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For anyone who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same standard-issue beige walls and dreaming of adding some actual personality 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 flagship hue.

To be precise, the shade is called Cloud Dancer – a white touted as "lofty" and "airy" which "functions as a emblem of tranquility in a society rediscovering the value of stillness".

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

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "represents more than a hue, it's a philosophy" and embodies a shared desire to decelerate, recalibrate and seek peace after years of visual overload.

But some critics have dubbed the decision as "out of touch", arguing that championing sparse and immaculate white spaces can feel disconnected from the smaller, lived-in homes most people inhabit.

Additional critics argue that positioning white as aspirational introduces subtext related to race, landing uncomfortably amid ongoing political and cultural discussions about inclusion and diversity.

Clinical or Calm?

Interior expert One design critic says the backlash goes beyond aesthetics, arguing that white carries societal connotations and is seldom a innocuous choice.

"White is a signal," he says, shaped by a ten-year period of minimalist celebrity interiors – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to represent "affluence, control and removal from disorder".

He explains that white is "not about inspiration but being careful not to cause upset", with Cloud Dancer embodying "austerity, moral minimalism and the concept that neutrality denotes virtue".

The designer points to the global health crisis as a pivotal moment in how people relate to their homes.

"Overnight they became our workspaces, refuges and emotional anchors," he says, noting that against this backdrop, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness feels rather out of step".

Rather than providing calm, he contends white now threatens to intensifying "a feeling of emptiness", especially when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

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 highly minimal or structural spaces, she says pure white shades rarely foster calm in everyday living spaces.

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

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

She adds that "homes should elicit happiness and feel inviting and lived-in, and this shade seems quite distant from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in favour of "full-scale dopamine décor", using vibrant hues to express personality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute commented that people "bring different feelings" to the significance of the colour, but it was chosen as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, offering a refined neutrality that seems deliberate and adaptable".

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

Previous selections have included the optimism of Living Coral, the calm confidence of a deep blue, the vibrancy of Viva Magenta, and more recently more gentle, emotionally driven tones like a soft peach.

These colours don't just live on trend forecasts - they show up in fashion collections, cosmetic products, home decor, packaging and even technology, shaping how products are sold and how consumers imagine the coming year.

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

In contrast to those who say the colour is dull, the expert sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and living areas where you want a serene, restful ambiance".

"Even if you prefer not to repaint, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, throws and curtains."

Interior designer 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 a basic flavor, 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 backdrop for design features like panelling and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In apparel, white has long been a basic rather than a statement and as a Colour of the Year it poses a unique test to designers more accustomed to bold shades.

Fashion consultant Oriona Robb says championing white feels "less about novelty and more concerned with purpose", reflecting a movement towards sophistication after years of trend overloads.

"White forces designers and wearers alike to concentrate on shape, proportion and quality, there's really no room for error," she clarifies.

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

She says the industry is already cognizant of the problematic connotations tied to celebrating white as an aspirational standard, particularly during continuing conversations about inclusion and accessibility, and the real test will be whether "brands engage with that complexity honestly, or simply aestheticise the colour".

A Reflection of the Times

Style consultant Katie Malik admits the choice at first surprised her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a authentic change and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury