🔗 Share this article

For those who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a personal attack.

This time around, the influential color company has chosen a shade of white as its premier hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of introspection".

It represents the initial instance a pure white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a philosophy" and reflects a collective urge to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "insensitive", contending that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the smaller, messier homes most people inhabit.

Some observers argue that framing white as aspirational carries subtext related to race, creating unease amid continuing political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, noting that white holds deeper meanings and is rarely a innocuous choice.

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

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality signifies goodness".

The designer points to the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people interact with their homes.

"Almost instantly they became our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather tone-deaf".

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

'Sterile Sensations

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

While it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

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

"The color white may seem stark and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to give a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "homes should spark joy and feel warm and welcoming, and this shade feels quite distant from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that seems intentional and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, 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 specific hue feels soft and elegant 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, calming atmosphere".

"Should you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally 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 benefits, noting that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

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 vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "less about novelty and more about intention", reflecting a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, 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 industry is already aware of the problematic connotations tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially amid ongoing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

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