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

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-evaluating the importance of stillness".

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

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and signifies a widespread desire to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some commentators have branded the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes the majority inhabit.

Some observers argue that framing white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably during current societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Sterile or Serene?

Interior expert One design critic says the criticism goes beyond aesthetics, noting 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 famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and distance from disorder".

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

The designer points to the pandemic as a defining period in how people perceive their homes.

"Suddenly they transformed into our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, adding that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of offering calm, he argues white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of bleakness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

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".

While it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can easily feel clinical at home," she clarifies.

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

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and feel inviting and lived-in, and this shade seems 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 showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented 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 seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

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

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this specific hue seems soft and refined rather than severe".

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

"Should you prefer not to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with cushions, throws and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", 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 particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more familiar with bold shades.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on form, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with celebrating white as an ideal, particularly during ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "companies engage with that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury