Pantone’s colour of the year for 2025 has been announced. PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, is soft and chocolaty, full of depth and richness. And, it’s about time it was recognised!
Brown is not a centre-of-attention colour. It tends to be more behind the scenes, acting as the background for other hues to shine. Wooden floorboards, credenzas, picture frames and stair bannisters, brown is the foundation of the home, and in 2025, it will apparently be the star of the show.
Brown is having its moment
Let’s face it, shades of brown have been extremely popular in recent years. From a 70s revival among youthful home decor and fashion, to the social media DIYers stripping back bad renos to expose hidden floorboards, brown is already a superstar. While brown may remind you of your 1970s brown velvet couch in the living room, or the 90s kitchen cupboards with a painted tile splashback underneath, this particular shade of brown is a bit different.
Mocha Mousse leans more into the cooler side of chocolate and delves much more into the modern. The Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, describes it as “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, it (Mocha Mousse) extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.”
So, the question is, how are we going to embrace it in the home?
Adding Mocha Mousse to your colour palette
Pantone, the universal colour company, described this colour as an ‘answer to the desire for comfort. With 2024’s colour of the year being the cosy ‘Peach Fuzz’ it is unsurprising that comfort is still top of mind. Taking Mocha Mousse into your home may seem tricky, but remember, brown is no longer a background colour, instead it can be put straight in the spotlight!
Instead of reaching for foundation pieces, like large furniture or a leather couch, opt for items that can stand out as ‘luxe’ yet comfortable. Think blankets, cushions and soft furnishings that fulfil that cosy desire while still feeling contemporary and ‘lush’ as Eiseman describes. To help you out, I’ve found my favourite 3 pieces that encapsulate Mocha Mousse, and will bring it to life in the home:
01
Snowy throw
$104.30 (usually $149), Freedom
Lean right into the comfort that brown brings with a fluffy, soft throw. This one from Freedom reminds us of cold days in a snowy, European town. It may be the midst of summer in Australia, but your couch doesn’t need to know that. Having a luxurious material throw draped over your lounge is all you need while the weather is hot.
02
High St hand-painted vase with handles
$74.99, Temple & Webster
Add a bit of artistry to your shelves with a vase that’s been hand-painted in the rich colouring of Mocha Mousse. It’s the perfect juxtaposition between feeling like you’re in Ancient Rome and a contemporary 21st-century home.
03
Circ-knitted cushion boucle
$54.95, James Lane
Finally, white boucle may have already had it’s moment, but coloured boucle is still the big thing in the design world. This boucle cushion will give your couch or bed beautiful texture, and give brown it’s chance to shine in the centre of all the drama.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
