Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse

Pantone, the global authority on colour, has unveiled its much-anticipated Colour of the Year for 2025: Mocha Mousse. Described as an “evocative soft brown” with “sensorial and comforting warmth,” this sophisticated shade continues Pantone’s over 25-year tradition of setting annual colour trends. As a mellow, earthy tone, Mocha Mousse reflects a universal desire for grounding and solace in a fast-paced world.

What Mocha Mousse symbolizes

Mocha Mousse is more than a colour; it is a statement. This nuanced brown carries a sense of stability and understated luxury, offering a tactile comfort that speaks to our collective yearning for simplicity and authenticity. Its rich undertones and subtle warmth evoke thoughts of natural landscapes, artisanal craftsmanship, and quiet moments of reflection. For 2025, this colour encapsulates a move towards elegance that is humble yet inherently luxurious.

About the Pantone Colour Institute

The Pantone Colour Institute, founded in 1963, has been a guiding force in the world of colour for decades. Known for its innovative Pantone Matching System (PMS), the institute standardizes colour across industries, from fashion to technology. Its Colour of the Year announcement, first introduced in 1999, has become a cultural and design milestone, influencing aesthetics globally.

How Pantone selects its colour of the year

Choosing the Colour of the Year is a meticulous process that involves global trend analysis. Pantone experts consider:

Cultural shifts: Trends in art, fashion, technology, and entertainment.
Socioeconomic factors: Current events and collective emotional states.
Global trends: Emerging themes from travel, new materials, and technological innovation.
Psychological impact: The emotional resonance of colours and their ability to influence moods.

Mocha Mousse emerged from a recognition of humanity’s ongoing search for grounding, comfort, and sustainable elegance.

The industries following Pantone trends

The influence of Pantone’s Colour of the Year extends across numerous fields, making it a cornerstone for creativity and innovation:

Interior design: Mocha Mousse’s earthy yet refined tone is perfect for walls, furniture, and accents, creating a serene and luxurious ambiance.
Fashion: Designers incorporate such colours into collections for their timeless appeal and versatility, using them in everything from haute couture to ready-to-wear.
Beauty: Expect makeup palettes featuring warm browns and complementary neutrals.
Graphic design: Branding and packaging leverage this calming tone to communicate authenticity and sophistication.
Product design: From consumer goods to technology, the colour reinforces ideas of quality and craftsmanship.

Mocha Mousse in luxury homes

This evocative shade lends itself seamlessly to luxury interiors. Here’s how to incorporate Mocha Mousse into high-end spaces:

Statement walls: Use it as an accent colour to bring depth and warmth to a room.
Upholstery and textiles: Velvet sofas, suede cushions, and woven throws in Mocha Mousse create tactile elegance.
Natural materials: Pair the colour with rich wood finishes, leather, and stone for a cohesive, organic look.
Accessories: Lampshades, vases, and ceramics in this shade offer subtle sophistication.
Artwork: Invest in pieces that feature warm brown tones to unify the room and create a cohesive aesthetic.

Luxury and the Mocha aesthetic

Mocha Mousse is the embodiment of quiet luxury, a trend exemplified by brands like Loro Piana. This aesthetic eschews ostentation in favour of subtle, high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The shade’s earthy richness echoes the refined palettes often associated with such luxury brands, offering timeless appeal without overt flashiness. Its use signals sophistication, discernment, and a connection to the natural world.

A Hue for modern harmony

As we enter 2025, Mocha Mousse offers a grounding yet aspirational choice for design and lifestyle. Its warmth and versatility ensure that it will resonate across industries and homes worldwide, embodying the elegance and authenticity that define this era of understated luxury. Whether through a Loro Piana-inspired aesthetic or as a broader design statement, Mocha Mousse is set to leave an indelible mark on the world of colour and creativity.

Photos: Pantone Image Institute, Architectural Digest (also courtesy Graham and Brown)