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For those who has spent a long time 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 personal attack.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "acts as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection".

It marks the initial instance white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

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

But some commentators have branded the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that elevating sparse and pristine white spaces can seem far removed from the smaller, lived-in homes most people call home.

Additional critics argue that positioning white as an ideal carries racial undertones, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

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

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to epitomize "wealth, control and distance from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the idea that neutrality equals virtue".

The designer references the global health crisis as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, stating that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather out of step".

Rather than offering calm, he contends white now risks heightening "a sense of desolation", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

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

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

"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can easily feel sterile at home," she explains.

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

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

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "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 significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have included the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and refined rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming atmosphere".

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially 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 merits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "rising style 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 different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to concentrate on form, scale and quality, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she adds that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, stating: "When white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice initially shocked her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and aligns with a wider mood of "quiet luxury