Color Stories from Shore to Sea
- Melissa Mitchell
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 6
August 27, 2025
More Than a Trend—It’s a Feeling
Every year, designers, decorators, and creatives alike turn their attention to Pantone’s Color of the Year. It’s more than just a forecast—it’s a reflection of what we crave collectively. In 2025, that color is Mocha Mousse, a rich, velvety shade that feels as comforting as it sounds.
Though we’re already halfway through the year, heading into the fall season always makes me pause and revisit the colors that have shaped the months behind us—and how they might evolve as the light changes and our homes shift into cooler-weather mode. Mocha Mousse still feels fresh, relevant, and full of possibility.
As a certified interior decorator and working artist, I find that color isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a powerful tool for creating emotion, memory, and atmosphere. And Mocha Mousse hits a sweet spot: it’s earthy without being heavy, warm without being overwhelming. It invites you in. It says, exhale… you’re home.
It’s also my favorite color for grounding my own home. I’ve used it to create a space that feels calm yet connected—a place where the energy settles the moment you walk through the door.
How to Use It: Coastal Comfort Meets Quiet Sophistication
A warm, brown tone just naturally belongs in coastal décor. When paired with soft whites, driftwood tones, or even a whisper of sea glass blue, Mocha Mousse becomes the grounding element. It adds depth without weight, anchoring a room in coziness.
As an accent color, the magic is in placement and proportion. Try it in small doses—a cluster of warm-toned picture frames, a woven throw, a ceramic vase on your entry table. Or even go bold with cabinetry if you’re feeling brave. For a bigger statement, an accent wall or an upholstered reading chair in this shade can shift the whole feel of a space.
In artwork, Mocha Mousse brings out the richness in sandy landscapes, sepia sketches, and mixed media pieces that tell a layered story. At the gallery, I’ve noticed artists intuitively leaning into this color family—warm neutrals with emotional resonance. It doesn’t shout. It listens.
What Color Says Without Words
Color has always been an unsung language of creativity. It affects how we feel in a space, how we view art, and even how we relate to others. After years of bolder, high-energy hues, Mocha Mousse feels like a collective exhale. It reflects our desire for groundedness, warmth, and meaningful connection—qualities many of us are craving more than ever.
It’s also a reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes the quietest palette can say the most.
From Warmth to Waves: Looking Ahead
If Mocha Mousse is 2025’s cozy exhale, then many color trend forecasters believe the deep, refreshing breath that follows will be Transformative Teal. While Pantone won’t announce their official 2026 Color of the Year until December, respected industry authorities WGSN and Coloro have both named this rich blue-green as their choice.
It’s easy to see why. This tone feels alive in a way only coastal colors can.
It’s a color that works beautifully in Island living—calming yet vibrant, grounded yet full of movement. In decorating, it pairs naturally with shell white, weathered driftwood, and the sandy warmth of Mocha Mousse, creating a palette that feels both sophisticated and effortless.
Bring it in through accent pillows or even a painted front door that welcomes you home with a hint of sea breeze. Powder rooms are a place that always crave a splash of playful charm. In artwork, Transformative Teal adds depth to ocean scenes, contrast to coastal botanicals, and a luminous quality to abstract pieces.
And for those of us who paint, it’s a dream color—full of shadow and light, able to hold stillness and energy in the same stroke. This combination—Mocha Mousse and Transformative Teal—is the perfect balance for Island living: earth and ocean, warmth and coolness, the comfort of home and the pull of open water.
Inspiration All Around
Looking for inspiration? Walk the dunes. Watch the light shift between sand and sea under a cloudy sky. Notice the weathered texture of driftwood, the soft markings on a shell.
If you’re curious how this trend is showing up in art and interiors, stop by the gallery. You’ll see it in subtle tones and bold contrasts, in pieces that invite pause and offer peace.
Because the color of the year isn’t just something to follow—it’s something to feel.
The Art of Island Life will return next week with more stories and creative inspiration from our coastal community. Have a story to share or an upcoming event? Reach out to me at melissa@padreislandartgallery.com.
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