Pantone's 2025 Color of the Year Is a Toasty, Decadent Shade of Mocha

In an age of self-care, color authority Pantone searched for the perfect shade that boasts both comfort and wellness—and its 2025 Color of the Year does just that. Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a "warming, brown hue imbued in richness" reminiscent of the creamy, bold flavors of chocolate and coffee.

"Underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures, Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence," said executive director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman in a statement. "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."

Mocha Mousse Color Palettes

Mocha Mousse provides a versatile foundation so you can incorporate the color into your home with ease, adding a touch of elegance in the process. To help illustrate how easy it is to incorporate Pantone's color of the year, the company created five color palettes for inspiration as you refresh your home in the new year.

The first palette, "Uniquely Balanced," features warm and cool tones, complementing and highlighting Mocha Mousse's calming subtlety. "Floral Pathways" offers springtime inspiration with floral tones, willow greens, and cobblestone grays. "Deliciousness" speaks for itself; the color palette includes shades of tasty treats. The "Subtle Contrasts" palette pinpoints a moodier vibe with browns, blues, and grays, and "Relaxed Elegance" provides the core base layers for setting up your neutral sanctuary.

Forecasting Colors for 2025

"For Pantone Color of the Year 2025, we look to a mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and sensorial and comforting warmth extends further into our desire for comfort and the indulgence of simple pleasures that we can gift and share with others," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, in a statement.

While previous years spotlighted brighter, more vibrant shades, like 2024's radiant shade Peach Fuzz, Pantone and other color pros seem to be veering toward quieter luxe colors. Benjamin Moore revealed Cinnamon Slate as its 2025 color of the year—similar to Pantone's—with a dramatic touch of plum purple. Sherwin-Williams even called out shades Grounded and Malabar in their 2025 Color Capsule of the Year, two shades of brown similar to Mocha Mousse.

Because of its versatility, you can incorporate Mocha Mousse all around the house—whether on your bedroom walls, in the kitchen, or scattered around as an eye-catching statement, like the plaid twill wallpaper from the Pantone x Spoonflower collab. Regardless of how you decorate with the soothing neutral, the 2025 Pantone color of the year is sure to evoke subtle luxury.