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For those who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-learning the importance of stillness".

It signifies the initial instance white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and embodies a collective desire to slow down, recalibrate and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", contending that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the smaller, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Some observers argue that positioning white as an ideal risks racial undertones, causing discomfort amid current societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Sterile or Serene?

Interior expert One design critic says the criticism goes beyond aesthetics, noting that white carries deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

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

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the concept that impartiality signifies virtue".

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

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he believes white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of emptiness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

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

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

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

"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."

She continues that "living spaces should spark joy and feel warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase individuality.

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

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

Previous selections have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels soft and elegant rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms 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 pillows, blankets and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially 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 merits, noting that white can work particularly well as a background for design features 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 bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

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 wearers alike to concentrate on shape, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an ideal, especially during ongoing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "companies address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury