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For many people 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 latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a personal attack.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of stillness".

It signifies the initial instance white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and embodies a widespread desire to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", contending that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes the majority inhabit.

Others propose that positioning white as an ideal carries racial undertones, landing uncomfortably within ongoing political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, arguing that white bears cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "affluence, order and removal from chaos".

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, moral minimalism and the idea that impartiality signifies virtue".

Beaumont references the global health crisis as a defining period in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they became our offices, 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".

Instead of offering calm, he argues white now threatens to intensifying "a sense of bleakness", especially when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

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

While it may work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites rarely create calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit a medical atmosphere."

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and feel warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to express personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

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

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

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features like wall molding and curved entries which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

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

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to focus on form, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she adds that it also holds presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, 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 aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, 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 concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury