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For anyone who has spent years renting, confronted by the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "airy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of stillness".

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

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread desire to decelerate, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some detractors have branded the decision as "Pantonedeaf", contending that promoting sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority call home.

Additional critics contend that presenting white as aspirational carries subtext related to race, causing discomfort during current political and cultural conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, arguing that white holds deeper meanings and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, control and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the idea that impartiality denotes goodness".

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

"Overnight they became our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather out of step".

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

'Sterile Sensations

Lara Clark, a UK-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 suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can readily seem sterile at home," she clarifies.

"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit hospital vibes."

She adds that "homes should spark joy and be warm and lived-in, and this hue feels quite removed from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to showcase individuality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that seems intentional and versatile".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear simple, "this particular shade feels soft and refined rather than severe".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming atmosphere".

"Should you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and curtains."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick 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 merits, noting that white can work particularly well as a background for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

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

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

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, particularly amid continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury