🔗 Share this article

For anyone who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue magnolia walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

This time around, the renowned color company has designated white as its flagship hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of introspection".

It marks the initial instance white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a mindset" and embodies a widespread yearning to slow down, reset and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "insensitive", arguing that promoting minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Additional critics propose that framing white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, creating unease within continuing political and cultural dialogues about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction goes beyond surface appeal, noting that white carries deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and distance from disorder".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the idea that impartiality signifies virtue".

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

"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now risks heightening "a feeling of desolation", especially when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

Lara Clark, a UK-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 work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

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

"White can feel stark and demanding and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be warm and welcoming, and this hue seems quite removed from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and versatile".

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue seems soft and refined rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a serene, calming atmosphere".

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted 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 curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more familiar with bold shades.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to focus on shape, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "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 aware of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "companies engage with that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Another expert admits the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury