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For those who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-learning the importance of quiet reflection".

It signifies the first time white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a state of being" and signifies a shared urge to slow down, recalibrate and seek peace after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", contending that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel distant from the smaller, messier homes everyday individuals call home.

Others argue that framing white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, causing discomfort during current political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert One design critic says the counter-reaction transcends surface appeal, arguing that white bears cultural undertones and is seldom a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most famously Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to epitomize "affluence, control and removal from disorder".

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

The designer points to the global health crisis as a defining period in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, stating that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather tone-deaf".

Instead of offering calm, he contends white now risks intensifying "a sense of desolation", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a UK-based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom 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 demanding and you don't want your home to give clinical feelings."

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting and lived-in, and this shade seems quite distant from that."

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

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that seems intentional and versatile".

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

Previous selections have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like a soft peach.

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

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

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, restful ambiance".

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

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

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

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 familiar with bold shades.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury