🔗 Share this article

For anyone who has spent a long time living in rental properties, staring at the same landlord-approved beige walls and yearning for adding some actual personality to their home, Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year might seem like a disappointing choice.

This time around, the renowned color company has designated white as its annual hue.

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

It marks the initial instance white has been chosen as the Colour of the Year, and it has sparked considerable debate.

Per Pantone, Cloud Dancer "is not just a colour, it's a philosophy" and embodies a widespread yearning to slow down, reset and find calm after years of aesthetic chaos.

But some critics have labelled the decision as "Pantonedeaf", suggesting that championing minimalist and immaculate white spaces can seem distant from the more compact, lived-in homes the majority inhabit.

Additional critics argue that presenting white as aspirational risks racial undertones, creating unease amid ongoing societal conversations about inclusion and diversity.

Sterile or Serene?

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

"The color white sends a message," he says, influenced by a ten-year period of sparse star homes – most notably Kim Kardashian's stripped-back home – that came to symbolize "affluence, order and removal from chaos".

He clarifies that white is "not about inspiration but taking care not to offend", with Cloud Dancer personifying "restraint, moral minimalism and the notion that neutrality equals goodness".

Beaumont points to the global health crisis as a defining period in how people relate to their homes.

"Almost instantly they transformed into our workspaces, sanctuaries and emotional anchors," he says, stating that in this context, pushing the Colour of the Year towards "further visual emptiness seems rather tone-deaf".

Rather than offering calm, he argues white now risks intensifying "a sense of bleakness", particularly when combined with harsh, sterile lighting.

'Sterile Sensations

An interior designer, a Surrey based design expert, concurs and says Cloud Dancer "doesn't really read as a colour" and is "completely rejected for me".

While it may suit extremely sparse or structural spaces, she says bright whites seldom foster calm in real homes.

"What looks serene in a styled shoot can easily feel sterile at home," she explains.

"White can feel harsh and demanding and you don't want your home to emit hospital vibes."

She continues that "homes should spark joy and feel inviting and lived-in, and this hue seems quite removed from that."

The critic expresses a desire that homeowners will reject the Pantone Colour of the Year in preference for "unabashed dopamine décor", using colour to showcase individuality.

The vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute stated that people "have varied interpretations" to the significance of the colour, but it was selected as it "integrates perfectly with everything around it, providing a sophisticated impartiality that feels 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 hopefulness of Living Coral, the serene assurance of Classic Blue, the energy of Viva Magenta, and more recently softer, feeling-based tones like Peach Fuzz.

These colours extend beyond trend forecasts - they appear in fashion collections, beauty launches, interiors, packaging and even consumer electronics, shaping how products are marketed and how consumers envision the year ahead.

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

In contrast to those who say the colour is boring, Robinson sees it as "adaptable" and says it's best used in "sleeping quarters and communal spaces where you want a peaceful, calming atmosphere".

"Even if you don't want to redecorate, you can introduce the colour into a room with cushions, blankets and curtains."

Interior designer Another professional says although he was surprised that Pantone's selection this year was "fundamentally 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 benefits, explaining that white can work especially effectively as a backdrop for design features like wall molding and arched doorways which is a "growing trend in contemporary houses".

In apparel, 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 familiar with bold shades.

Fashion consultant A styling expert says championing white feels "not focused on newness and more about intention", indicating a movement towards sophistication after years of fad saturation.

"White forces 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 carries presumptions around body confidence, lifestyle and privilege, saying: "When white is treated as something only a limited subset of people can pull off, it becomes divisive."

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

A Societal Shift, Not a Fad

Style consultant Another expert admits the choice at first shocked her, considering Pantone's track record of bold colours, but says it reflects a genuine shift and fits within a broader sentiment of "quiet luxury