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For anyone who has spent years renting, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-learning the importance of stillness".

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

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread yearning to slow down, recalibrate and find calm after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "Pantonedeaf", arguing that elevating sparse and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Others propose that framing white as aspirational carries racial undertones, landing uncomfortably during ongoing political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer One design critic says the counter-reaction transcends aesthetics, stating that white carries deeper meanings and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "wealth, order and distance from chaos".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that impartiality signifies virtue".

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

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather disconnected".

Instead of offering calm, he argues white now threatens to intensifying "a feeling of desolation", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

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

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

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to give hospital vibes."

She continues that "living spaces should elicit happiness and feel warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite distant from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

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

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

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

Interior designer Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", 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, 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 modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, scale and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury