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For many people who has spent years living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.

This year, the influential color company has selected a shade of white as its premier hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the worth of stillness".

It marks the initial instance a pure white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a mindset" and reflects a shared urge to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of sensory saturation.

But some commentators have branded the decision as "out of touch", arguing that championing sparse and pristine white spaces can seem disconnected from the smaller, messier homes the majority call home.

Others argue that framing white as aspirational risks subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably during current political and cultural dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer One design critic says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white bears societal connotations and is seldom a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "affluence, order and distance from disorder".

He elaborates that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the concept that neutrality equals virtue".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a turning point in how people interact with 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 "more visual emptiness feels rather disconnected".

Rather than offering calm, he argues white now risks heightening "a sense of bleakness", particularly when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

Although it may suit highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can easily feel sterile at home," she clarifies.

"White can feel harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit hospital vibes."

She continues that "living spaces should spark joy and feel warm and welcoming, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that feels intentional and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond style predictions - they show up in clothing lines, beauty launches, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and elegant 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 living areas where you want a serene, restful ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", 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 panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in contemporary houses".

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 accustomed to vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on form, proportion and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, especially during continuing discussions about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice initially shocked her, given Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and aligns with a wider mood of "quiet luxury