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For those who has spent a long time renting, confronted by the same standard-issue magnolia walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "billowy" which "functions as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-learning the importance of introspection".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and signifies a shared yearning to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some critics have branded the decision as "insensitive", contending that promoting sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority occupy.

Additional critics contend that positioning white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably during current societal discussions about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the backlash transcends surface appeal, arguing that white carries cultural undertones and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "wealth, order and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies goodness".

The designer references the pandemic as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather disconnected".

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

'A Clinical Atmosphere

An interior designer, a UK-based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

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

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

"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you wouldn't wish your home to emit hospital vibes."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting and lived-in, and this hue seems quite distant 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 personality.

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

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

Past choices have included the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade seems soft and refined 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 serene, calming ambiance".

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like panelling and curved entries 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 presents a unique test to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

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

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, stating: "If white is treated 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 tied to lauding white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies address that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury