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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This year, the renowned color company has designated white as its annual hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "billowy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society re-learning the value of introspection".

It represents the initial instance white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a philosophy" and reflects a widespread yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, lived-in homes most people call home.

Some observers contend that presenting white as aspirational introduces subtext related to race, causing discomfort amid continuing societal discussions about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the backlash goes beyond surface appeal, arguing that white holds societal connotations and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "wealth, order and distance from chaos".

He elaborates that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies goodness".

Beaumont points to the pandemic as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Instead of providing calm, he believes white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of bleakness", especially when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in real homes.

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

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

She continues that "homes should spark joy and feel inviting and welcoming, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale joyful interior design", using colour to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and versatile".

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

Past choices have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, influencing 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 seem basic, "this particular shade seems soft and refined rather than stark".

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 peaceful, calming ambiance".

"Should you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

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 "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more familiar with bold shades.

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

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to focus on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."

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

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a authentic change and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury