For those who has spent a long time renting, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and dreaming of injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's latest Colour of the Year might be perceived as a disappointing choice.
This year, the influential color company has designated a shade of white as its annual hue.
In detail, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white characterized as "elevated" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the importance of introspection".
It represents the first time white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.
According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "transcends mere pigment, it's a philosophy" and signifies a shared desire to slow down, recalibrate and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.
But some commentators have dubbed the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that elevating sparse and pristine white spaces can feel disconnected from the more compact, lived-in homes most people inhabit.
Some observers propose that positioning white as an ideal carries subtext related to race, causing discomfort amid continuing political and cultural discussions about inclusion and diversity.
Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the counter-reaction transcends surface appeal, arguing that white bears societal connotations and is rarely a innocuous choice.
"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a decade of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to represent "wealth, control and distance from disorder".
He explains that white is "not intended to inspire but taking care not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "restraint, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality signifies virtue".
The designer points to the global health crisis as a turning point in how people interact with their homes.
"Suddenly they transformed into our offices, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, stating that against this backdrop, directing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness seems rather out of step".
Instead of offering calm, he contends white now risks intensifying "a sense of desolation", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.
Lara Clark, a UK-based interior designer, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "firmly in the bin for me".
Although it may work in extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely create calm in everyday living spaces.
"What looks serene in a styled shoot can readily feel sterile at home," she clarifies.
"The color white may seem harsh and unforgiving and you don't want your home to emit clinical feelings."
She adds that "homes should spark joy and be warm and welcoming, and this hue feels quite removed from that."
The critic hopes that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale joyful interior design", using vibrant hues to showcase individuality.
A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "works seamlessly with everything around it, providing a refined neutrality that seems intentional and adaptable".
Since its launch in 2000, Pantone's Colour of the Year has evolved into a significant trend indicator.
Past choices have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of Classic Blue, the vibrancy of a bold pink-red, and most recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.
These hues don't just live on style predictions - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, interiors, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are marketed and how consumers envision the coming year.
Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear basic, "this specific hue feels gentle and refined rather than stark".
In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a peaceful, calming ambiance".
"Should you don't want to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."
Design expert James Mellan-Matulewicz says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "essentially the lack of pigment", it is a bit like vanilla ice cream, in that "it is universally accepted but it's nobody's favourite".
He can see its merits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a background for design features like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in modern homes".
In apparel, 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 vibrant colors.
Luxury stylist Oriona Robb says championing white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards refinement after years of fad saturation.
"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on form, proportion and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.
But she adds that it also holds presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and advantage, saying: "If white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes exclusionary."
She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones tied to celebrating white as an ideal, particularly amid ongoing conversations about representation and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "companies address that nuance authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".
Stylist Another expert concedes the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury
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