Pantone announces Colour of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse 17-1230

Mocha Mousse (Pantone 17-1230) has been announced as the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2025. As the global authority on colour, Pantone’s annual choice is said to capture society’s mood and attitude.

In a press release announcing the colour, Pantone says the choice echoes the collective desire for connection and harmony, with suggestions of chocolate and coffee appealing “to our desire for comfort”.

According to Pantone Colour Institute’s vice president Laurie Pressman, the hue reflects “the indulgence of the simple pleasures that we can share with others.”

The colour is comforting yet elegant – reflecting a broader trend in how we create our cosiest spaces – our homes. Folk Studio co-founder and director Mariah Burton has seen an increasing number of clients embracing earthy tones like Mocha Mousse.

“Recently, we’ve noticed a growing interest in moving away from white. Many of our clients recognise that using white as the primary tone in every room can sometimes feel sterile or less thoughtfully designed,” says Burton.

For those hesitant to risk selecting bold colours, Burton believes colours like Mocha Mousse are the perfect middle ground.

“Shades of coffee, clay, muted pinks, and nudes serve as a beautiful bridge, bringing warmth and character to any space,” says Burton.

For those looking to draw inspiration from Pantone 17-1230 in their own home, Burton suggests opting for Mocha Mousse in areas like bedrooms and living rooms.

“This colour works beautifully on walls or as a large rug, creating a stunning base to pair with other tones. Mocha is a timeless hue that evokes a sense of calm, making it an excellent choice for spaces where we gravitate to relax,” says Burton.

Deakin University marketing professor Josh Newton says research has explored the associations consumers have with the general colour of brown.

“In one recent study, for example, the colour brown was associated among English-speaking participants with meanings of ‘old’, ‘boring’ and ‘dirty’. Put differently, brown colours tend to signal stability, tradition, and ‘earthiness’,” Newtown says.

“With an increasingly uncertain geopolitical context, and cost of living pressures being felt in nations around the world … Pantone’s Mocha Mousse is perhaps a fitting choice for our current moment in time.”