In an increasingly fast-paced, hyperconnected, and stimulus-filled environment, Bruguer invites you to slow down and focus on the essentials. Under the slogan “create your own rhythm,” the brand presents its Color of the Year 2026, a chromatic proposal centered around the Rhythm of Blues: three shades designed to create spaces where well-being and personal expression find their own tempo.
The main shades —Slow Blue™, an intense and contemplative blue; Flow Blue™, a light and airy shade; and Free Blue™, a vibrant and lively blue— form an emotional and adaptable palette. Each one represents a different way of living and experiencing spaces: calmly, more connected, or with total freedom.
Blue: the world’s most beloved color and the one that makes us feel best
According to AkzoNobel’s annual global trends report, blue has established itself as the color that best fits current emotional needs: it brings serenity, stability, and a sense of freshness. It’s not a coincidence. Historically, this hue has represented harmony between the body and mind, something that science now supports.
Various studies in the field of neuroaesthetics —the discipline that analyzes how art and the environment affect the brain— indicate that blue can directly influence our well-being.
Dr. Nancy Etcoff, Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, discovered that people feel “moved” by beauty because it simultaneously activates two areas of the brain related to emotion and pleasure. Meanwhile, Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroaesthetics at University College London, showed that pleasure centers in the brain “light up” when we perceive something beautiful. And as far back as the mid-20th century, colorist Faber Birren argued that blue has the ability to reduce blood pressure, calm breathing, and lower hormonal activity, contributing to a state of serenity and concentration.
Recent studies even suggest that spending time in blue spaces, whether in natural environments or indoors painted in these shades, can reduce the risk of stress, anxiety, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases (BBC Future Planet, 2022).
Your space, your rhythm: three ways to experience color
The global trend research ColourFutures™ 2026, developed by AkzoNobel’s design team alongside international experts in architecture, behavior, and lifestyle, reveals a universal desire: to return to spaces that help us disconnect, reconnect, and enjoy.
Bruguer translates this need into an accessible and contemporary aesthetic proposal, where color doesn’t dominate but accompanies and reflects the personal rhythm of each home.
“Every home has its own tempo,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “With this family of blues, we want to help people create environments that match their mood, routines, and way of living. Color can change the rhythm of a space… and also the rhythm of our lives.”
The concept “Create your own rhythm” is materialized in three color stories that reflect the different rhythms of everyday life:
- Slow Colors: natural and serene tones for those seeking rest and concentration. They invite creating contemplative spaces to recharge energy.
- Flow Colors: a fusion of blues and warm earth tones that evoke connection, community, and harmony. Ideal for cozy homes where sharing and feeling at home.
- Free Colors: a vibrant and luminous palette that awakens creativity and fun. Perfect for those who see color as a form of free expression.
Each range is linked by the three main blue shades, which can be combined with each other or with the rest of the 2026 palette to transform the atmosphere of any space.
Well-being starts at home
Bruguer invites you to discover color as a new tool for daily well-being. More than a decorative trend, the Rhythm of Blues is a way to understand how the environment influences our mood and energy.
In short, Bruguer proposes a new way of experiencing color: at your own pace, with blue as the thread of well-being.
