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For anyone who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "acts as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-learning the importance of quiet reflection".

It signifies the initial instance 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 "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a collective urge to decelerate, reset and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel distant from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals inhabit.

Some observers argue that presenting white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, causing discomfort amid continuing societal discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer One design critic says the criticism goes beyond aesthetics, noting that white carries societal connotations and is seldom a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and removal from disorder".

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

The designer cites the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than offering calm, he believes white now risks intensifying "a feeling of bleakness", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily feel clinical at home," she explains.

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

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting and lived-in, and this hue seems quite removed from that."

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

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, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear simple, "this particular shade seems soft and refined 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 "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".

"Should you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", it is a bit like a basic flavor, 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 design features like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

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 vibrant colors.

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

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, stating: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Another expert admits the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a wider mood of "quiet luxury