For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.
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 characterized as "lofty" and "billowy" which "functions as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-evaluating the value of quiet reflection".
It marks the first time a pure white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.
As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a philosophy" and reflects a shared yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of visual overload.
But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes everyday individuals inhabit.
Others propose that presenting white as aspirational risks racial undertones, causing discomfort within current societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.
Designer One design critic says the backlash transcends aesthetics, arguing that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.
"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and distance from chaos".
He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the concept that neutrality signifies virtue".
Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people relate to their homes.
"Suddenly they became our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, noting that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather disconnected".
Rather than offering calm, he believes white now risks intensifying "a sense of bleakness", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.
Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".
Although it may suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.
"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.
"White can feel harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."
She adds that "homes should spark joy and feel warm and lived-in, and this shade seems 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 express personality.
A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a refined neutrality that feels intentional and versatile".
Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant industry signal.
Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.
These hues don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, interiors, packaging and even consumer electronics, influencing how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.
A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this specific hue feels soft and refined rather than stark".
Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson 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 redecorate, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."
Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".
He can see its benefits, noting that white can work particularly well as a background for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".
In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more familiar with bold shades.
Luxury stylist A styling expert says championing white feels "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 shape, proportion and quality, there's really no room for error," she explains.
But she adds that it also holds presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."
She says the industry is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".
Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice initially shocked her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury
A health enthusiast and writer passionate about sharing evidence-based wellness advice and personal health journeys.
