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For many people who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same standard-issue magnolia walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This year, the influential color company has designated white as its annual hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-evaluating the importance of stillness".

It marks the first time a pure white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread urge to slow down, reset and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals occupy.

Others argue that framing white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing societal dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond aesthetics, noting that white holds cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "wealth, order and distance from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies goodness".

The designer points to the global health crisis as a defining period in how people interact with their homes.

"Suddenly they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now risks amplifying "a sense of emptiness", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can easily feel clinical at home," she explains.

"White can feel harsh and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to emit a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "living spaces should spark joy and feel inviting and welcoming, and this hue seems quite distant from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "unabashed joyful interior design", using colour to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and refined rather than severe".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a peaceful, restful ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

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

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly amid ongoing discussions about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

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