A wave of new neutrals makes headlines as color specialists rally understated hues that imbue comfort, harmony, and nature. This is good news for paint companies, shifting those warm, homely palettes onto walls—and bad news for brat green, which feels so… last year.

Mocha Mousse, a rich, chocolatey brown, was announced as the color of 2025 by Pantone in December 2024. “Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic,” announced Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe.” Perhaps in a nod to shades of quiet luxury and indulgent desserts, Eiseman says the color is “underpinned by our desire for everyday pleasures.” (See Affordable affluence, pXX, to see how daily indulgences have identity-shaping importance.)

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Mocha Mousse, Pantone Color of the Year 2025. Image courtesy of Pantone Color Institute

The earthy tone is a harmonious shade that works well alongside a range of colors. Fashion lines including Loro Piana and Max Mara have opted for an elegant array of neutrals for their spring/summer 2025 collections, which span beiges and tans to grays and browns. It’s a departure from the usual bold and bright colors associated with those seasons and a nod to an unpretentious, yet grounding year ahead.

Sherwin-Williams took a different approach this year. Rather than heralding a sole color to capture the mood of 2025, the US-based paint company curated its first Color Capsule of the Year, with nine shades. Ranging from Grounded, an earthy brown, to Sunbleached, a warm off-white, the capsule is rooted in elemental neutrals that are modern and balanced.

Other paint companies also agreed on restorative and warm tones to capture the year ahead. Californian-based Dunn-Edwards selected Caramelized, an earthy light brown. C2 Paint picked Raku, a deep and sophisticated burgundy which is “an expression of balance, comfort, and timeless elegance,” says Philippa Radon, C2 Paint color. And Benjamin Moore paint company chose Cinnamon Slate, a slick and modern plum-brown, to represent 2025.

The mood set for 2025 is set around enriching comforts (think indulgent coffees or desserts) as well as sophistication and confidence (that’s the understated luxury speaking up). Be prepared for a grounding experience that shifts away from maximalist glitz and bright, brash bolds to homey and humbling elegance.

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