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For those who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

This year, the renowned color company has chosen white as its premier hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of calming influence in a society rediscovering the importance of stillness".

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

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread desire to slow down, reset and seek peace after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", arguing that elevating minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Additional critics argue that presenting white as an ideal carries racial undertones, causing discomfort amid ongoing societal conversations about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, stating that white bears deeper meanings and is seldom a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "wealth, order and removal from chaos".

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

Beaumont cites the global health crisis as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.

"Suddenly they became our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather disconnected".

Instead of providing calm, he contends white now threatens to heightening "a sense of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and feel inviting and lived-in, and this hue feels 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 showcase individuality.

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

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

Past choices have featured the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade seems soft and elegant rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".

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

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

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

In apparel, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

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

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

But she adds that it also holds presumptions around self-image, way of life and privilege, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury