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For anyone who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a personal attack.

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

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

It represents the first time white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and reflects a shared yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can seem distant from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority occupy.

Some observers contend that positioning white as aspirational risks subtext related to race, causing discomfort amid continuing political and cultural discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Sterile or Serene?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism transcends surface appeal, noting that white holds cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and distance from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the notion that impartiality equals goodness".

Beaumont points to the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now risks amplifying "a sense of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a Surrey based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can easily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.

"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to give hospital vibes."

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be 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 dopamine décor", using colour to express individuality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that feels intentional and versatile".

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

Previous selections have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade feels soft and refined rather than severe".

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

"Should you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."

Design expert 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 not a top choice".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale 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 privilege, stating: "When white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik concedes the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury