I've always loved a pop of blue, red, or yellow in an otherwise neutral space. And while I admire anyone who can masterfully combine all three, blue has always been my clear favorite. Now, IKEA has officially crowned 'Electric Blue' as their 2025 Color of the Year. Inspired by the seas and skies, Electric Blue is a hue that IKEA describes as “contemplative and calm, yet versatile enough for modern and traditional spaces.”
Whether you’re looking to refresh a bedroom, energize a living room, or add a cool pop to your kitchen, this happy, bold shade delivers in the form of wall art, plush throws, or statement-making furniture. The best part? It plays well with others. Pair it with sunny yellows, vibrant oranges, soft lavenders, or even a daring hot pink. Will you be embracing this blue wave in 2025? From rugs and pillows to accessories and more, here are our top picks to embrace the new year with a splash of blue.
Wayfair
This playful elephant trunk design calls for a color that doesn't take itself too seriously, creating a look that's minimalist and modern yet anything but boring.
IKEA
This yarn-dyed throw feels just like mohair and it's made from recycled materials. It's a great way to commit to this bright color while on a budget.
West Elm
This 100% wool rug is actually washable and adds a bit of play and pop of blue to any space.
IKEA
These stacking stools are so versatile and can be added to the corner of any room for extra seating or tables.
Urban Outfitters
This cylindrical side table is perfect for holding your best reads, phone, other bedside essentials.
IKEA
This affordable bed frame will brighten up your bedroom and day.
Amazon
For just $10, you can channel your own Blue Period with this striking and eclectic gallery wall.
Etsy
Designer Lex Pott combined both base and candle so you don't need a candle holder. Brilliant idea and color!
IKEA
Pull up a chair in Electric Blue with this upholstered piece that works in dining rooms, kitchens, and offices.
All Modern
This 100% hand-tufted New Zealand wool rug makes a bold statement with simple geometric shapes.
IKEA
This wavy mirror in Electric Blue pairs perfectly with the IKEA BLÅSVERK Table Lamp in the same color.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Finally — a Pantone Color of the Year that I can totally get on board with. PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse is a deliciously warm brown that blends two of my favorite things: coffee and chocolate. This cozy, yet refined hue is the ultimate neutral for anyone embracing the earthy tones that make your home decor feel grounded, organic, and effortlessly elevated. It's rich without being overpowering, with a muted sophistication (think: coffee with a splash of cream) that instantly warms up a space. Pantone describes it as the color of comfort, and I couldn’t agree more.
“Mocha Mousse is the perfect choice for 2025," says designer Ashely Stark. "Mocha Mousse offers endless possibilities for decorating, whether it’s through a plush rug, a soothing carpet, or as a base for bold pops of color like deep jewel tones or metallics. This versatile shade opens up a world of design options, making it a timeless and adaptable addition to any space." Ready to infuse your home with a Mocha Mousse aesthetic? Here are 15 easy ways to embrace the look for 2025.
Anthropologie
Velvet is making everything cozy for 2025 and this lovely set with mocha tones will instantly refresh your bed for the season.
McGee & Co.
This plaid pillow in 100% linen is luxe yet approachable for that sophisticated McGee vibe, mocha style!
McGee & Co.
This warm plaid pattern, designed in collab with Loeffler Randall, is a perfect pairing for your mocha decor.
Lulu and Georgia
This handwoven rug feels organic, fresh and modern with a literal grounding palette.
Pottery Barn
This luxe faux mink fur in deep brown and creamy tones is the throw we want to cozy up with all winter.
Lights and Lamps
The mocha cast in this concrete lamp is stunning in a bedroom or living room.
Minted
This abstract print of a mountain and river landscape is earthy and modern and perfect for your wall decor. Pair it with Earthy Cascade II.
Pottery Barn
Ceramics have a way of making a home feel less sterile. The organic shape and rustic finish of these vessels are gorgeous in any mocha decor.
CB2
Inspired by midcentury Murano glass, this handblown brown glass vase by goop transitions from clear to earthy brown and looks lovely with a dried or fresh bouquet.
Lulu and Georgia
Let the overstuffed arms hug you while you read a book in this inviting accent chair.
Joybird
Get cozy in this dreamy oversized sectional with so many pillows, perfect for your winter weekend Netflix binge!
Sherwin Williams
This muted chocolate neutral is perfect in a home office or living room. Try it as an accent wall or go full color drenching.
Benjamin Moore
This color literally looks like a whipped mocha delivered straight from your favorite barista.
Graham & Brown
This mocha leans into the warmer side, bringing a warm, inviting and luxe feel to a room.
Wayfair
Lean into natural colors like creamy whites, beige, and taupe for a sophisticated mocha vibe. Olive, greige, and burgundy reds with a smidge of gold will also bring out the mocha warmth for 2025!
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Tourism can be a blessing for the economy of many cities around the world, but it often comes at a price. Destinations like Venice and Bali are iconic for a reason — they’re unique, breathtaking places that lure travelers from around the globe. But when a travel destination becomes too popular, it risks losing its charm and overcrowding can strain infrastructure, inflate costs for locals, and disrupt the peace and quiet of small, serene towns.
Here are 12 destinations that have struggled with overtourism. The good news? Many are implementing smart strategies to balance tourism with sustainability. Planning to visit? Consider booking during the off-season for a more authentic and enjoyable experience or try these hidden gems.
Once an idyllic paradise, Bali now suffers from traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and overcrowded beaches. The island’s resources are strained under the weight of mass tourism, but there are efforts underway to promote sustainability like putting a moratorium on new hotels.
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Overtourism has led to erosion and damage to this ancient Incan citadel. A quota system and mandatory guides are helping preserve this popular South American destination.
Once a tranquil paradise known for its pristine beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, and eco-chic vibe, Tulum has become a cautionary tale of overtourism. The surge in popularity, fueled by Instagram-worthy scenery, has brought overcrowding, environmental strain, and rising costs. The Guardianreported that locals are being pushed out by developers and despite the thinking that tourism helps local communities, poverty nearly doubled between 2015 and 2020. Local ecosystems, including fragile mangroves and coral reefs, are threatened by unchecked construction and pollution too. The local ruins have implemented stricter rules like no food or drink to limit trash and environmental impact from tourists.
Instagram fame has turned this once-serene island into a tourist hotspot. Narrow streets are perpetually clogged, and locals are struggling with soaring costs of living due to tourism demand. The government has since capped the number of daily cruise ship visitors to keep overtourism at bay.
Known for its colorful cliffside villages and breathtaking coastal views, these once-quiet fishing towns now see millions of visitors annually, way more than they can handle. To combat issues like congestion and cruise ships, local authorities have introduced visitor caps and encourage sustainable travel to protect Cinque Terre’s charm.
Is there anyone not going to Iceland these days? A small country with breathtaking landscapes, Iceland has been overwhelmed by tourists flocking to Instagram-famous sites like the Blue Lagoon and Diamond Beach. It's best to travel during the off season (November to April) and travel to lesser known spots like the Sturlungalaug hot spring.
This iconic beach, popularized by the DiCaprio film The Beach, suffered ecological devastation from hordes of visitors and anchored boats. Coral reefs were destroyed, and the beach was closed for years to allow recovery. It has since reopened after a huge revitalization project, but they have introduced visitor caps.
Traditionally quiet streets of this ancient capital city now teem with tourists during peak season. An increase in litter from tourists has required the city to install more trash bins to handle the crowds, and peaceful geishas are often chased down for photos. To mitigate the problem, Kyoto is considering running special buses to popular sites to reduce overcrowding, and temples and shrines are encouraging visitors to come early in the morning.
The ultimate challenge for adventurers, Mount Everest has experienced overcrowding on the slopes and at base camps, leading to dangerous conditions, with litter and human waste piling up on the mountain. Permits are now harder to get, and stricter regulations for climbers are being enforced.
The Game of Thrones effect brought an influx of fans to this medieval city. Overcrowded streets and cruise ship arrivals have made it difficult to appreciate its beauty. The local government is taking steps to limit daily visitors and impose stricter cruise ship regulations.
Short-term rentals dominate the housing market now, thanks to affordable flights and the digital nomad craze. This has led to skyrocketing rents and displaced locals. Historic neighborhoods are inundated with tourists, making them less charming too. Everything from public transport to waste management struggles to keep pace with the influx. I went in December and it still felt a bit like Disneyland. Douro Valley and Madeira might be more favorable destinations any time of year.
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Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.
If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.
The Noshery
These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)
Broma Bakery
French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)
Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)
Fancy Peasant
These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)
Very Eatalian
The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)
Cooking Classy
These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)
Olivia’s Cuisine
If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)
Cilantro Parsley
These tender miniature fritters from Mexico are a mix between a donut and cookie. Whatever you want to call them, they’re delicious. (via Cilantro Parsley)
Chef Lindsey Farr
The Hungarians definitely know what’s up when tart apricot jam gets wrapped in a blanket of flaky pastry. They’re a bright spot on a cold Christmas day. (via Chef Lindsey Farr)
Life, Love and Sugar
In the United States, a plate of these festively decorated sugar cookies is just what Santa ordered. (via Life, Love and Sugar)
Saveur
You’ll find these simple pecan shortbread cookies all over Mexico around this time of year. The coating of powdered sugar and canela, a type of Mexican cinnamon, really bring the flavor to the next level. (via Saveur)
A Healthy Life for Me
These Italian Christmas cookies are made of a chewy almond base and topped with pine nuts. (via A Healthy Life for Me)
Fancy Peasant
These Greek Christmas cookies feature a buttery biscuit topped with mass amounts of powdered sugar. (via Fancy Peasant)
Does your family have a traditional cookie recipe for the holidays? Tag us @BritandBo in your Instagram photos and let us know!
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.
Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.
