Top trend: How to indulge in Mocha Mousse

For the past 26 years, the experts at the Pantone Colour Institute (PCI) have been choosing a colour of the year based on emerging trends in fashion, interior design, pop culture and human psychology.

The first colour of the year, in 1999, was Sky Blue, and this year it's Mocha Mousse, which the institute says is "a warming, brown hue imbued with richness that nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort".

The idea of choosing a colour of the year is to highlight the relationship between colour and culture and to find a single shade that speaks to the global mood. And Mocha Mousse, says the PCI, is an unpretentious but sophisticated classic that reflects the widespread desire for quiet contentment and "personal luxury" - the space and time to indulge in simple and familiar pleasures that we can also gift and share with others.

And with that in mind, we've come up with a few easy ways that you can bring this harmonious colour into your home environment. These include:

*Using Mocha Mousse as the primary colour for an accent wall in a living room, dining room or bedroom to provide an understated, elegant backdrop;

* Updating your décor with textured throws or cushions in Mocha Mousse as well as complementary colours like cream, taupe, lavender or willow green for a layered look of comfort that won't date by next year;

* Incorporating Mocha Mousse into curtains, towels or bedding for a subtle yet cohesive touch, or just adding single items like vases, lampshades or ceramic planters for an immediate trend update; and

* Introducing Mocha Mousse in kitchens or bathrooms through cabinetry, backsplash tiles or countertops that will pair beautifully with natural materials like wood and stone - and give you many years of tranquil enjoyment.