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For those 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 new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a personal attack.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "acts as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of quiet reflection".

It signifies the initial instance white has been honored as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a widespread urge to slow down, reset and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", contending that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, messier homes most people call home.

Some observers contend that framing white as aspirational introduces subtext related to race, creating unease during ongoing political and cultural conversations about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert One design critic says the counter-reaction 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 decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, control and removal from disorder".

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the idea that impartiality signifies goodness".

Beaumont references the pandemic as a defining period in how people interact with their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he believes white now threatens to amplifying "a sense of bleakness", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

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 suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom foster calm in real homes.

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

"The color white may seem stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to give hospital vibes."

She adds that "homes should spark joy and be 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 favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using colour to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of a bold pink-red, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may appear basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and elegant rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a serene, calming ambiance".

"Should you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and curtains."

Design expert Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection 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 merits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white seems "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", indicating a movement towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, scale and quality, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, saying: "When white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands address that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury