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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and longing for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This time around, the influential color company has selected a shade of white as its annual hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-learning the worth of introspection".

It represents 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 "represents more than a hue, it's a state of being" and signifies a shared urge to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", arguing that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can seem far removed from the smaller, messier homes everyday individuals occupy.

Some observers argue that presenting white as aspirational carries racial undertones, creating unease amid current political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, noting that white carries deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and removal from chaos".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality signifies goodness".

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

"Almost instantly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather tone-deaf".

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

'Hospital Vibes'

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

Although it may suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.

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

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

She adds that "living spaces should elicit happiness and feel inviting and lived-in, and this shade seems quite distant from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.

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 "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and versatile".

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

Past choices have featured the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping 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 appear basic, "this specific hue feels gentle and elegant rather than severe".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming atmosphere".

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

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, explaining 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 statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to concentrate on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries assumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an ideal, particularly during ongoing discussions about inclusion and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies address that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert admits the choice initially surprised her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury