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For those who has spent a long time renting, staring at the same landlord-approved magnolia walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might feel like a direct affront.

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

More specifically, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white described as "lofty" and "billowy" which "serves as a emblem of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the importance of stillness".

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

As stated by Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a mindset" and reflects a shared yearning to slow down, reset and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that championing minimalist and pristine white spaces can feel far removed from the smaller, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Some observers contend that presenting white as an ideal introduces racial undertones, creating unease amid continuing political and cultural conversations about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Designer Chris Beaumont says the backlash transcends surface appeal, arguing that white bears societal connotations and is rarely a neutral choice.

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a decade of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "wealth, order and distance from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, moral minimalism and the idea that impartiality signifies virtue".

Beaumont cites the pandemic as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Almost instantly they transformed into our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, adding that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather disconnected".

Instead of offering calm, he contends white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of desolation", especially when paired with cool, clinical lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, agrees and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may work in extremely sparse or architectural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in real homes.

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

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you wouldn't wish your home to give a medical atmosphere."

She continues that "living spaces should elicit happiness and be warm and welcoming, and this shade seems quite removed from that."

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

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 "works seamlessly with everything around it, offering a sophisticated impartiality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Past choices have included the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may seem basic, "this particular shade seems gentle and refined 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 "bedrooms and communal spaces where you want a serene, calming ambiance".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can incorporate 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 "fundamentally the lack of pigment", 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 particularly well as a backdrop for design features like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a different challenge to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a shift towards refinement 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 explains.

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, stating: "If white is viewed as something only a limited subset of people can wear well, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations associated with celebrating white as an ideal, particularly during continuing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands address that complexity authentically, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Stylist Another expert concedes the choice initially shocked her, considering Pantone's history of vibrant hues, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury