The comforting hue plays well with pastels, neutrals, and even bold jewel tones, showcasing a soft versatility
Dessert browns have been in trend for a while now, making Pantone’s announcement of Mocha Mousse as the 2025 Color of the Year a perfect representation of the sweet trend. What makes Mocha Mousse special is its versatility. Pantone describes the color as “a flavorful brown shade,” a “delectable” hue that balances and complements a range of other colors and moods.
Mocha Mousse evokes the classic, “quiet luxury” feel, as Elle describes. Fitting well among neutrals, it also adds “unexpected depth” to brights and pastels. If you plan to make Mocha Mousse your main neutral this year, check out these other ways to pair the color.
Pastels
The soft brown of mocha works well with the light, softness of pastel hues, particularly soft candy shades like sky blue, soft pink, lavender, butter, and beige.
Bejeweled tones
Balance out Mocha Mousse’s softness by pairing it with bold jewel tones. Emerald green or sapphire blue may be clear standouts.
Monochromatic
Match Mocha Mousse with other dessert brown shades, like chocolate and caramel, or other warm browns like camel, tan, or taupe.
Earth tones
In their announcement, Pantone noted that the shade takes inspiration from nature, and honestly, there’s no better place to get color combination pegs, too. Pair Mocha Mousse with grassy greens, or even shades of sage and seafoam.
Going vintage
Both deep and muted reds and purples along with neutral browns dominate the image of vintage, so it’s no surprise that whether it’s through fashion or interior design, these pair well with Pantone’s Color of the Year.