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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, confronted by the same landlord-approved beige walls and longing for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

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

It signifies the initial instance white has been picked as the Colour of the Year, and it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a state of being" and reflects a collective yearning to decelerate, reset and find calm after years of visual overload.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that elevating sparse and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Others propose that positioning white as an ideal risks subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably within ongoing societal conversations about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction goes beyond surface appeal, arguing that white bears cultural undertones and is rarely a innocuous choice.

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

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality denotes virtue".

The designer points to the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, refuges and sources of stability," he says, noting that in this context, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather disconnected".

Rather than providing calm, he argues white now risks intensifying "a sense of emptiness", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'A Clinical Atmosphere

Lara Clark, a Surrey based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "is not perceived as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

Although it may suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades seldom create calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot 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 clinical feelings."

She continues that "homes should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this shade feels quite removed from that."

Beaumont expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems intentional and versatile".

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

Past choices have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and most recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this specific hue seems soft and elegant rather than severe".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a peaceful, restful atmosphere".

"Should you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially the absence of colour", it is a bit like a basic flavor, in that "everyone likes it but it's not a top choice".

He can see its benefits, noting that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features like panelling and curved entries which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a bold declaration and as a Colour of the Year it presents a different challenge to designers more familiar with vibrant colors.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white seems "less about novelty and more about intention", reflecting a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

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

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, way of life and advantage, saying: "If white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to lauding white as an ideal, especially amid continuing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands engage with that nuance honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

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