How to Use the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year in Your Home

Each year, Pantone unveils a Color of the Year that sets the tone for design trends across interiors, fashion, and beyond. For 2025, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse takes center stage. This rich, earthy brown evokes the indulgence of fine chocolate, the comfort of your favorite morning coffee, and the timeless grounding of natural tones.

Mocha Mousse isn’t just a color; it’s a mood—one that invites warmth, depth, and versatility into any space. From creating cozy, nature-inspired interiors to layering it with metallics for a more contemporary flair, the design possibilities are as endless as the shades it complements.

We’ve teamed up with top designers and industry experts to explore the best ways to bring Mocha Mousse into your home. From accent walls and statement furniture to subtle touches like textiles and accessories, the potential of this stunning shade is endless.

If you’re ready to embrace the luxurious warmth of Mocha Mousse– let’s dive in!

Let’s Talk Tile

Brown is a versatile color that can work well with various themes, from rustic to modern. Roca Tile recommends using the color in your tiles to make a statement. Designing a bar kitchen with Harmony Moka Tiles by Roca Tile draws attention, creating a warm, inviting, and stylish space. Pair it with lighter or neutral cabinetry, such as white, cream, or gray, to balance the darker tones of the Harmony tiles.

When designing with a bold brown tile such as Roca’s Absolute Brown, lighting matters. Install warm-toned lighting, such as pendant lights or under cabinet lighting, to bring out the richness of the tiles. Aim to create a visual balance. Brown can sometimes feel heavy, so balance it out by introducing other lighter, neutral, colors in the furniture, countertops, and decor.

For all of Roca Tile’s offerings visit them online.

Dress It Up

Mocha Mousse brings a sense of effortless sophistication to dressing rooms and closets, transforming these often-overlooked spaces into curated retreats. According to Staci Munic Interiors, the richness of this shade provides a warm, neutral foundation that beautifully showcases clothing and accessories while adding depth and character to the space.

Beyond aesthetics, Mocha Mousse fosters a sense of serenity, turning the daily routine of getting dressed into a luxurious experience. The color pairs seamlessly with elegant lighting, plush seating, and custom shelving, enhancing both style and functionality. Whether used on walls, cabinetry, or upholstered elements, its inviting tone creates a boutique-like atmosphere—one that feels polished yet deeply personal.

For more color inspiration visit Staci Munic Interiors online.

Monochromatic Color

Reflecting on how home design has evolved in recent years shows the shift in color focus. Gray tones dominated for a while, but the rise of “greige”—a warmer take on gray– moved us away from cooler shades. Now, brown is making a comeback, and we’re seeing even warmer, more inviting designs on the way as evidenced by Pantone’s pick of Mocha Mousse.

If you’re looking for a more cohesive look without strong contrast, Skyline Window Coverings suggests opting for a monochromatic color scheme. This approach uses different tones from the same color family, creating a gentle shift in color that keeps the overall vibe soft and harmonious. This can work well when you pair the draperies with other design elements in a space.

Photos by Meagan Conrad

To create a monochromatic look with your draperies, visit Skyline Window Coverings online for product offerings.

Introduce It Through Art

Incorporating Mocha Mousse into a space goes beyond paint and furnishings— according to Casa Bella art plays a key role in bringing warmth and depth to a design.

Celadon Art offers a curated selection of rich, sophisticated pieces that seamlessly complement this indulgent hue. Whether the aesthetic leans traditional or contemporary, their extensive collection of framed artwork provides countless options to enhance any interior.

Explore their selection through your Casa Bella representative or online at casabellaonline.com.

History In Color

Mocha Mousse may be the color of the year, but to see the color’s historical use you can visit the Driehaus Museum’s 1883 Nickerson Mansion. Years ahead of the trend, the luxurious brown can be seen throughout the mansion from the patterned wood floors to polished marble walls and detailed tilework. Ask Gilded Age designers where to use Mocha Mousse, and they’d say, “everywhere, naturally — it’s the height of luxury.”

The secret to balancing Mocha Mousse’s opulent undertones is to balance it with diverse textures and materials. When exploring the Driehaus Museum, you won’t find a drab wash of brown. Instead, you’ll encounter floors so intricate they’re called “wood carpets” and marble not of one variety, but seventeen different types – there’s a reason the building was once nicknamed “The Marble Palace.”

The Museum’s home was built at the height of Gilded Age, when the Aesthetic Movement was the predominant American style for everything from interiors to furniture to decorative arts. It’s when designers and artists insisted on ‘beauty for beauty’s sake.’

To see the full maximalism of Mocha Mousse decadence, visit the Driehaus Museum at 50 E. Erie.

Apply It On Appliances

Mocha Mousse brings warmth and depth to any space, and in the kitchen, even the smallest accents can make a bold impact. At Areté The Art of Design, this rich, earthy tone is used strategically on appliance hardware, seamlessly bridging the gap between sleek white appliances and warm wood shelving or flooring.

The result? A customized, sophisticated look that redefines white appliances, transforming them from traditional to ultramodern focal points. Thoughtful design choices like these create spaces that feel both elevated and inviting.

Incorporating Mocha Mousse into a kitchen is easier than it seems. Pairing it with creams, whites, coppers, ambers, or deep chocolate browns enhances its versatility, making it a natural fit for a variety of styles.

Whether introduced through hardware, backsplashes, bar stools, or lighting, this hue adds richness and character. In Chicago homes, Mocha Mousse is especially impactful during the colder months, bringing a sense of warmth and comfort. More than just a design choice, it’s a conversation starter—proof that a well-curated space never goes unnoticed.

Visit Areté The Art of Design for more design ideas.

Faucet Finishes

When it comes to incorporating Mocha Mousse, don’t get hung up on matching the exact hue. Dornbracht recommends looking for shades that invoke the same feeling of warmth, elegance and natural charm such as their new finish – Brushed Bronze.

With its rich, multifaceted metallic tones, Brushed Bronze effortlessly enhances both traditional and contemporary spaces. This premium finish pairs beautifully with natural materials like wood and stone, creating a refined balance of texture and depth. Whether used for faucets, hardware, or decorative fixtures, it introduces a sense of understated luxury, elevating kitchens and bathrooms with a warm, inviting glow.

Brushed Bronze also offers a timeless appeal, making it a versatile choice for those looking to embrace the Mocha Mousse aesthetic while ensuring longevity in their design choices. Its ability to shift in tone depending on lighting and surrounding materials makes it a dynamic yet classic addition to any well-curated interior.

Discover timeless quality and radiant design that leaves a lasting impression for the bath and kitchen.

Light It Right

Warm, sophisticated, and effortlessly modern, Mocha Mousse creates the perfect foundation for an intimate, design-forward space. According to Lightology, this rich hue is best complemented by softly diffused lighting in warm metallics and smoked glass, casting an inviting, ambient glow.

Sculptural chandeliers and multi-light pendants add depth and drama, enhancing the room’s overall warmth. For a more understated yet refined look, wall sconces in earthy finishes provide balanced illumination, blending ambiance with elegance.

Paired with plush lounge seating, sleek marble or wood surfaces, and textured rugs, this combination transforms any space into a statement of quiet luxury and timeless appeal.

See more Color Of the Year inspired lighting at Lightology online.

Perfect Pairing

Mocha Mousse’s warm brown tone brings a grounded soulful vibe to any room. Mia Rao Design recommends using it as an accent wall with other warm earth tones; green, gold and rust to create a moody, exotic vibe.

It is the perfect complement to bamboo, rattan, leather and stone evoking thoughts of faraway places. A warm deep brown is a softer alternative to black to create a backdrop for colorful art and antiquities.

Mocha Mousse can also create the ultimate sense of cozy. In this nursery, warm wood tones and brown fabrics are paired with an ivory shag rug and soft blue walls. Stuffed animals representing the African Savannah; a large giraffe, elephants, and monkeys, add visual interest for the little one. The sense of calm created by the pallet is a lovely alternative to the traditional baby blues and pinks of a traditional baby’s room.

For more design ideas visit Mia Rao Design.

Show It In Stone

Natural stone offers a seamless way to incorporate warm color trends into interior design, with nature providing an endless palette of rich, organic hues. Precision Stone Design knows that Mocha Mousse effortlessly integrates into a well-designed space, whether as a bold, dramatic element or a softer, more understated touch.

Selecting a stone with dynamic movement and varied tones allows for flexibility as trends evolve. In a custom-designed, stand-alone vanity, Mocha Mousse pairs beautifully with harmonizing shades of white, taupe, green, or even touches of gray and black, creating a timeless and adaptable look.

A striking example of this versatility can be seen in a full slab of Russo Luana Marble, chosen for a kitchen installation. With its intricate veining and diverse coloration, this stone acts as a chameleon, complementing a wide range of hues and enhancing the depth and warmth of Mocha Mousse in any setting.

Visit Precision Stone Design online to see more of their material offerings.

Bring Balance

Mocha Mousse is a rich and luxurious hue, so to incorporate this color into a space requires balance. Material Bank has curated a selection of complementary elements that balance Mocha Mousse’s depth with tranquil tones, creating both commercial and residential spaces that exude understated elegance.

Among their selections, Monogram Appliances’ Induction Cooktop in a sleek silver finish provides a striking contrast, enhancing the warmth of Mocha Mousse. Looking for ways to balance the bold shade will help bring a cohesive element to the look of your design.