Why The Pantone Color Of The Year 2025 Is Like A Warm Hug
Is this the year of "little treats"? If Pantone's Color of the Year 2025 is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a delectable, rich brown that conjures visions of chocolate goodies, smooth coffee and an earthy, nurturing spirit. At its core, it represents a harmonious approach to whatever comes next. Consider it a visual hug.
“Harmony embraces a culture of connection and unity as well as the synthesis of our mental, spiritual and physical well-being,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute. “With that in mind, for Pantone Color of the Year 2025 we look to a color that reaches into our desire for comfort and wellness, and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others.”
Neutral palettes are here to stay, ushering in a renewed sense of being grounded within, and maybe in spite of, our everyday lives.
PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse Is The Color Of The Year 2025
This year's color appeals to a cultural desire for peace and warmth. Mocha Mousse is a natural evolution of Pantone's Color of the Year 2024, 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, which evoked comfort with a hint of nostalgia, while it appears to offer a more muted respite from 2023’s 18-1740 Viva Magenta which championed bold expression.
"Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence," shares Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute. "Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe."
Designers Predict Brown Will Top The Trends List
When asked about 2025 paint color trends, Alexis Pew of Kaminski + Pew shares that warm neutrals like brown are having a moment:
“We are loving warm, earthy tones that make a home feel inviting," Pew says. "A mix of creamy neutrals, taupe, mossy green, deep rust, and soft browns can create a calming, grounded atmosphere that feels like a retreat from busy daily life.”
Ashton Acosta of In Site Designs is also seeing clients welcome warmer palettes:
"We're moving away from cool whites and grays, embracing beiges, ivories, and browns instead," shares Acosta. Color is subtly introduced through artwork, accessories, and the metal finishes of hardware and fixtures. I particularly enjoy incorporating a mix of metals with an artisan touch, like burnished brass or unique acid washes that add a splash of color."
A Kaminski + Pew-designed living room with a moss-brown sectional, burl wood console, travertine coffee table and taupe-beige walls.
Adding Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse To Your Home
Mocha Mousse, a versatile neutral spotted across industries from fashion to interior design, serves as a foundational shade that complements a wide range of colors. Seen in leather to linen and in natural stone, the shade offers a timeless stamp on all designs. Here, we feature some LUXE spaces inspired by the earthy tone. Like Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, the rooms embody a comforting tactile presence that eschews a wonderful warmth.
