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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 feel like a direct affront.

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

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

It represents the first time a pure white has been picked 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 reflects a widespread yearning to decelerate, reset and achieve serenity after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "insensitive", contending that promoting sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel distant from the smaller, messier homes the majority occupy.

Some observers propose that framing white as aspirational risks racial undertones, creating unease within ongoing societal dialogues about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

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

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

He elaborates that white is "not intended to inspire but being careful not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the idea that neutrality signifies virtue".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people perceive their homes.

"Overnight they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further aesthetic barrenness feels rather out of step".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now threatens to heightening "a feeling of desolation", particularly when paired with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a UK-based interior designer, 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 rarely create calm in real homes.

"An image of tranquility in a professional photo can easily feel clinical at home," she explains.

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to give clinical feelings."

She continues that "homes should elicit happiness and be inviting 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 "full-scale dopamine décor", using colour to showcase individuality.

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

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

Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they appear in clothing lines, cosmetic products, home decor, product wrapping and even technology, influencing how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

A style and trend expert, says Cloud Dancer is a "elegant choice" and while it may appear simple, "this particular shade feels 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 living areas where you want a serene, calming atmosphere".

"Even if you don't want to repaint, you can incorporate the colour into a room with pillows, blankets and drapes."

Design expert Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's selection 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 nobody's favourite".

He can see its merits, explaining that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling 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 different challenge to designers more accustomed to vibrant colors.

Luxury stylist A styling expert says elevating white seems "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a shift towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"The color white compels designers and wearers alike to focus on form, scale and quality, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she continues that it also carries presumptions around self-image, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "When white is treated as something only a narrow group of people can wear well, it becomes exclusionary."

She says the industry is already cognizant of the uncomfortable undertones associated with celebrating white as an ideal, especially during ongoing discussions about inclusion and accessibility, and the true challenge will be whether "brands address that complexity authentically, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice at first shocked her, given Pantone's history of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and aligns with a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury