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For anyone 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 2026 Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

This year, the renowned color company has chosen white as its flagship hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "acts as a emblem of calming influence in a society rediscovering the importance of introspection".

It signifies 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 "transcends mere pigment, it's a philosophy" and signifies a shared desire to slow down, reset and seek peace after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", arguing that elevating minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, messier homes the majority occupy.

Some observers argue that framing white as an ideal risks racial undertones, creating unease amid current societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond aesthetics, noting that white carries cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to epitomize "affluence, order and distance from disorder".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, virtuous simplicity and the concept that impartiality denotes goodness".

Beaumont cites the pandemic as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.

"Overnight they became our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness feels rather tone-deaf".

Rather than providing calm, he believes white now risks heightening "a sense of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

Lara Clark, a Surrey based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

Although it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom create calm in everyday living spaces.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can easily seem sterile at home," she explains.

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

She continues that "homes should spark joy and be warm and lived-in, and this shade feels quite distant from that."

Beaumont hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "unabashed joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to express personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels deliberate and versatile".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These hues don't just live on 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 coming year.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue feels gentle and elegant rather than stark".

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a serene, restful atmosphere".

"Should you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with pillows, throws and drapes."

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "everyone likes it but it's nobody's favourite".

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

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and those who wear it alike to focus on shape, scale and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

But she continues that it also holds presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and advantage, stating: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly amid ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that complexity authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Katie Malik concedes the choice at first surprised her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury