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For many people who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and yearning for injecting personal style to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might seem like a direct affront.

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

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "elevated" and "airy" which "acts as a symbol of calming influence in a society re-evaluating the value of stillness".

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

According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a mindset" and reflects a shared urge to decelerate, reset and seek peace after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some detractors have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", contending that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem far removed from the more compact, lived-in homes most people call home.

Additional critics argue that positioning white as aspirational introduces racial undertones, causing discomfort amid continuing societal dialogues about race and representation.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert Chris Beaumont says the criticism goes beyond surface appeal, stating that white holds cultural undertones and is rarely a neutral choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most famously Kim Kardashian's austere home – that came to symbolize "affluence, control and removal from chaos".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer representing "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that impartiality denotes virtue".

Beaumont points to the pandemic as a turning point in how people perceive their homes.

"Almost instantly they became our offices, sanctuaries and sources of stability," he says, noting that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "more visual emptiness seems rather disconnected".

Instead of providing calm, he argues white now risks amplifying "a sense of emptiness", especially when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Hospital Vibes'

Lara Clark, a UK-based design expert, agrees 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 real homes.

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

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

She adds that "living spaces should spark joy and be inviting and welcoming, and this shade seems quite distant from that."

The critic hopes that homeowners will disregard the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to showcase personality.

A representative of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "have varied interpretations" to the meaning of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that feels deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have featured the optimism of a vibrant pink-orange, the serene assurance of a deep blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours don't just live on style predictions - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, home decor, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are sold and how consumers envision the year ahead.

Victoria Robinson, says Cloud Dancer is a "beautiful choice" and while it may seem simple, "this specific hue seems gentle and elegant rather than stark".

Contrary to those who say the colour is boring, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "bedrooms and living areas where you want a serene, calming atmosphere".

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

Interior designer Another professional says although he was taken aback that Pantone's pick 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 not a top choice".

He can see its merits, noting that white can work particularly well as a backdrop for architectural details like panelling and arched doorways which is a "rising style in modern homes".

In fashion, white has long been a basic 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 elevating white seems "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"White forces designers and those who wear it alike to concentrate on form, proportion and craftsmanship, there's really nowhere to hide," she explains.

But she adds that it also holds assumptions around body confidence, way of life and advantage, saying: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

She says the fashion world is already cognizant of the problematic connotations associated with lauding white as an aspirational standard, particularly during ongoing discussions about representation and approachability, and the real test will be whether "companies engage with that complexity honestly, or simply glamorize the colour".

A Cultural Mood, Not a Trend

Style consultant Katie Malik concedes the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's track record of vibrant hues, but says it mirrors a genuine shift and fits within a wider mood of "quiet luxury