Pantone Color of the Year 2025
DESIGN TRENDS
For 2025, the Pantone Colour Institute has selected PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse as the Colour of the Year. This warm, rich brown hue evokes the comforting allure of chocolate and coffee, perfectly addressing our desire for cosiness and warmth.
The selection process
The Pantone Color of the Year programme sparks conversations about the profound connection between colour and culture. Each year, the chosen hue reflects extensive cultural research, capturing global moods and trends in design, entertainment, art, and fashion. The result is a single defining shade that embodies the spirit of the times.
Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, explained: "For Pantone Color of the Year 2025, we look to a mellow brown hue whose inherent richness and comforting warmth satisfies our desire for simplicity and indulgence. Mocha Mousse embodies the pleasure of sharing comforting moments with others."
A simple and comforting shade
PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a soft, warming brown exuding earthy sophistication. Its versatility allows it to stand out as a bold, singular hue or serve as a reliable foundation for a variety of colour palettes—ideal for both minimalist and intricate designs.
This harmonious shade is a perfect fit for industries where colour trends, interior design, and aesthetic versatility are essential. Its ability to bring comfort and balance makes it suitable for diverse applications, from residential interiors to commercial spaces.
Indulgence in everyday moments
Mocha Mousse encourages thoughtful indulgence, transforming everyday moments into personal luxuries. Its rich, sensorial qualities evoke the comforting essence of cacao, chocolate, and coffee, offering an experience that turns the ordinary into something special.
As a neutral and trend-forward shade, Mocha Mousse fosters harmony and contentment, making it the ideal colour to navigate the complexities of an ever-changing world.
Forbo Flooring and the Pantone Color of the Year
"Pantone’s Color of the Year could not be more aligned with our vision of colour," says Dorothé Kessels, Director of Global Design at Forbo Flooring Systems. "Mocha Mousse, a rich and sophisticated shade of brown, was identified as a key colour group in our most recent global colour card. It has significantly influenced many of our latest collections."
This hue will also feature prominently in Forbo Flooring’s 2025 trend report, Beyond the Surface, where it is explored in innovative contexts.
Brown is more than a colour; it symbolises stability and reflects a growing global trend towards reconnecting with nature-inspired designs. Its warm and nurturing qualities enhance wellbeing, creating a comforting sensory experience in any space.
Dorothé elaborates: "This sentiment is beautifully expressed in our Marmoleum Cocoa range, where the tactile surface adds an extra dimension. The range combines the vibrancy of cocoa husks with the serenity of mineral tones, featuring shades like milk chocolate, meringue, salted caramel, and white chocolate."
The sensory appeal of brown is further embraced in Forbo Flooring’s fifth Mood of the Season, where materials and products evoke feelings of comfort and effortlessness.
The warmth of Mocha Mousse also pairs beautifully with the soft textures of our Tessera and Flotex textile floor coverings, while the luxurious texture of Allura oxidized strata elevates its perception as a sophisticated and timeless colour.
