AkzoNobel’s True Joy is Bright Choice for 2025 Color of the Year

Color experts at paint and coatings companies put a tremendous amount of thought and effort when they select their annual colors of the year, taking into account trends they see and the mood they sense.

For AkzoNobel, their 2025 Color of the Year is aptly named True Joy, a sunny yellow that imparts a sense of optimism. Heleen van Gent, creative director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center, said that True Joy is a way to welcome the new into our homes.

“In this rapidly changing world, it’s easy to feel uncertain about our next steps,” said van Gent. “But change creates an opportunity for imagination, a chance to create something even better. With our new Color of the Year and ColourFutures 2025 palettes, we want to inspire consumers to celebrate their roots and creativity and embrace the optimism of moving forward in their homes and spaces.

“We determine our Color of the Year by carrying out extensive research into which trends are influencing our lives and how they’re reflected in our homes, the built environment and the industries we serve,” added van Gent. “This year, we discovered that there is a growing sense that life must be better elsewhere. In times like these, there’s a desire to break free, press reset and welcome in the new.”

Van Gent noted that every year, an international group of design and trend experts is invited to come together to discuss and forecast color trends for a project known as ColourFutures, which last year celebrated its 20th anniversary.

“After having nominated the most important globally shared trends, the color experts at our Global Aesthetic Center start translating the found insight into color-stories that will serve the needs of the consumers and customers for the years to come,” added van Gent. “And decides on the most important color, the one that represents the mood-of-the-moment, our Color of the Year.”

Van Gent observed that color trends are long-term and build on each other.

“We saw a yellow in our ColourFutures 2024 color trend forecast as well,” said van Gent. “And I am sure, yellow will be there next year as well, it’s here to stay.”

With that in mind, AkzoNobel sees a sense of optimism as a key trend.

“AkzoNobel’s Color of the Year for 2025 is True Joy, the adventurous, sunny yellow shade on a mission to fill our homes with optimism, pride and a splash of vibrant color,” said van Gent. “Our Color of the Year plays a central role in helping AkzoNobel to meet the color needs of our customers.

“Businesses that involve color – Decorative Paints, Powder Coatings (furniture, architecture and lighting), Automotive and Specialty Coatings (aerospace, automotive and consumer electronics), Coil and Extrusion Coatings (architecture, construction, residential and domestic appliances) and Wood Coatings (furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building products) – all use this research to develop market-specific products that will inspire our customers” van Gent added.

“Our Color of the Year shapes the direction of design globally,” said Jan-Piet van Kesteren, business unit director for Decorative Paints in Europe, Middle East and Africa, in announcing the selection. “We are leaders in color trend forecasting and True Joy will have an impact on choices made by architects, interior designers, product developers and our consumers who want and need to be ahead of market trends.”

True Joy is supported by three selected complementary color palettes. The first is Bold color story, which AkzoNobel describes as injecting adventure into a home with bright colors. The second is Human color story, which includes adding unique handmade pieces to your home. Proud color story suggests having the confidence to create your unique home.

Last year, AkzoNobel selected Sweet Embrace, a pastel pink shade, as its 2024 Color of the Year, and van Gent said it is an ideal pairing with True Joy.

“A color of the year has long-livety, it not just there for a year,” said van Gent. “Our Sweet Embrace of last year is a perfect match with this year’s True Joy. It adds energy to the combination.”