It’s official: the indulgently creamy shade of Mocha Mousse is about to dominate your designs now that global color authority Pantone has named it the Color of the Year for 2025.
Each year, the Pantone Color Institute assembles a panel of color experts who scour the world looking for influences ranging from design to new technology to travel aspirations and everything in between. This year, experts quickly noted an overarching trend toward nourishing the senses and more closely aligning with nature. Mocha Mousse — or PANTONE 17-1230 — is the perfect bridge between those two inspirations. It is a warming, rich shade that effectively appeals to our yearning for comfort in a harmonious and sophisticated way.
“Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute Executive Director. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.”
When it comes to interiors, Mocha Mousse is a shade that’s easy to infuse throughout your home. Whether it's painted on a wall, used for fabric on a sofa or subtly incorporated through accessories like throw pillows or a coffee table tray, this color envelops a room with warmth and earthy elegance. Plus because of its neutral tone, it’s the perfect complement to a wide range of color palettes.
Look for Pantone design collaborations with mid-century modern furniture maker Joybird, which features the color on over 300 items, including sofas, sectionals, sleeper sofas, upholstered bed frames, accent chairs, ottomans, pillows and slipcovers. Pantone has also collaborated with wallpaper producer Spoonflower to create an exclusive range of print-on-demand wallpaper, fabric and home decor doused in the luxurious brown shade.
“It [creates] a room you want to be in,” Pantone Color Institute vice president Laurie Pressman told “Architectural Digest.” “People will say, ‘I love coming to your home. It feels so warm and welcoming.’ That’s the ultimate compliment, right?"