For anyone who has spent years renting, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.
This time around, the renowned color company has selected a shade of white as its premier hue.
In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the importance of stillness".
It marks the initial instance white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a philosophy" and signifies a widespread yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.
But some critics have branded the decision as "out of touch", suggesting that promoting minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, messier homes most people inhabit.
Others contend that framing white as an ideal carries racial undertones, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.
Sterile or Serene?
Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.
"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back 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 "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality denotes goodness".
The designer points to the global health crisis as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.
"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather out of step".
Instead of offering calm, he believes white now risks heightening "a sense of desolation", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.
'Sterile Sensations
Lara Clark, a UK-based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".
While it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says bright whites rarely foster calm in real homes.
"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can easily feel clinical at home," she clarifies.
"The color white may seem stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to give a medical atmosphere."
She continues that "homes should spark joy and be inviting and lived-in, and this hue feels 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 colour to express individuality.
The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a refined neutrality that feels deliberate and adaptable".
Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful industry signal.
Past choices have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.
These hues extend beyond style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping 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 seem basic, "this specific hue seems gentle and refined rather than stark".
In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a serene, calming ambiance".
"Even if you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and drapes."
Interior designer Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "it is universally accepted but it's not a top choice".
He can see its benefits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features 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 different challenge to designers more accustomed to bold shades.
Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a shift towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.
"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to focus on form, proportion and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.
But she continues that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."
She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an ideal, particularly during ongoing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands address that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".
A Societal Shift, Not a Fad
Style consultant Another expert admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury
