Overview
- Pantone selected Cloud Dancer as its 2026 Color of the Year, drawing online criticism covered by Forbes and the New York Times, with detractors calling the choice tone deaf and joking it was the “landlord special.”
- Recent reporting from local designers points to clients moving past beige and white toward bold personalization, including “color drenching” that paints walls, trim, and doors in deep, uniform tones or uses full-room wallpaper.
- Popular directions cited include blues and greens with warm undertones as well as terra-cotta, smoky lilac, and rose, with designers encouraging confidence in larger, more permanent applications like cabinetry.
- Texture and longevity are in focus through natural stone hues, layered textiles, performance fabrics, plants, and eclectic vintage pieces that avoid a matchy, mass-produced look.
- Pantone executive Laurie Pressman cast Cloud Dancer as a visual reset expressing aspirations for peace and cohesion, while fashion coverage showcased winter-white styling and runway looks exploring the shade’s range.