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For those who has spent years renting, staring at the same standard-issue magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of tranquility in a society rediscovering the importance of introspection".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and reflects a widespread yearning to slow down, reset and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, messier homes the majority call home.

Others propose that positioning white as aspirational carries racial undertones, creating unease within ongoing political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash transcends aesthetics, noting that white holds societal connotations and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "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, virtuous simplicity and the notion that impartiality denotes goodness".

The designer references the global health crisis as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now risks intensifying "a sense of emptiness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, agrees 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 pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.

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

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

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and feel warm and welcoming, and this hue seems quite distant from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to showcase individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that seems intentional and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, influencing how products are sold and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear basic, "this specific hue feels gentle and refined rather than severe".

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

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

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection 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, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop 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 accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more about intention", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

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

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, saying: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially during ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands 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 track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury