Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse and It’s Uh…

It’s great.

Pantone announced its 2025 color of the year, and the internet is abuzz with a general disdain for the soft brown.

PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse debuted as the it-color of 2025, and while it might not be as glamorous as last year’s Peach Fuzz, I (controversially?)…love it.

Listen, I’ve been working at Looka for a VERY long time. I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of user-generated logos, and if there’s one thing folks entering the world of brand and design could learn to incorporate better– it’s how to use neutrals.

It’s been a long while since we’ve seen a neutral slide in as the Pantone color of the year. In fact, the last decade of Pantone colors consists of bright, bold, charismatic hues. But a soft neutral? Who is she?

Add Mocha Mousse to your logo now!

The essence of Mocha Mousse

The Pantone color of the year is more than just a color swatch– it’s an attempt to synthesize what’s swimming in the cultural zeitgeist at the time.

“PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort.” –Pantone

This year’s shade is meant to invoke a rich sensory experience, inviting you to dip your spoon into it. Executive Director Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman, says the color of the year  is “sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic.”

How to use Pantone’s 2025 color of the year

Looking for colors to pair with PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse?  This versatile shade can be beautifully paired with a range of hues.

Mocha Mousse with a pop of color

Mocha Mousse is best served with a bit of contrast. This mellow brown does a great job of grounding any color palette. From pastel colors to bright neons, Mocha Mousse offers a calming neutral to any color combination.

Pairing this year’s Pantone color of the year with brighter colors can help add a visual hierarchy to anything you’re designing.

Mocha Mousse in a warm monochrome palette

There’s something a bit…spicy about this year’s Pantone color of the year. Words like “delicious,” “pleasure,” and “decadence” have been used to describe this rich brown. So, why not pair it with some equally warm and spicy colors? A monochrome palette makes for beautiful aesthetic visuals. We love it paired with burgundy, clay-orange, and coral-red.

Mocha Mousse in an earthy color palette

Add Pantone’s 2025 color of the year to any moodboard to warm up your designs and add depth. Here, we’ve paired it with similar earthy colors found in the natural world– a mossy green, and a deep brown.

Try adding Mocha Mousse to your brand and watch it come alive!

The symbolism of Pantone’s 2025 color of the year

PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse rests elegantly between modernity and timeless beauty. It’s both sophisticated and unpretentious– encouraging us to lean into our senses and delight in the simple pleasures of life.

This year’s color invites a comforting warmth, something we could all use right now.

Use PANTONE 17-1230 to enliven your logo designs with sensorial elegance. Check out some of the designs below made in Looka’s logo maker.

What is the HEX code for the Pantone color of the year 2024?

While Pantone uses its own color system, we’ve pulled a HEX code that’s a near-perfect match to this year’s 2025 Pantone color of the year. Enjoy!

Mocha Mousse HEX code: #9e7a68

With that, we bid Peach Fuzz farewell and welcome the thoughtful indulgence of Mocha Mousse. Happy designing!

Get started today!

Use Looka's AI-powered platform to create a logo, design a website, and build a brand you love.