Heart Colour

The Colour of the Year 2018 for paint major AkzoNobel is Heart Wood — a subtle and warm tone of grown-up pink which draws inspiration from the tactile qualities of natural wood and leather.

Compiled by: BI Staff
Photographs: Courtesy AkzoNobel

Make your home your haven… is the message AkzoNobel is giving out this year. In a recent conference the leading global paints and coatings company, and the makers of Dulux paints in India unveiled Heart Wood as the Colour of the Year 2018. The colour came to fore after AkzoNobel concluded its annual global study, ColourFutures. In its 15th year, ColourFutures is dedicated to the expert analysis of social, economic and design trends — and the development of the Colour of the Year.

Developed by the company’s Global Aesthetic Center in collaboration with leading design and 11 international colour experts, ColourFutures 2018 conveys comfort and ease in response to the consumers earnestness to nestle down more and create a “welcome home”. Insights from the extensive research into societal, economic and design trends reveal that we live in a world of unpredictability, with access to more information and choices than ever. To understand the different ways consumers are responding to the current mood, AkzoNobel considered three personas — of course, the brand did know that the consumers can be more than one of these personality types, at any one time. Warm-Hearted was the first personality type with qualities such as: quality-driven, conscientious, thoughtful and grounded. Persona number two is Open-Hearted… a person who is inclusive, optimistic, collaborative and containing. Lastly, with features such as curious, adventurous, calm and adaptable is the Light-hearted persona. Each of these personality type was thoroughly researched on their approach to: shelter, technology, nature, relationships, food, interior, work
and transport.

Based on the research, the experts concluded that consumers need their home to provide comfort and be a retreat… a place they can turn down the noise and pamper themselves. By exploring and developing the overarching trend and theme ‘A Welcome Home’, AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre identified Heart Wood as the leading paint colour for 2018. Heart Wood — a subtle and warm tone of grown-up pink — draws inspiration from the tactile qualities found in natural wood and leather. The Heart Wood home palette blends harmoniously with the materials from which the hero colour takes its inspiration, while three supporting palettes balance softer shades with deeper and bolder tones.

The Comforting Home
This palette combines warm woods, leather, silk and velvet to create a space that you want to touch and sink into. Rich, welcoming interiors offer you a restorative embrace and are filled with deep colours, such as terracotta, generously layered with textures. The Comforting Home palette encourages cocooning and re-setting — warm earth tones bring a sense of comfort, while clay and blush pink help calm the mind and soothe the senses.

The Inviting Home
This palette can be your den to snuggle in, your nest to grow in, your camp in which to create memories. Comfort and convenience reign supreme here. The Inviting Home palette is for those who seek to bond with the people that matter to them most. Cool shades of blue encourage a clear-headed approach to life, while easy-going neutrals and sea-green support the need for connection. Softer pastel shades are enhanced by coal and ink blue.

The Playful Home
A home with this palette can be your hub to recharge in, a space for creativity and dreams. There is a sense of energy with vibrant colour focal points and plants hanging from walls. With the Playful Home palette consumers can create a space that is invigorating and full of life. Yellow-toned green and gold help spark the synapses and encourage a creative approach to life. Pops of colour add a sense of fun and energy.