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

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the importance of quiet reflection".

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.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and embodies a shared yearning to slow down, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that promoting sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes everyday individuals inhabit.

Some observers propose that presenting white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, causing discomfort during current political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the criticism transcends aesthetics, stating that white holds societal connotations and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, order and removal from chaos".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the notion that impartiality signifies virtue".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness feels rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now risks amplifying "a sense of emptiness", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

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".

Although it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily feel sterile at home," she clarifies.

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

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this shade feels quite distant from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented 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 feels deliberate and adaptable".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a significant industry signal.

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues don't just live on style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and refined rather than severe".

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 serene, calming ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and curtains."

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a background for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

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

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to focus on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

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

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands address that complexity authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Another expert concedes the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury