For many people who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.
This time around, the influential color company has selected white as its flagship hue.
To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "acts as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-learning the worth of introspection".
It represents the initial instance a pure white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.
According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a collective desire to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.
But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.
Others contend that presenting white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably amid current political and cultural conversations about race and representation.
Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction transcends aesthetics, noting that white carries cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.
"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and removal from chaos".
He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality equals virtue".
The designer references the global health crisis as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.
"Overnight they became our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness feels rather tone-deaf".
Rather than providing calm, he contends white now risks heightening "a sense of bleakness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.
Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".
While it may work in highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.
"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can readily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.
"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."
She continues that "living spaces should elicit happiness and feel warm and welcoming, and this shade feels quite distant from that."
Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.
A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".
Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful industry signal.
Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.
These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the year ahead.
A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade feels gentle and refined rather than stark".
Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".
"Even if you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."
Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's not a top choice".
He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a background for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".
In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to bold shades.
Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.
"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.
But she adds that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."
She says the industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with celebrating white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands address that nuance honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".
Stylist Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury
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