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For anyone who has spent years living in rental properties, confronted by the same standard-issue magnolia walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This time around, the renowned color company has chosen white as its premier hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the importance of introspection".

It marks the initial instance a pure white has been honored 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 widespread urge to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that elevating minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes the majority call home.

Some observers propose that positioning white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably within continuing political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism transcends surface appeal, noting that white bears deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "affluence, control and distance from chaos".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality signifies virtue".

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

"Overnight they transformed into our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now threatens to amplifying "a feeling of bleakness", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom foster calm in real homes.

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

"The color white may seem harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and feel warm and lived-in, and this hue feels quite removed from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "unabashed joyful interior design", using colour to express individuality.

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

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has become a powerful trend indicator.

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

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue feels gentle 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 "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a serene, restful ambiance".

"Should you prefer not to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

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

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, saying: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during continuing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "brands address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

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