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For those who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and longing for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might feel like a disappointing choice.

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

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-learning the value of quiet reflection".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and reflects a widespread yearning to decelerate, recalibrate and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "out of touch", arguing that elevating sparse and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes most people call home.

Some observers argue that positioning white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing societal discussions about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, stating that white carries societal connotations and is seldom a innocuous choice.

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

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "austerity, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality equals goodness".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a turning point in how people relate to their homes.

"Almost instantly they transformed into our workspaces, refuges and sources of stability," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness seems rather out of step".

Rather than providing calm, he argues white now threatens to amplifying "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 "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may work in 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 easily feel sterile at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel stark and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting and welcoming, and this hue seems quite distant 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 vibrant hues to showcase individuality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that feels intentional and versatile".

Beginning in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant industry signal.

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

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, beauty launches, interiors, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue feels 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 communal spaces where you want a serene, calming atmosphere".

"Should you don't want to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with cushions, throws and drapes."

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

He can see its benefits, noting that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

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

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a shift towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on shape, scale and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also holds presumptions around self-image, way of life and advantage, saying: "When white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already aware of the uncomfortable undertones associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, especially amid continuing discussions about representation and approachability, and the true challenge will be whether "companies address that complexity authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury