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For many people who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and longing for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

This time around, the renowned color company has designated white as its premier hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "acts as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-learning the value of introspection".

It signifies the initial instance white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and signifies a collective urge to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that promoting minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Others argue that framing white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, landing uncomfortably amid current societal conversations about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism transcends surface appeal, stating that white carries deeper meanings and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and removal from disorder".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the concept that neutrality signifies virtue".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

Instead of offering calm, he contends white now threatens to amplifying "a feeling of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may suit extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in everyday living spaces.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can easily seem sterile at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to give hospital vibes."

She adds that "homes should spark joy and be inviting and welcoming, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that feels intentional and adaptable".

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

Past choices have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

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

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".

"Even if you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and curtains."

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work particularly well as a background for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white seems "less about novelty and more about intention", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

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

But she continues that it also holds presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to lauding white as an ideal, particularly during continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "companies engage with that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Another expert concedes the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury