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For those who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige 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 influential color company has chosen a shade of white as its flagship hue.

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

It marks the first time white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a philosophy" and signifies a collective yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", contending that elevating sparse and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes everyday individuals occupy.

Additional critics propose that framing white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably within ongoing political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Designer One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, noting that white bears societal connotations and is rarely a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "wealth, control and removal from chaos".

He elaborates 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 signifies virtue".

Beaumont points to the pandemic as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now threatens to heightening "a sense of desolation", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

An interior designer, a Surrey based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites rarely foster calm in everyday living spaces.

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

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

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and feel inviting and welcoming, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a powerful trend indicator.

Past choices have included the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, beauty launches, interiors, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue feels soft and refined rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, restful ambiance".

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

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

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

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

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more about intention", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

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

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

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing discussions about inclusion and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "brands address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Another expert concedes the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury