AkzoNobel, the world’s largest paints and coatings company, and the maker of Dulux Paints in India unveiled ColourFutures 2014, an annual patented global colour study. The launch revealed teal as the dominant colour for the season along with five different inspirational colour trends for interior and exterior decoration. A tertiary colour, teal is the combination of primary blue and secondary green which is today used to describe several different tones of this majestic colour. A sophisticated and deep colour, teal symbolises balance and has a subdued richness which is often used to describe tropical seas of shimmering bluish green. When combined with neutral tones and shades of wood, the colour teal is versatile and carries a gentle character that is also a favourite in the world of design.

The colour is based on the theme “Unlocking Potential” that encourages the world to harness and explore the potential found in everyday spaces. It is a reflection of the times we are living in; a time of great change and new and exciting opportunities that we, as individuals, businesses and countries, can make use of to unlock the space and ideas within. The theme reflects a subtle combination of the natural harmony of green with the tranquillity of the colour blue.

Every year, AkzoNobel unveils ColourFutures, an annual colour trend research that forecasts the dominant colour and themes of the year for interior and exterior home decoration. A set of global colour experts from the fields of design, architecture and fashion draw on a variety of cultural sources and influences to unveil these international designs and styles. These themes are inspired from different fields such as fine art to technology and from nature to pop culture. They are further translated to create a comprehensive guide on colour and trendy colour palettes for consumers.

Talking about Colour Futures 2014, Heleen van Gent, head of the AkzoNobel Global Colour & Design Center said, “At AkzoNobel, trend and colour forecasting is an inspiring part of our business and enables us to be a step ahead of our consumer needs and preferences. Every year, we launch ColourFutures after carefully studying the future trend and colour movement and how each trends and colour could serve to be an inspiration in our daily lives. The colour of the year, ‘teal’, inspires and influences the trends in different ways, and captures the positivity of times we are living in. It represents sophistication, balance, tranquillity and versatility that is most reflective of today’s consumer.”

Elaborating on Colour Futures 2014, Rajiv Rajgopal, Director – Sales & Marketing, Decorative Paints, Akzo Nobel India said, “AkzoNobel has made an incredible colour journey ever since the launch of Colour Futures in the year 2002. Over the years, we have developed an expertise in the field of colour and decor and created a property after careful consideration of how colours influence the most important decisions in our life. The colour palette for 2014 is largely about complex tones having an intriguing quality that changes depending on the shades they are combined with. These colours when used in combinations create a fascinating palette that adds a touch of simplicity and clarity that feels new and surprising.”