Pantone’s Mocha Mousse: The Best Mousse Color Combinations
Color enthusiasts: it’s that time of year again! Designers, artists, creators and fashion enthusiasts have been waiting for Pantone to declare what color the world wants to see more of in 2025. Pantone, the company that standardizes color and provides color matching for a range of industries, has named Mocha Mousse as the Color of the Year in 2025. This warm brown shade is definitely bringing the same calmness and happiness vibe as the color of 2024, Peach Fuzz.
As 2025 unfolds, the design world is buzzing with the excitement of PANTONE 17–1230 Mocha Mousse. This “velvety brown infused with warmth and understated sophistication” has taken center stage, promising to inspire creativity across design, fashion, and interior spaces. Let’s explore how to pair this grounding yet luxurious hue to create stunning palettes for your projects.
![Pantone’s color of the year 2025 Mocha Mousse 17–1230.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/pantones-mocha-mousse@2x.jpg)
The Most Velvety Brown Color Combinations
Mocha Mousse offers a comforting and versatile base for various color combinations. Its neutral warmth makes it ideal for creating layered palettes that evoke sophistication and intimacy. Whether used as the main hue or an accent, this color can transform spaces and designs into harmonious, inviting works of art.
The adaptability of Mocha Mousse allows it to seamlessly blend into modern minimalist designs or take on a leading role in eclectic and richly detailed environments. Its ability to anchor bold tones or enhance subtler hues ensures that this color can work across multiple design styles, making it a favorite for both professionals and hobbyists alike.
Mocha & Muted Shades
For a subdued and elegant aesthetic, pair Mocha Mousse with muted tones like soft grays, dusty blues, or desaturated greens. These combinations bring out Mocha Mousse’s understated charm while maintaining a calm, professional vibe. Perfect for minimalist designs, these pairings feel modern and timeless. No doubt the color will bring a new twist to your illustrations.
![Mocha and muted shades illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-muted-shades@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Earth Tones
Earth tones—think ochre, terracotta, and deep olive—complement Mocha Mousse beautifully, amplifying its natural essence. These palettes evoke the richness of the outdoors and are perfect for creating spaces that feel grounded and organic. Use this pairing in interior design to craft earthy yet elevated rooms.
![Mocha and earth tones illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-earth-tones@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Pink
Soft pinks like blush or dusty rose add a romantic dimension to Mocha Mousse. This pairing works beautifully in fashion and branding, creating a balance between warmth and softness. The subtle contrast adds depth while maintaining harmony, making it ideal for feminine and luxurious designs.
![Mocha and pink illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-pink@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Yellow
Golden yellows and mustard tones bring a lively contrast to the velvety nature of Mocha Mousse. This combination exudes optimism and energy while remaining grounded, making it suitable for playful yet sophisticated designs. Consider this palette for retail spaces or creative branding projects.
![Mocha and yellow illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-yellow@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Green
Pairing Mocha Mousse with greens—whether sage, emerald, or moss—creates an effortlessly natural look. These combinations are versatile and can range from serene to dramatic, depending on the intensity of the green. This duo is perfect for eco-conscious branding or biophilic interior designs.
![Mocha and green illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-green@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Orange
Burnt orange or apricot shades enhance the warmth of Mocha Mousse, creating palettes that are both dynamic and cohesive. This pairing is perfect for autumnal themes, evoking a cozy and vibrant atmosphere. Use this combination for seasonal campaigns or bold home decor.
![Mocha and orange illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-orange@2x.jpg)
Mocha & Other Browns
Layering Mocha Mousse with other browns—from sandy beige to deep chocolate—creates a monochromatic yet textured look. This pairing celebrates the spectrum of natural shades, making it ideal for rustic or luxurious interiors. It’s a subtle yet impactful way to showcase the versatility of Mocha Mousse.
![Mocha and other browns illustrations examples.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/mocha-other-browns@2x.jpg)
Pantone’s Peach Fuzz: The Best Peach Color Combinations of 2024
Before we dive too far into 2025’s palette, let’s revisit the effervescent warmth of 2024’s Pantone Color of the Year: Peach Fuzz. This cheerful hue brought a sense of vitality and joy to designs, making it a beloved choice for pairing with vibrant blues, mint greens, and warm terracotta tones. Peach Fuzz’s soft yet radiant quality made it a standout in both modern and classic palettes. It harmonized beautifully with pastel shades for a delicate, springtime feel while also standing up to bold, saturated colors for an eye-catching contrast.
In interiors, Peach Fuzz was often seen in accent pieces, from decorative pillows to painted walls, where it added a burst of cheerful energy. Designers frequently combined it with natural textures and materials, like rattan and raw wood, to emphasize its organic charm. Just as Peach Fuzz found its way into our hearts, Mocha Mousse promises to captivate us with its understated elegance.
![Pantone’s Peach Fuzz: color of the year 2024.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/pantone-peach-fuzz@2x.jpg)
Pantone’s Viva Magenta: The Best Crimson Color Combinations of 2023
The end of the year is a good time to take a retrospective look at Pantone’s Color of the Year choices over the past couple of years. As we look back to Pantone’s Color of 2023, we recall Viva Magenta, the bright vivid pink that stimulated energy and optimism.
Magenta found excellent pairings with the contrasting color green, prompting a rich, elegant feel to art and design. Viva magenta, or crimson has been combined often with blue, for a powerful contrast that can be dramatic. This pair is seen in many sports teams’ themes, conveying strength and unity. In fashion and interior design, crimson and blue gives a luxurious and sophisticated feel. This color is far from peach; it could, however, be used with peach as a definite contrast when a bolder, more powerful shade is needed.
![Pantone Viva Magenta color combination.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/pantone-viva-magenta@2x.jpg)
Pantone’s Very Peri: The Best Purple Color Combinations
Looking back at 2022, Very Peri was the Pantone Color of the Year. The periwinkle blue shade conveyed motivation and relaxing emotions, especially welcome after coming out of a global pandemic state. Hopefulness and happiness are easy to see in many combinations with periwinkle. Flowers like aster, lilac and dwarf iris provide natural examples of periwinkle for artists to take inspiration from.
Combined with white, periwinkle provides a contrast, and is familiar in popular brands like Cadbury. Periwinkle is also a perfect contrasting shade to use with orange, representing fun, strength and energy. It’s also a perfect pair to pink as a complementary shade, especially to arouse an air of femininity or a feeling of nurturing friendship.
![Pantone Very Peri color combination.](/assets/img/articles/pantone-color/pantone-very-peri@2x.jpg)
Conclusion
PANTONE 17–1230 Mocha Mousse is a versatile and inspiring choice for 2025. Its velvety warmth allows it to shine both as a centerpiece and a complementary tone in countless palettes. From muted shades to vibrant oranges, Mocha Mousse offers endless opportunities for creative exploration. Its ability to bridge the gap between bold and neutral tones ensures that it will remain a staple in creative industries throughout the year.
Whether applied in branding, fashion, illustration or interiors, this hue carries a timeless quality that speaks to both tradition and innovation. As we embrace this sophisticated hue, the design world will undoubtedly find new and innovative ways to incorporate it into our everyday lives, solidifying its place as one of the most memorable colors of the decade.