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For many people who has spent a long time renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

This year, the renowned color company has chosen white as its premier hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "billowy" which "acts as a symbol of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of introspection".

It marks the first time white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and reflects a shared desire to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", arguing that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes everyday individuals call home.

Others propose that framing white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, causing discomfort during current societal discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the backlash transcends aesthetics, stating that white carries societal connotations and is seldom a neutral choice.

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

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality signifies virtue".

Beaumont references the pandemic as a defining period in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

Rather than providing calm, he believes white now risks intensifying "a feeling of emptiness", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

An interior designer, a Surrey based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can easily seem clinical at home," she explains.

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to emit hospital vibes."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and be warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite distant 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 individuality.

A representative 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 refined neutrality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem basic, "this specific hue feels soft and elegant rather than stark".

In contrast 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 peaceful, restful ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, 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 backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and curved entries which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

In apparel, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on form, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, 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 associated with celebrating white as an aspirational standard, particularly during continuing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice initially shocked her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury