Color of the Year, Beyond the Hype

05.09.25 04:39 AM

How to Use Trending Colors in a Timeless Way

Spotlight on 2025’s Color Picks

**Benjamin Moore: Cinnamon Slate 2113-40**

Benjamin Moore describes Cinnamon Slate as “a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown,” a hue that bridges warmth and depth with elegant restraint. It’s central to their Color Trends 2025 palette—ten “quietly colorful” shades designed to transition gracefully from room to room Benjamin MooreArchitectural Digest. Andrea Magno, the brand's director of color marketing, emphasizes how this rich yet versatile shade offers enduring style and modern sensibility Benjamin MooreArchitectural Digest.

The palette includes:

Cinnamon Slate 2113-40
Sea Salt CSP-95 (a calming light neutral)
Leather Saddle Brown 2100-20, Chowning’s Tan CW-195 (earthy brown tones)
Tissue Pink 1163 (soft blush)
Stained Glass CSP-685, Ashwood Moss 1484, Rosepine 461, Paris Rain 1501 (muted greens and gray-blues)
Glacier White OC-37 (crisp and versatile) Benjamin Moore+1

Design experts note Cinnamon Slate’s chameleon-like quality—it can appear brown, plum, or even gray depending on lighting and surrounding tones. Its balanced undertones make it work across a range of styles and spaces Architectural DigestReal Simple.

**Pantone: Mocha Mousse 17-1230**

Pantone’s selection, Mocha Mousse, is a warm brown imbued with richness and subtle reddish or mauve undertones. It reflects a cultural shift toward “quiet luxury,” favoring calm, earthy tones that feel comforting rather than ostentatious VogueEl País. Vogue highlights the shade’s versatility, noting how its silky textures pair elegantly with blues, turquoises, or pinks Vogue.

The Times praises Mocha Mousse for its ease and adaptability in home decor—perfect for leather pieces, clay vases, paneling, or even as a color-drenched backdrop layered with cream and cocoa tones The Times.

Key Insights: Making Trend Colors Last

1. Treat the Trend as Inspiration, Not Instruction

These colors are invitations—not mandates. Cinnamon Slate and Mocha Mousse offer a starting point—not a design dictate.

2. Anchor the Moment in Timeless Foundations

Both hues gain longevity when grounded in classic materials—think oak, marble, neutral linen, or matte black accents. These foundations create stability and balance.

3. Use Color in Thoughtful Layers

Rather than full-room applications, start with accents: a painted cart, textured pillow, or ceramic object. Let the trend color breathe within a broader palette.

4. Let the Emotion Lead

Choose hues that resonate—bring warmth, tranquility, joy. If a shade connects emotionally, it becomes part of your personal aesthetic—not just a trend.

5. Explore in Transitional Spaces

Try boldness in rooms like powder baths, entries, or mudrooms. These spaces welcome play and evolve with your style over time.

Final Thought

The 2025 color picks from Benjamin Moore and Pantone represent the current desire for grounded sophistication and sensory comfort. But design isn’t about chasing what’s currently trending—it’s about weaving those ideas into something deeply personal and timeless.

Let these colors inspire your narrative—not define it. And always ask: Which colors make a space feel truly like home?