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

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the importance of stillness".

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

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and reflects a widespread yearning to slow down, reset and find calm after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", arguing that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Additional critics contend that positioning white as aspirational risks racial undertones, landing uncomfortably within current political and cultural dialogues about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, arguing that white holds cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "affluence, order and distance from disorder".

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

The designer points to the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now threatens to heightening "a sense of emptiness", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

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

"What looks serene in a professional photo can readily feel sterile at home," she explains.

"The color white may seem harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to give a medical atmosphere."

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

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to express personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and versatile".

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

Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

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

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a serene, restful ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to redecorate, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, throws and curtains."

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

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

In apparel, 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 accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to concentrate on shape, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially amid ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury