COLOUR FUTURES INTERNATIONAL COLOUR TRENDS 2017
TM
AKZONOBEL
DECORATIVE PAINTS
GLOBAL
AESTHETIC
CENTER
PRESENTS
COLOUR
FUTURES
2017
COLOUR TRENDS 2017
LIFE IN A NEW LIGHT
CONTENTS
RESEARCH 04-11
FOREWORD
COLOURS FUTURE
COLOURS PAST
THE OVERRIDING TREND
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 12-23
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2017
ROOMSETS
COLOUR PALETTE
TRENDS 24-77
NEW ROMANTICISM
SHARED INDIVIDUALISM
THE WORKING HOME
CONSIDERED LUXURY
RESOURCES 78-80
BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES
IMAGE LIBRARY
05
WELCOME
Sixteen years ago, the Global Aesthetic
Center began inviting experts from
the design industry to help us predict
the paint colour palettes that would
be relevant for consumers in the future.
We soon recognised that
we could enrich the consumer
experience further by expanding
our research to cover broader social
and design trends from around
the globe. With this understanding,
Colour Futures was born. In this Colour
Futures 17 book, you will find the
inspiring results of this year’s trend
research; colour
trends translated
to paint. I hope it will provide
enjoyment and inspiration in the
coming year. Finally, I’d like to extend
a special thanks to the professionals
involved in bringing this work to life.
HELEEN VAN GENT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GLOBAL AESTHETIC CENTER
AKZONOBEL DECORATIVE PAINTS
06
SOCIAL
TRENDS
ECONOMIC
TRENDS
DESIGN
TRENDS
GLOBAL
DESIGN
TRENDS
GLOBAL
COLOUR
TRENDS
FOREWORD BY
HELEEN VAN GENT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2017
COLOUR
TRENDS
RESEARCH
Colour Futures: Identifying the paint colour trends for tomorrow. Every
year, our colour experts invite international trend watchers and authorities,
from various fields of design, to join us at AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic
Center. Together we research and identify the social and design trends
that will influence consumers in their colour and interior decoration
choices in the year ahead. Through this unique mix of perspectives, we
nominate a number of key trends and uncover one overarching theme that
captures the mood of the
moment. Next, the Global Aesthetic Center
identifies the must-have paint colour and the complementary palettes
that will bring this theme to life in homes, to reflect the world we live in.
From there, our colour experts develop Colour Futures content that
communicates these trends, inspires the use of paint in interior design and
architecture, and engages our consumers. By collaborating with futurefocused thought leaders, from architects through to artists and interior
designers, we are ensuring our forecasting is in tune with cutting-edge
global trends that can be translated into the homes of tomorrow.
09
RESEARCH
COLOUR
FUTURES:
THE 2017 PALETTE
REVEALED
2017’s palette is all about balance.
This year, we see an interesting
contrast between bolder,
more striking colours
and a selection of muted,
lighter shades. This spectrum
of light whites and neutrals
acts as the perfect complementary
backdrop for the bright trend-led
colours, ensuring they stand out
beautifully. The colle
ction of pale,
almost-whites is also a trend
in itself, encouraging the subtle
use of different textures to
emphasise light and shade.
The overall result is a truly accessible
paint palette that can be easily
translated into architecture and
interior decorating.
10
COLOURS OF THE
YEAR 2004-2017
RESEARCH
OUR
HISTORY
OF
COLOUR
ANALYSIS
Each year, we identify
colours within the
palettes for our trends,
and nominate one
Colour of the Year,
which we see as the
most important for the
coming year.
As we move into
our 15th year of
Colour Futures,
it is important for us to
explore how our colour
and palette choices
have evolved and
understand the role
global trends and
shifts in taste have
played in this.
04
05
06
HOW COLOUR TRENDS
EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
09
08
07
06
05
04
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
LIFE
IN A
NEW
LIGHT
13
10
RESEARCH
THE
OVERRIDING
TREND FOR 2017
LIFE IN A NEW LIGHT
We are increasingly looking for authentic and real exper
iences. Around
the world, we are re-evaluating and discovering a renewed appreciation
for the everyday, yet essential, elements of life. More importance is being
placed on the simple things that really matter; our family and friends,
work-life balance, connecting with the world around us. This sense of
connection is echoed in our circles of life: how we choose to behave, who
we choose as family, where we choose to work and how we shape our
attitudes to consumerism. It is all connected. The new focus is shaping our
environments and living spaces and is the driving influence of our theme
for 2017. Our four sub-trends, New Romanticism, Shared Individualism,
The Working Home and Considered Luxury, are a reflection of how this
new global awareness is being expressed in the different areas of our lives.
ACROSS
THE WORLD,
THERE’S A
NEED TO FEEL
ROOTED AND
A DESIRE FOR
THE SIMPLE
AND GENUINE
THINGS
IN LIFE
LIFE IN A
NEW LIGHT
16
Brightly coloured houses
meet at a street corner in
the
area of Volta Galvani,
Eindhoven.
WE YEARN FOR
CONNECTION,
SIMPLIFICATION,
A SLOW PACE
OF LIFE AND
SHARING AND
FOR RESTFUL
COLOURS WE
UNDERSTAND
AND
RECOGNIZE
Getty Images
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
19
COLOUR
OF THE
YEAR 2017
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2017
DENIM DRIFT
DENIM DRIFT
Identified by our colour experts at the Global Aesthetic Center, the
Colour of the Year for 2017 is Denim Drift. Perfectly capturing the mood
of the moment, it is a timeless and versatile blue that takes on a different
characteristic depending on the light, colour combination and situation.
Blue is the colour of life; it is the clothes we wear, the sky we gaze at and the
water that revitalises us. Blue has been, and will continue to be, a constant
in every aspect of our lives. From the deepest ink blue, to the palest misty
blue, this colour spans every spectrum of life; it is a royal colour, but it is also
used for workers’ blue jeans. It represents the Life in a New Light theme like
no other shade. To complemen
t The Colour of the Year, we have developed
a family colour palette featuring a spectrum of blues and tones – a fresh
approach to combining colours. Denim Drift is the must-have colour of
2017. It is truly adaptable, fitting into all life and interior styles, making it
the perfect choice for reflecting our new perspective for 2017.
© KME
BLUE IS
THE COLOUR
OF LIFE,
OF EVERYDAY
LIFE. IT IS
FAMILIAR
AND
YET NEW
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
25
WE YEARN
FOR COLOUR
THAT HAS
HISTORY AND
MEANING,
THAT WORKS
WITHOUT EFFORT.
A COLOUR THAT
IS SOOTHING
AND RESTFUL
The whitewashed walls and
blue door radiate Sicilian
charm and serenity.
Getty Images
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
FROM AN INKY BLUE TO A PALE MISTY
BLUE, IT IS A CREATIVE,
VERSATILE COLOUR
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
THE
COLOUR
OF
THE YEAR
DENIM DRIFT
U6.27.18
U3.15.11
S9.30.40
T1.23.25
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
DENIM
DRIFT
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
PALETTE
S0.10.50
COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2017 S0.10.50
We have reproduced paint colours as faithfully as pri
nting will allow. However, the shape, size and lighting of a surface can influence the appearance of the final colour.
AND THE
S7.19.59
S0.10.50
T0.12.73
S0.05.65
S1.05.81
HN.02.85
A SIGN OF THE TIMES,
A COLOUR OF THE TIMES
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
32
COLOUR OF
THE YEAR
COMBINING
DENIM DRIFT
WITH DARKER
COLOURS, MAKES
A ROOM FEEL MORE
DRAMATIC
34
THE TRENDS
NEW ROMANTICISM
SHARED INDIVIDUALISM
THE WORKING HOME
CONSIDERED LUXURY
36
NEW
ROMANTICISM
We’re seeing a re-emergence of romanticism across fashion and design.
More and more, we are connecting with the world around us on a deeper
level. People are increasingly aware of their impact on the planet, and we
want to see the elements of the world that inspire us in the spaces that
we create. The first trend explores the way we are becoming more in
tune with our planet and nature, and how this is inspiring us to reconnect
with our spiritual side and take responsibility for our environment and
ourselves. Creating the palet
te was a case of bringing to life the trend
colours we’re seeing in the world of design, with the story of romanticism
as a connecting thread. We’ve complimented natural, earthy greens with
more spiritual lilacs and purples to produce a rich and verdant collection
of shades that will create a nurturing and calming space in the home.
NEW
ROMANTICISM
40
L2.18.16
H0.35.29
LN.02.77
H0.04.65
U1.09.60
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
DENIM
DRIFT
V7.11.16
N8.51.30
H9.09.69
Y7.03.63
S0.10.50
Photography: olivierpolmichel.de Architecture: motorlab.de
Getty Images
Enjoy a sense of perspective and peacefulness from a rooftop garden in Tokyo.
NEW
ROMANTICISM
A RENEWED PASSION AND
CARE FOR THE WORLD
AROUND US
The Il Bosco Verticale Skyscraper in the business district of Milan, Italy brings nature one-step closer.
NEW
ROMANTICISM
Getty Images
CARPE DIEM, NEW AWARENESS,
ENJOY THE MOMENT
51
SHARED
INDIVIDUALISM
A new feeling of isolation has come with developments in technology
a
nd fast-paced cities. Our research showed a growing desire to be
part of something bigger, while still holding onto individuality. People
are realising the importance of belonging and, as a result, are developing
new definitions of community. This trend focuses on exploring how we
come together to create networks of like-minded people or ‘new families’,
and the importance of feeling a sense of belonging as part of a group,
whether that’s established online or offline. This new interpretation
of community, and the associated mix of personalities, ages and
experiences is reflected in the palette we have chosen. It is a family of
colours – the young people are the fresh and vibrant shades and the
more grounded colours, like Denim Drift, are the sophisticated adults.
Here we have developed a collection of colours that are perfect for
creating a shared space to enjoy together.
B6.40.50
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
DENIM
DRIFT
S0.10.50
We have reproduced paint colours as faithfully as p
rinting will allow. However, the shape, size and lighting of a surface can influence the appearance of the final colour.
SHARED
INDIVIDUALISM
54
G4.50.75
SN.02.67
F1.35.65
C6.22.61
C4.30.49
F2.04.74
ZN.02.73
ZN.02.80
WE FOCUS ON BELONGING, BEING
PART OF A COMMUNITY, A FAMILY…
BUT RETAINING OUR INDIVIDUALITY
SHARED
INDIVIDUALISM
Architects.collective www.ac.co.at
The injection of bright
colours brings this
multi-storey housing
complex in Klagenfurt,
Austria to life.
SHARED
INDIVIDUALISM
AS SOCIAL SETTINGS CHANGE
AND CITIES GROW, SO DOES
THE DESIRE FOR A SENSE
OF BELONGING
The student-friendly and lively outdoor public space at the Uilenstede Campus in Amsterdam.
SHARED
INDIVIDUALISM
Nextarchitects
FINDING NEW WAYS TO CO-OPERATE
AND COLLABORATE
67
THE WORKING
HOME
Increasingly, our homes are becoming the centre for both our work
and personal life. With the boundary between these two aspects of
life constantly changing, this trend explores the need for finding ba
lance
and creating fluid environments that can accommodate both. In this
digital age, we are leading 24/7 lives. The home has become our office,
and offices are becoming more like homes. We need stimulating
spaces to work, and new inspiration for how to do this. This colour
palette is designed to help consumers create different zones, to
accommodate both work and play. So, whether you take your laptop
to the kitchen with a coffee, or carve out a specific area for working,
you can be comfortable, relaxed and focused within your living space.
FIND BALANCE WITH FLUID
ENVIRONMENTS FOR BOTH
WORK AND PLAY
THE WORKING
HOME
U0.20.40
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
DENIM
DRIFT
SN.01.18
S0.10.50
We have reproduced paint colours as faithfully as printing will allow. However, the shape, size and lighting of a surface can influence the appearance of the final colour.
THE WORKING
HOME
70
F6.55.54
D4.04.71
D9.41.49
C3.46.30
J0.05.65
G0.05.65
G0.05.45
WE NEED
STIMULATING
SPACES TO
WORK IN
THE WORKI
NG
HOME
Golspie Street, Do Architecture, Andrew Lee Photography
The projecting pods in
a new housing project in
Glasgow provide a unique
identity to each home.
THE WORKING NOMAD…
LOOKING FOR A HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE
BALANCE FOR WORK AND PLAY
THE WORKING
HOME
79
MODERN
TECHNOLOGY
HAS MADE
WORKING
FROM HOME
A PRACTICAL
REALITY
THE WORKING
HOME
Getty Images
The BBC Broadcasting
House in London has
vibrantly coloured
multi-storey open plan
workspaces.
82
CONSIDERED
LUXURY
We’re seeing a new kind of consumerism, where value is placed on
personal experience, rather than possessions. The fourth trend captures
this new way of living. Creating priceless memories is our priority as we
look at the world with fresh eyes, not adding clutter and more belongings
to our lives, but experiences instead. It is the new way of consuming: buy
less, choose well and make it last. You walk away with less but are infinitely
more enriched. It is experience on a personal level, with the senses pl
aying
an important role; the touch of a beautiful woven fabric, the quiet calm of
an early morning. It is about silent design, understated but thoughtful, with
a lot of attention to detail. White and neutrals are the perfect backdrop for
this trend. They’re uncomplicated and fresh, and together they emphasise
light and shade to let different textures and materials take centre stage.
We have reproduced paint colours as faithfully as printing will allow. However, the shape, size and lighting of a surface can influence the appearance of the final colour.
CONSIDERED
LUXURY
86
G9.03.88
KN.02.87
ZN.00.87
G0.05.75
WN.02.82
ON.00.81
E4.05.65
TN.02.84
ON.00.76
COLOUR
OF THE YEAR
DENIM
DRIFT
S0.10.50
SRV / Stora Enso
Wood City adds innovative and natural textures to the urban landscape in Finland.
The RMIT, Academic Building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has an added layer of texture with a self-weathering façade.
spowers.com.au
LESS IS MORE AS WE CREATE OUR
NEW CODES F
OR LUXURY
CONSIDERED
LUXURY
IT’S ABOUT SILENT
DESIGN, UNDERSTATED
BUT THOUGHTFUL,
WITH A LOT OF
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
CONSIDERED
LUXURY
BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES
97
To reveal the dramatic effect of paint, we have a collection of before and after images.
THE COLOUR OF THE YEAR
CF17-COTY-1-BEFORE
CF17-COTY-2-BEFORE
CF17-COTY-3-BEFORE
CF17-COTY-4-BEFORE
NEW ROMANTICISM
CF17-COTY-1
CF17-NR-1-BEFORE
CF17-COTY-2
CF17-COTY-3
THE WORKING HOME
CF17-NR-1
CF17-NR-2-BEFORE
CF17-NR-3-BEFORE
CF17-TWH-1-BEFORE
CF17-NR-2
CF17-NR-3
CF17-COTY-4
CF17-TWH-2-BEFORE
CF17-TWH-3-BEFORE
CF17-TWH-4-BEFORE
CF17-NR-4-BEFORE
CF17-NR-4
CF17-TWH-1
CF17-TWH-2
CF17-TWH-3
CF17-THW-4
BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES
99
To reveal the dramatic effect of paint, we have a collection of before and after images.
SHARED INDIVIDUALISM
CF17-SH-1-BEFORE
CONSIDERED LUXURY
CF17-SH1
CF17-SH-2-BEFORE
CF17-SH-3-BEFORE
CF17-SH-2
CF17-SH-3
CF17-SH-4-BEFORE
CF17-SH-4
CF17-CL-1-BEFORE
CF17-CL-2-BEFORE
CF17-CL-3-BEFORE
CF17-CL-1
CF17-CL-2
CF17-CL-3
IMAGE LIBRARY
To reveal the dramatic effect of paint, we have a collection of before and after images.
P36-49
COVER
THE
WORKING
NEW
ROMANTICISM
CF17-NR-6
P3-8
CF17-RESEARCH-4
CONSIDERED
LUXURY
HOME
CF17-SI-2
CF17-TWH-8
CF17-LNL-2
CF17-COVER
P82-95
P66-81
CF17-COTY-7
CF17-CL-7
CF17-SI-8
CF17-COTY-16
CF17-TRENDS-4
CF17-NR-7
CF17-LNL-3
CF17-TWH-1
CF17-COTY-8
CF17-NR-1
CF17-RESEARCH-5
CF17-CL-8
CF17-TWH-9
CF17-CL-1
CF17-CONTENTS
CF17-LNL-4
P18-33
CF17-TRENDS-5
CF17-SI-3
CF17-COTY-9
CF17-COTY-17
CF17-COTY-1
CF17-NR-8
CF17-TWH-2
CF17-SI-4
CF17-CL-9
CF17-COTY-10
CF17-TRENDS-6
CF17-RESEARCH-7
CF17-SI-10
P34-49
CF17-COTY-2
CF17-RESEARCH-8
CF17-TWH-3
CF17-SI-5
CF17-COTY-18
CF17-WELCOME-2
CF17-CL-2
CF17-NR-2
CF17-RESEARCH-6
CF17-WELCOME-1
CF17-SI-9
CF17-TWH-10
CF17-COTY-11
CF17-NR-3
CF17-CL-3
CF17-CL-10
CF17-NR-9
CF17-TWH-4
CF17-TRENDS-1
CF17-COTY-3
CF17-RESEARCH-1
CF17-TRENDS-7
CF17-TWH-11
CF17-COTY-12
CF17-RESEARCH-9
CF17-SI-11
CF17-CL-11
CF17-TWH-5
CF17-COTY-4
CF17-COTY-13
CF17-NR-10
CF17-RESEARCH-2
CF17-PALETTE-1
CF17-TRENDS-8
CF17-COTY-5
CF17-COTY-14
CF17-NR-4
P50-65
CF17-SI-6
CF17-TWH-12
SHARED
CF17-CL-12
INDIVIDUALISM
CF17-TRENDS-2
CF17-ANALYSIS-1
CF17-RESEARCH-3
CF17-LNL-1
CF17-COTY-6
CF17-COTY-15
CF17-CL-4
CF17-TRENDS-3
CF17-TRENDS-9
CF17-NR-5
CF17-SI-1
CF17-SI-7
CF17-SI-12
CF17-TWH-6
CF17-SI-13
CF17-TWH-7
CF17-CL-5
CF17-TWH-13
CF17-CL-6