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SAM WYLIE-HARRIS looks at how to style Pantone's 2025 Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse - a warm, creamy brown that'll be just your cup of Joe...

- SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

THE story behind Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2025, Mocha Mousse, is one of inviting 'sensorial warmth into home decor and interior design', according to the Pantone pros.

Every year the experts at the Colour Institute make their prediction for the hue which best expresses the current climate and year to come - 2024's Peach Fuzz, a gentle peach tone, caught our eye with its sense of playfulness and this latest pick is full of promise.

Cited as 'a warming brown hue imbued with richness' with 'delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort', with a 'tasteful touch of glamour' for good measure.

Celebrating the beauty of brown, it's all about creating a calming aesthetic with creamy cappuccino and espresso in the mix... And one that's resonating with designers.

"I think it is a fitting shade for 2025 and sets the precedent for comfortable luxury and grounded elegance within our homes," says interior designer Tommy Kebbson of Kebbson & Co.

"It's a colour that can belong with the minimalist, neutral tones which were so popular in 2024, but it also gives way for a brighter colour palette that lets you incorporate pops of colour with the grounding base of Mocha Mousse."

Moreover, as designers begin to step away from the popular neutrals of years gone by, Tommy thinks Mocha Mousse is a great example of a versatile shade as it can be incorporated into a colour palette of light pinks, deep purples or blues.

"This can build a colourful, fun profile alongside Mocha Mousse as the foundation colour," he says.

Daniela Venturini, Wayfair's art director and trend forecaster is also a fan: "Mocha Mousse captures a global longing for comfort, contentment, and everyday indulgence.