🔗 Share this article

For anyone who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a disappointing choice.

This year, the influential color company has chosen a shade of white as its flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "elevated" and "airy" which "functions as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-evaluating the importance of stillness".

It marks the initial instance a pure white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and embodies a collective desire to decelerate, reset and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, messier homes most people occupy.

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

Sterile or Serene?

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

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, order and removal from chaos".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality equals virtue".

The designer references the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Almost instantly they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now threatens to amplifying "a feeling of desolation", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

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

While it may work in highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says bright whites rarely create calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can readily seem sterile at home," she explains.

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

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and feel warm and welcoming, and this hue seems quite removed from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented 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 refined neutrality that seems deliberate and versatile".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a significant trend indicator.

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade feels gentle and refined rather than stark".

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

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

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.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to concentrate on form, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also holds presumptions around self-image, way of life and advantage, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group 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 ideal, particularly amid continuing conversations about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that nuance authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury