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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 be perceived as a disappointing choice.

This year, the renowned color company has designated white as its premier hue.

In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "elevated" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the value of stillness".

It represents the initial instance a pure 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 embodies a shared desire to slow down, recalibrate and find calm after years of sensory saturation.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "insensitive", suggesting that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem disconnected from the smaller, lived-in homes the majority occupy.

Some observers contend that framing white as an ideal introduces subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably amid continuing political and cultural discussions about race and representation.

Soothing or Stark?

Designer One design critic says the backlash transcends surface appeal, noting that white carries societal connotations and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and removal from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "restraint, virtuous simplicity and the idea that neutrality denotes goodness".

Beaumont references the pandemic as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our offices, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more aesthetic barrenness feels rather out of step".

Rather than offering calm, he believes white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of emptiness", particularly when combined with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

An interior designer, a Surrey based interior designer, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites rarely create calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a styled shoot can readily feel clinical at home," she explains.

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

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

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to express individuality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and versatile".

Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a powerful industry signal.

Past choices have featured the hopefulness of a vibrant pink-orange, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem simple, "this particular shade feels gentle and refined rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "flexible" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".

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

Interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick this year was "essentially 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 especially effectively as a background for architectural details like panelling and curved entries which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

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 bold shades.

Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white feels "less about novelty and more about intention", indicating a shift towards refinement after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to concentrate on shape, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really no room for error," she explains.

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around self-image, way of life and privilege, saying: "If white is viewed as something only a narrow group 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 ideal, particularly amid ongoing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that complexity authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice initially surprised her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury