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For those who has spent years renting, confronted by the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the importance of quiet reflection".

It represents the first time a pure white has been honored 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 state of being" and reflects a collective urge to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have branded the decision as "insensitive", contending that elevating minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority call home.

Others argue that framing white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, causing discomfort amid ongoing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Sterile or Serene?

Designer One design critic says the counter-reaction goes beyond aesthetics, stating that white bears cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

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

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality signifies goodness".

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

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

Instead of offering calm, he argues white now threatens to intensifying "a sense of bleakness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

Lara Clark, a Surrey based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to give a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "homes should spark joy and feel inviting and welcoming, and this shade seems quite removed from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

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

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

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

These hues don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear simple, "this specific hue feels gentle and elegant rather than severe".

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, calming atmosphere".

"Should you prefer not to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, throws and curtains."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it 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 arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

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 accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also holds assumptions around self-image, way of life and advantage, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially during continuing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially shocked her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury