The wait is officially over: Pantone's Color of the Year for 2025 is Mocha Mousse, a chocolaty, decadent yet cozy brown. Building on the legacy of 2024 pick Peach Fuzz and its emphasis on tactility, Mocha Mousse offers a multi-sensory feast for all five senses.
“It’s a beautiful color to look at. We are thinking of trying it and know that it will taste wonderful on the tongue. “We think of the smell of chocolate in the oven,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, of this sweetly named hue. “Mocha Mousse is based on our desire for everyday pleasures and expresses a level of benevolent enjoyment.”
In fact, Mocha Mousse (aka Pantone 17-1230) reminds us of brown's potential to appear glamorous rather than grounded. The quiet luxury element is there: the color makes a subtle, impactful statement on a wall, especially when used to contrast with bright white. It adds a dash of precious intrigue to any marbled texture, forcing you to really stop and look. With these subtle, elegant applications and the color's frequent appearances on runways and red carpets, you can understand why Eiseman describes Mocha Mousse as “refined and lush, yet an unpretentious classic.”
The cozy hue also promises to pair well with the interior material palettes of wool upholstery, leather and suede. If you're aiming for a bold—but not overbearing—statement, using mocha mousse as an amuse-bouche accent wall adds a touch of sophisticated vibrancy while providing bite-sized moments of joy.
But even the most extraordinary shades of brown cannot truly lose their connection to the earth. Mocha Mousse extends the concept of harmony to our relationship with nature. According to Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, Mocha Mousse combined with lighter wood tones can “honor the substance of our physical surroundings” without feeling lost in a forest. Given the shade's sophistication, Pressman says it can convey rustic charm without being too folksy.
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The color palettes of 2025, according to Pantone
Coinciding with the color reveal, Pantone unveiled five Color of the Year 2025 palettes. Each combines mocha mousse with seven other colors, articulating moods and aesthetics ranging from subtle to striking.