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For anyone who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue magnolia walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might feel like a personal attack.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of stillness".

It marks the initial instance 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 philosophy" and embodies a shared desire to decelerate, reset and seek peace after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can seem distant from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals inhabit.

Additional critics contend that positioning white as aspirational carries racial undertones, landing uncomfortably during current societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white holds cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "wealth, order and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality denotes virtue".

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

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of emptiness", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a UK-based interior designer, agrees 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 architectural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel stark and demanding and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."

She continues that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be 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 joyful interior design", 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 selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

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

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

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels soft and elegant rather than severe".

Contrary 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 serene, restful atmosphere".

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

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally 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 particularly well as a background for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says championing white seems "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

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

But she adds that it also holds presumptions around self-image, way of life and privilege, stating: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially amid ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and aligns with a wider mood of "quiet luxury