🔗 Share this article

For those who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

This time around, the influential color company has designated white as its premier hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-learning the value of quiet reflection".

It represents 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 "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and embodies a widespread urge to slow down, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that elevating minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority occupy.

Some observers propose that presenting white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, creating unease amid current political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the backlash transcends aesthetics, stating that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "wealth, order and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the notion that neutrality signifies goodness".

The designer points to the global health crisis as a defining period in how people interact with their homes.

"Almost instantly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, adding that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness seems rather disconnected".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now risks amplifying "a feeling of desolation", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

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 suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

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

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

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this hue feels quite removed from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues 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 selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and adaptable".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant industry signal.

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond 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 seem simple, "this specific hue feels soft and elegant rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a peaceful, restful atmosphere".

"Should you don't want to redecorate, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Design expert 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 "it is universally accepted but it's not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, noting that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for design features like panelling and arched doorways which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

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

Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to focus on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "When white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, especially amid ongoing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that complexity authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury