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For those who has spent years renting, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

This year, the renowned color company has designated a shade of white as its premier hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a symbol of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection".

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

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

But some detractors have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can seem disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Some observers contend that positioning white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, landing uncomfortably within ongoing societal discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer One design critic says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white holds societal connotations and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and removal from chaos".

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality signifies goodness".

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

"Overnight they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now threatens to intensifying "a sense of bleakness", especially when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

An interior designer, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.

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

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

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be 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 preference for "unabashed joyful interior design", using colour to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, influencing how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this specific hue seems gentle 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 communal spaces where you want a peaceful, restful atmosphere".

"Should you don't want to redecorate, you can incorporate the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", 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 especially effectively as a background for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, stating: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing conversations about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

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