2025 Colors of the Year Round Up

As we prepare for 2025, color of the year picks are already sparking excitement among interior designers. Every year, the choices for Color of the Year by Pantone and popular paint companies are a snapshot of the world—its hopes, its challenges, and its collective mood. This year, the 2025 Colors of the Year reflect a mood of uncertainty and the desire to feel grounded and reassured. They have an eye for nostalgia and a connection to the earth. Many companies also spoke about choosing colors that are beyond trendy. They want colors that will serve as a base or a backdrop from which to add personal expression.

Let’s dive in and explore the top choices defining the color conversation in interior design for 2025. 

2025 Colors of the Year 

Let’s start with Pantone. Each year their pick transcends a specific industry. Rather than just focus on fashion or interiors, Pantone speaks to the culture at large. This year, Pantone’s pick for Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse.

“Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence. Sophisticated and lush, yet at the same time an unpretentious classic, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse extends our perceptions of the browns from being humble and grounded to embrace aspirational and luxe,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute.

Pantone described this shade of brown as a foundational shade, one that offers and tactile and even flavorful experience. It connects us to nature and inspires authenticity and harmony. It can also be an alternative to black and elevate the everyday with a sense of warmth.

Behr’s pick for 2025 was Rumors, a warm, rich deep ruby red. Announcing their choice, they said, “Now is the time to make a statement.” This color is the closest aligned with the rich burgundies we saw trending on the Fall 2024 runways.  

Benjamin Moore selected Cinnamon Slate as their 2025 pick. They describe this color as a “delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown.” It’s a “nuance color” that “brings a smooth familiarity to any design.” The palettes they created around Cinnamon Slate are restorative, reassuring and “quietly colorful.”   

C2 Paint chose Raku, a color they describe as “earthy, burnt, brownish red with oxidized undertones that infuse spaces with drama and intimacy.” Inspired by the Japanese tea ceremony, Raku is named for a traditional pottery technique. This technique produces unpredictable and variegated patterns. Their color director Philippa Radon said of their choice, “In a world where polarizing views can divide and isolate, Raku offers us a palette that returns us to simple, grounding pleasures.”   

Dunn-Edwards’ color, Caramelized, was inspired by ancient Italy. It is a warm terracotta brown with earthy tones that bring to mind clay roof tiles. They describe their pick as the “ultimate new neutral, this sophisticated color demonstrates versatility, pairing well with various styles, from vintage-inspired interiors to sleek, contemporary spaces that embrace the concept of old is new.” 

Dutch Boy’s Mapped Blue selection is a “beautiful, medium-tone blue with slight yellow undertones.” It adds charm while setting “a timeless foundation in your home, staying on-trend as your personal style evolves.”  

English company Graham and Brown chose Elderton, a rich neutral. “This warm, rich and creamy brown takes its hue from the Elder tree, one of the few native species of tree in the UK.” They see this rich color as blending the human-made and natural world. They envision designers creating rooms with a grounded feeling.  

PPG is the one company that had an eye toward technology in their pick Purple Basil. They see the rise of AI as “fostering unprecedented change and opportunity, leading to a shift from softer, safer palettes to more dynamic, richer hues.” They see this moment in time as one of transformation where consumers are embracing more dynamic colors.   

Rather than pick just one, Sherwin-Williams created a “Color Capsule of the Year.” This collection of nine colors works together to creates a “naturally refined” palette. They believe this capsule will help create homes that are beyond trend and rather focused on expressing the personalities of those living there.   

Valspar’s choice of Encore is an ultramarine. “An anchoring shade that embodies constancy and confidence, lets you create a joyful respite from the ebbs and flows of life.” It is a color they show being used in any room of the house to establish an atmosphere of optimism.    

How does Design Pool’s pick fit in with this round up? 

This year, Design Pool chose It Madders, a color inspired by natural dye. Our goal was to feel connected to where color comes from. As a dye, madder can create a range of shades of red, one for anything we might be feeling.

As we move into 2025, we’re excited to see how these colors will shape design trends. How will they inspire how we live and express ourselves? So, whether you’re refreshing a room, launching a brand, or curating an art piece, these colors are ready to inspire your 2025!