Every winter, the world’s design authorities share their color choices for the upcoming year. One of the top firms in this space, Pantone, just announced that its 2025 Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse (17-1230) and described it this way: “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.” And who couldn’t use some comfort this season?

Is this a color you’d embrace for your own home – or that of your clients? Should you? And if so, how and where should Mocha Mousse show up? I reached out to a range of professionals for their input, both by email and in social media groups for interior designers.

Wellness Impact of Room Color

Color expert Amy Wax commented in one of the designer groups, “My thoughts on Mocha Mousse is that it speaks to our desire to be surrounded by colors that give us a feeling of peacefulness and tranquility. As a color in the neutral family, it is simple and warm, allowing us to be creative with it. Mocha Mousse lets us take on the feeling of being cozy, warm, and secure all at the same time.”

Resale Impact of Room Color

Color choices can impact not just the feelings you experience in your home or its style, but potentially its resale value. If you’re planning on selling soon, it’s something to keep in mind. I reached out by email to Manhattan-based real estate agent Matthew Melinger for his real estate take on color for home sales. There is definitely a connection, he wrote: “These days, room color and the way a space is curated can and will get you top dollar for your listing.”

When it comes to Pantone’s 2025 COTY, Melinger wrote, “I like Mocha Mousse as a neutral; but I fear that, while it’s wonderful we’re moving into a new era of neutral tones, it has the propensity to get played out.” He predicted that its appeal will be fairly short-lived: “Just like the ‘millennial gray’ palette that was very popular in the 2010s, this could easily be seen as trendy and outdated in a few years.”

Source: Forbes.com