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For those who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same standard-issue magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a personal attack.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-learning the worth of introspection".

It represents the first time a pure white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread urge to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have branded the decision as "insensitive", contending that elevating minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes most people occupy.

Some observers propose that positioning white as aspirational risks racial undertones, creating unease during ongoing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer One design critic says the counter-reaction transcends surface appeal, noting that white carries deeper meanings and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "affluence, control and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality denotes goodness".

The designer points to the pandemic as a turning point in how people perceive their homes.

"Suddenly they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

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

'Sterile Sensations

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

While it may work in highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom foster calm in everyday living spaces.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can readily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to give clinical feelings."

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and feel inviting and welcoming, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

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

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful trend indicator.

Past choices have featured the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and more recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem simple, "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 communal spaces where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", it is a bit like a basic flavor, 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 backdrop for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with bold shades.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says championing white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

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

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around self-image, lifestyle and advantage, saying: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially amid ongoing conversations about inclusion and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury