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For those who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a personal attack.

This year, the influential color company has selected a shade of white as its flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-learning the importance of quiet reflection".

It represents the initial instance white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and reflects a widespread urge to slow down, reset and achieve serenity after years of visual overload.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "insensitive", contending that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals occupy.

Some observers propose that presenting white as aspirational risks racial undertones, landing uncomfortably within continuing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white holds cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "affluence, order and removal from disorder".

He elaborates that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the notion that impartiality denotes goodness".

Beaumont cites the global health crisis as a defining period in how people interact with their homes.

"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, noting that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Rather than providing calm, he argues white now risks amplifying "a sense of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can readily seem clinical at home," she explains.

"The color white may seem harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to give a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and be warm and lived-in, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale joyful interior design", using colour to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and versatile".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful trend indicator.

Past choices have included the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels gentle and elegant rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, restful atmosphere".

"Even if you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and drapes."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for design features like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to focus on shape, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also holds presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially amid continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "companies address that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice at first surprised her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury