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For anyone who has spent a long time renting, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

This time around, the influential color company has selected a shade of white as its flagship hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "elevated" and "billowy" which "functions as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the importance of introspection".

It marks the initial instance a pure white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and embodies a collective desire to decelerate, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that elevating sparse and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the smaller, messier homes everyday individuals call home.

Some observers argue that presenting white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, causing discomfort during ongoing societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, arguing that white bears deeper meanings and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and distance from chaos".

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality denotes goodness".

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

"Overnight they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather out of step".

Rather than offering calm, he contends white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of emptiness", especially when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a Surrey based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can easily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.

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

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this shade feels quite distant from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to express individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels 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 "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".

"Even if you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."

Design expert 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 "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its benefits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "rising style 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 unique test to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

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

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

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury