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For many people who has spent years renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's new Colour of the Year might be perceived as a direct affront.

This time around, the renowned color company has chosen white as its annual hue.

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a symbol of tranquility in a society re-learning the value of introspection".

It marks the initial instance a pure white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has generated significant controversy.

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a state of being" and signifies a widespread yearning to slow down, reset and seek peace after years of sensory saturation.

But some detractors have labelled the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that elevating sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the more compact, messier homes most people occupy.

Others argue that positioning white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, creating unease during current societal discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the criticism transcends surface appeal, stating that white holds deeper meanings and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, influenced by a decade of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to epitomize "wealth, control and removal from chaos".

He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the concept that impartiality equals virtue".

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

"Overnight they became our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, stating that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather tone-deaf".

Instead of offering calm, he believes white now risks intensifying "a feeling of emptiness", especially when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

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

Although it may work in highly minimal or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a professional photo can readily seem clinical at home," she clarifies.

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

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and be warm and lived-in, and this hue feels quite distant from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented 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 refined neutrality that feels intentional and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade seems gentle and refined 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 serene, restful ambiance".

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

Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "fundamentally 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 benefits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like wall molding and curved entries which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a staple rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it presents a unique test to designers more familiar with bold shades.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says elevating white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on shape, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she adds that it also holds presumptions around body confidence, way of life and privilege, 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 cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones associated with celebrating white as an aspirational standard, particularly during continuing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Stylist Katie Malik concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it mirrors a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury