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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

This year, the influential 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 "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the importance of introspection".

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

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and signifies a widespread desire to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", contending that elevating sparse and pristine white spaces can seem distant from the smaller, lived-in homes everyday individuals inhabit.

Others argue that presenting white as an ideal carries racial undertones, creating unease during continuing political and cultural dialogues about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, arguing that white holds cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "affluence, order and distance from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality denotes goodness".

The designer references the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people interact with their homes.

"Suddenly they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather disconnected".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now threatens to intensifying "a sense of emptiness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

An interior designer, 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 work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom foster calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily seem clinical at home," she explains.

"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."

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

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" 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".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant trend indicator.

Previous selections have included the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they appear in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even technology, influencing how products are sold and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem basic, "this specific hue feels gentle and elegant rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, restful ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, blankets 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 a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

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

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to concentrate on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an ideal, especially amid continuing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury