiful finish on the collection.”

Haley’s presentation was delivered at a client appreciation gathering hosted by AkzoNobel at the Market event, with nearly 200 industry leaders from around the world in attendance. Customers engaged with studio artisans to review the finishing trends and see different species of wood panels displayed in novel and unique ways. The exhibit was completed with a vignette interpreting the 2018 Color of the Year in furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building products to provide inspiration for guests.