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For many people who has spent years renting, staring at the same standard-issue magnolia walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might feel like a disappointing choice.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "billowy" which "acts as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the value of introspection".

It marks the first time white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and reflects a widespread desire to decelerate, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "Pantonedeaf", arguing that promoting sparse and pristine white spaces can feel distant from the more compact, lived-in homes everyday individuals occupy.

Others contend that framing white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, creating unease during ongoing political and cultural conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction goes beyond surface appeal, noting that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "wealth, control and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality signifies goodness".

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

"Overnight they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, noting that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather out of step".

Rather than offering calm, he contends white now risks amplifying "a feeling of bleakness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey 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 extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

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

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to emit a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "homes should spark joy and feel inviting and lived-in, and this shade seems quite removed from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to express 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 feels intentional and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they appear in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear simple, "this particular shade feels soft and elegant rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".

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

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a staple rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

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

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to concentrate on form, scale and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, saying: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with lauding white as an ideal, especially amid continuing discussions about inclusion and approachability, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Katie Malik concedes the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a wider mood of "quiet luxury