Supported by three complementary color palettes to inspire designers and woodworkers, True Joy is the result of extensive research into the color, design, cultural, economic and social trends that shape our society. These identified a desire to embrace the unknown, celebrate craftsmanship and accept who we are.

“In this rapidly changing world, it’s easy to feel uncertain about our next steps. But change creates an opportunity for imagination; a chance to create something even better. With our new Color of the Year and supporting palettes, we want to inspire customers to celebrate their roots and creativity and embrace the optimism of moving forward in their homes and spaces,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center

Three color stories were also created by AkzoNobel’s Global Wood Design Studio in High Point, North Carolina around the themes of True Joy™. These are designed to help furniture designers and joinery manufacturers find on-trend wood coatings to differentiate their projects, while making it easier for customers to choose colors and combinations that match their design preferences.

The three-color stories:

• Bold
  Leave your comfort zone and inject adventure into your home and working place with bright and uplifting colors.
• Human
  Bring creativity into your environment by filling it with unique handmade pieces.
• Proud
  Embrace your identity and have the confidence to create a space that’s just as unique as you are.

“Our Color of the Year 2025, True Joy, and its three complementary color stories provide inspiration for woodworkers and designers to create stylish products and great color combinations that reflect a variety of different moods,” says Henri Bijsterbosch, Color Marketing Manager of AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings business. “They enable us to personalize our environments to fit the times we live in, while bringing sunshine, color and positivity to our living spaces.”

Follow #TeamJoy #COTY25 #TrueJoy #ShareTheJoy hashtags on social media.

Specially crafted finishes are required for different products, as wood coatings are often applied to highlight the natural beauty of the wooden substrate. AkzoNobel’s highly trained technical service team works closely with the wood design specialists to ensure finishes are robust and can be industrialized for customers around the world. They help customers combine the trend colors with natural wood finishes, be it on smooth or distressed surfaces, from matt to high gloss and from translucent to solid colors with variation of possible finish effects.