AkzoNobel introduces Soulful Sage as its 2027 Color of the Year

AkzoNobel Automotive and Specialty Coatings introduces Soulful Sage, its 2027 Color of the Year. This soft, ethereal warm grey-green reflects the overarching theme Live Lightly, capturing a growing desire to clear away the clutter and make room for creativity, freedom and new perspectives.

Developed using insights from AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre and Specialty Coatings’ color experts, Soulful Sage brings a fresh perspective to color, material and finish. The color story spans automotive design, consumer electronics and aerospace cabin interiors, offering inspiration for designers and coating professionals across industries.

A new perspective on color and finish

For automotive designers and refinish professionals, Soulful Sage offers a versatile starting point for creative expression. The shade can be translated into a range of finishes, from matte to high-gloss, as well as metallic and special-effect coatings that add depth, texture and visual movement.

Three complementary color stories

Alongside Soulful Sage, the 2027 Color of the Year collection features three supporting color stories, each offering a distinct creative direction.

• GLOW, To Warm the Heart. A warm, tonal palette combining light shades and soft metallics with cool sage.
  
  
• PURE, To Cleanse the Soul. A balanced neutral palette that creates a sense of space and lasting appeal.
  
  
• LIFT, To Spark the Spirit. An expressive palette combining botanical brights and perfect pastels with energetic finishes.

Together, the four color directions give designers a broad range of possibilities, from the calm and understated character of Soulful Sage to the warmth of GLOW and the energy of LIFT.

Responding to changing automotive color trends

Green is an increasingly prominent direction in automotive color design. Soulful Sage reflects this growing interest, giving customers new opportunities to explore color through different finishes, textures and special effects.

“With green’s popularity on the rise, we are proud to offer Soulful Sage to the automotive value chain,” says Rob Lagendijk, Commercial Marketing and Product Management Director, Automotive and Specialty Coatings. “Whether for a concept car or a custom refinish project, a consumer electronics product or an aerospace cabin interior, these new shades give our customers the confidence to define their own rhythm and style.”

Discover Soulful Sage and explore the full 2027 Color of the Year story at colorsurfaces.com.