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Pantone’s colour of the year for 2026 could be its most divisive yet

Next year’s colour is...

Laura Craik
Last updated: 10 December 2025 | 3 min read
AI

AI summary

Pantone has named its 2026 Colour of the Year: Cloud Dancer, an ethereal white symbolising serenity and a clean slate. While potentially divisive due to its impracticality, experts praise its versatility for home interiors.

Chrissie Rucker of The White Company calls white the "little black dress of home" for its timeless, calming effect. Interior designers note it allows furniture and art to stand out. To avoid a clinical feel, incorporate varied textures like wool, satin, and faux fur.

Controversial? Pantone had not chosen a brown for over a decade, before selecting Mocha Mousse for 2025.

White is alright for soft furnishings (unless you have pets or children, eat food or have sweaty hands).

Ask the expert: How do I choose a white paint?

Soft pastels are a match for the kind of slightly off-white Pantone are offering for next year.

What's in a colour, after all?

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Author

Laura Craik Laura Craik
Journalist