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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige 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 chosen white as its annual hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of stillness".

It signifies the first time a pure white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a shared urge to slow down, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "insensitive", arguing that promoting sparse and pristine white spaces can seem disconnected from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals call home.

Others contend that framing white as an ideal introduces racial undertones, causing discomfort during ongoing societal dialogues about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the counter-reaction transcends aesthetics, noting that white carries societal connotations and is rarely a innocuous choice.

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

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the concept that impartiality equals goodness".

The designer points to the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Almost instantly they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather out of step".

Rather than offering calm, he contends white now risks intensifying "a sense of desolation", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

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".

Although it may work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can easily feel sterile at home," she explains.

"White can feel stark and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to give clinical feelings."

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be warm and welcoming, and this hue feels quite removed from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to showcase individuality.

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

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a significant trend indicator.

Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

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

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, restful atmosphere".

"Should you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially 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 benefits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

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.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

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

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially during continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Another expert concedes the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury