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For anyone who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

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

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

It signifies the initial instance white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a mindset" and signifies a shared desire to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "insensitive", contending that promoting minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, messier homes everyday individuals occupy.

Others contend that positioning white as aspirational carries subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably amid current societal discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white bears deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, control and removal from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality equals virtue".

The designer references the pandemic as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather out of step".

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

'Hospital Vibes'

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

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

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

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to emit a medical atmosphere."

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting and welcoming, and this shade seems quite removed from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to express individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

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

Contrary 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 repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to concentrate on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around self-image, way of life and privilege, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

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

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury