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For those who has spent years renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a disappointing choice.

This time around, the influential color company has chosen white as its premier hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "airy" which "acts as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of introspection".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and embodies a shared desire to decelerate, reset and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "insensitive", arguing that promoting minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes most people call home.

Some observers contend that framing white as aspirational introduces subtext related to race, causing discomfort within ongoing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash transcends surface appeal, noting that white carries cultural undertones and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, order and removal from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies goodness".

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

"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather out of step".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now threatens to heightening "a sense of emptiness", 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 "completely rejected for me".

Although it may suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom foster calm in everyday living spaces.

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

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to emit hospital vibes."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and feel warm and lived-in, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed joyful interior design", using colour to express individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and adaptable".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a significant 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 more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

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

In contrast 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, calming ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, throws and curtains."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection 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 particularly well as a background 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 statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, saying: "When white is treated 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 ideal, especially during ongoing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury