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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same standard-issue magnolia walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a disappointing choice.

This time around, the influential color company has chosen a shade of white as its flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "billowy" which "acts as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-evaluating the value of quiet reflection".

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

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and embodies a widespread yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of sensory saturation.

But some detractors have branded the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes everyday individuals inhabit.

Additional critics argue that framing white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably during current societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, arguing that white bears societal connotations and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and removal from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality denotes goodness".

The designer references the global health crisis as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather disconnected".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now risks heightening "a sense of bleakness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can easily seem sterile at home," she explains.

"The color white may seem harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to emit hospital vibes."

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using colour to express individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant industry signal.

Past choices have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even consumer electronics, influencing how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear basic, "this specific hue feels soft and refined rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says championing white seems "less about novelty and more about intention", indicating a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially during continuing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury