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For those who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a personal attack.

This year, the influential color company has designated a shade of white as its flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "acts as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of stillness".

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

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and reflects a widespread desire to slow down, reset and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that promoting minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes most people call home.

Additional critics argue that presenting white as aspirational carries subtext related to race, causing discomfort during continuing political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and removal from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the concept that neutrality signifies goodness".

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

"Almost instantly they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather tone-deaf".

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

'Sterile Sensations

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

Although it may suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom foster calm in real homes.

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

"The color white may seem stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."

She continues that "living spaces should spark joy and be warm and lived-in, and this hue seems quite distant from that."

The critic 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.

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

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

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

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear simple, "this particular shade seems soft and refined rather than severe".

In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a serene, calming ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

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

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

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

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

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury