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For many people who has spent years renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This time around, 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 described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of stillness".

It represents the first time a pure white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and signifies a collective desire to slow down, recalibrate and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have branded the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Additional critics contend that positioning white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably within ongoing societal conversations about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction transcends aesthetics, noting that white bears deeper meanings and is seldom a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "wealth, control and distance from disorder".

He elaborates that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality signifies virtue".

Beaumont points to the pandemic as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.

"Almost instantly they became our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, adding that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he contends white now threatens to amplifying "a sense of bleakness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a Surrey based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may work in highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says bright whites rarely create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily feel sterile at home," she explains.

"White can feel stark and demanding and you don't want your home to give a medical atmosphere."

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

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to express personality.

A representative 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, providing a refined neutrality that feels intentional and versatile".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a powerful trend indicator.

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, 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 appear simple, "this specific hue seems gentle and elegant rather than severe".

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

"Should you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

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

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, way of life and privilege, stating: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing discussions about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "companies address that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury