COLOUR TRENDS REFLECT ECONOMIC CHANGES, SAYS AKZONOBEL

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- Don't be surprised to see black, white
and grey all over the place as such neutral colours are preferred for interiors
during an economic downturn.

This was shown in a detailed analysis of colour trends undertaken by
AkzoNobel Paints, the world's largest paints and coatings company.

"Analysing colour trends has shown us that during an economic downturn,
neutral colours such as black, white and grey are favoured for interiors," said
Jeremy Paul Rowe, managing director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints South East
Asia & Pacific.

"More intense colours are used when people feel more confident," he said at
a breakfast get-together with the media here Friday.

Rowe said research showed that while regional preferences could have an
impact on colour usage, trends in interior design have been fluctuating in waves
over the last few decades as the economy ebbed and flowed.

For example, at the end of the 20th century, neutrals were mainly used.

"When fear and uncertainty surrounding the dawn of the new millennium faded,
colour began to reappear in homes, varying from bright, vibrant colours to less
saturated tones," he said.

"But what we are seeing at the moment is that in Western Europe, sober
whites and off-whites are the most popular, while in the United States, beige
and grey are dominant."

For Asia, fresh colours such as clean yellows, pink and light blue are
preferred which could well be related to the local economy, he added.

According to Rowe, the trends of colours are likely to shift again in the
months and years ahead.

"Mid-tones will tend to predominate overall, with cleaner off-whites and
fewer heavy shades evident, indicating a move towards colours that are lighter
in mood and more optimistic in feeling, which will lift our spirits as we move
on from the tough economic times we are currently gong through," he said.

Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, AkzoNobel expects to sustain 20 percent
of its total sales from Asia up to 2012.

The company acquired Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) Paints in January
last year and is now producing the ICI and Dulux paints in Nilai, a town located
in Negeri Sembilan.

Negeri Sembilan is located on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just
south of Kuala Lumpur and is bordered in the north by Selangor.