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For those who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "lofty" and "airy" which "acts as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of quiet reflection".

It signifies the first time white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a philosophy" and embodies a shared yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", contending that promoting sparse and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the more compact, messier homes most people call home.

Some observers propose that framing white as aspirational carries racial undertones, creating unease within current political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Sterile or Serene?

Designer One design critic says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, arguing that white holds cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and removal from chaos".

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

Beaumont cites the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people relate to their homes.

"Suddenly they became our workspaces, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, adding that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he contends white now risks amplifying "a feeling of emptiness", especially when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

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

Although it may suit highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can readily feel sterile at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel stark and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to emit a medical atmosphere."

She adds that "homes should spark joy and feel inviting and lived-in, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to express personality.

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

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful trend indicator.

Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These hues extend beyond trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear simple, "this specific hue seems soft and refined 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 peaceful, calming ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and drapes."

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways 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 Oriona Robb says elevating white seems "less about novelty and more about intention", reflecting a shift towards refinement after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, proportion and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she clarifies.

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

She says the industry is already aware of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an ideal, especially during continuing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that complexity authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Stylist Katie Malik admits the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury