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For anyone who has spent years renting, confronted by the same standard-issue beige walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "airy" which "serves as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-learning the value of quiet reflection".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and signifies a widespread desire to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that elevating minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, messier homes the majority call home.

Others contend that positioning white as aspirational risks racial undertones, causing discomfort within ongoing societal discussions about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, noting that white holds societal connotations and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "affluence, control and distance from chaos".

He elaborates that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies virtue".

The designer references the pandemic as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

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

Instead of offering calm, he contends white now threatens to amplifying "a feeling of bleakness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

Lara Clark, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs 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 architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily feel clinical at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."

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

The critic 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 individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems intentional and adaptable".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful industry signal.

Past choices have featured the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue feels soft and elegant rather than severe".

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, calming atmosphere".

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback 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 especially effectively as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a shift towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also holds presumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, stating: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an ideal, especially amid ongoing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that complexity authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice initially shocked her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury