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For anyone who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and longing for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

This time around, the renowned color company has chosen white as its flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "airy" which "acts as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-learning the value of quiet reflection".

It represents the first time white has been honored 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 state of being" and reflects a collective urge to slow down, reset and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

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

Additional critics propose that framing white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, creating unease within current political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction transcends aesthetics, stating that white bears deeper meanings and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and removal from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the notion that impartiality signifies virtue".

The designer cites the pandemic as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now risks heightening "a sense of emptiness", particularly when paired 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".

While it may suit extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says bright whites seldom foster calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel stark and demanding and you don't want your home to give a medical atmosphere."

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and feel warm and welcoming, and this shade seems quite distant from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using colour to express individuality.

The vice president 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 refined neutrality that seems intentional and versatile".

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

Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, influencing how products are sold and how consumers imagine the coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade feels gentle and elegant rather than stark".

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

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

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick 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 not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a background for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

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

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, saying: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially during ongoing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice initially shocked her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury