Mocha Mousse: The Pantone Color of the Year 2025
Every year, the design world eagerly anticipates Pantone's announcement of its Color of the Year—a shade selected not only for its aesthetic appeal but for its ability to encapsulate the cultural and emotional pulse of the moment.
The Pantone Color Institute launched the Color of the Year initiative to spark dialogue about the deep connection between color and culture. According to Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Institute, the program seeks to "highlight how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of color."
The chosen color is never arbitrary. It emerges from a year-long analysis of global trends, from fashion and technology to social movements and consumer preferences. It embodies the emotions, aspirations, and challenges of a specific moment in time.
For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute named PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse as its color of the Year - a soft, evocative brown color with rich undertones of cacao, chocolate, and coffee.
According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute “PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse presents a discrete and tasteful touch of glamor. A flavorful brown shade, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse envelopes us with its sensorial warmth”.
The rich, chocolatey tones of Mocha Mousse evoke feelings of coziness and indulgence. Whether it’s a steaming cup of coffee or the enveloping warmth of a plush blanket, this color inspires sensory delight.
Despite its earthy origins, Mocha Mousse carries an air of quiet luxury. It’s sophisticated without being ostentatious—a shade that pairs just as well with minimalist spaces as it does with ornate decor.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, describes Mocha Mousse as a color that “expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence” and “envelopes us with its sensorial warmth.”
“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 the aspirational and luxe,” she said in the statement.
Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, added that Mocha Mousse feeds into a desire for harmony.
“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,” she said.
Applications Across Industries
Interior Design
PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a rich, earthy brown that feels like a warm embrace for your home. This shade seamlessly combines cozy comfort with a touch of understated luxury, making it a perfect choice for contemporary spaces that crave both style and substance.
Whether it's featured on walls, flooring, or statement decor, Mocha Mousse radiates effortless elegance. Its natural vibe shines in materials like wood, stone, rattan, and leather, while its soft, refined tones bring out the beauty of linens and textiles. Grounded yet glamorous, Mocha Mousse redefines home design with a color that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern.
Fashion
PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse redefines brown with a trend-forward neutrality that feels both grounded and aspirational. This luxe shade carries a cozy, tactile appeal, shining in buttery leathers, plush velvets, soft knits, and cashmere blends that wrap you in irresistible comfort. The warm, sensory allure is perfect for adding a hint of indulgence to any look.
Equally captivating in lighter, flowy fabrics, Mocha Mousse transitions seamlessly into breezy chiffons, silky satins, and draped jerseys, bringing a fresh elegance to every movement.
Effortlessly versatile, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse elevates any color palette with its soft, neutral warmth and subtle luxury. Perfect for both cozy and structured accessories, this shade adds a refined touch that resonates across every detail.
From chunky knits and plush scarves that cocoon you in comfort to sleek eyewear, chic handbags, and metallic jewelry, Mocha Mousse brings an inviting elegance to your style. Whether in glossy or matte finishes, its soft, pinkish undertones play beautifully with light, creating a look that’s understated yet undeniably chic.
Product Design
For branding and product design, Mocha Mousse communicates reliability and sophistication. Its natural, grounded qualities are particularly appealing for eco-conscious brands, while its subtle glamour makes it ideal for high-end packaging.
Digital and Graphic Design
In the digital realm, Mocha Mousse provides a stable yet dynamic background. It’s soft enough to be unobtrusive, yet its richness ensures it never fades into monotony.
The selection of Mocha Mousse as the Pantone Color of the Year 2025 is more than a celebration of a beautiful hue. As we navigate an ever-changing world, this nurturing, versatile brown reminds us to ground ourselves in the special moments of indulgency, harmony and contentment.
Whether it’s in the spaces we inhabit, the clothes we wear, or the products we use, Mocha Mousse invites us to embrace and share with others the simple pleasures of life.
