Yes, you read that right. It’s not you—it’s the color. Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year is called Cloud Dancer, and it’s… white. They picked white. This may seem hard to believe, but white, the color of angel wings, has caused quite a polarizing range of emotions, with some seeing it as calm and neutral, while others see it as a racist, slap in the face. People Magazine referred to the choice as “tone deaf. It intentionally aligns with cultural and political symbolism that many of us find deeply troubling.” Others say it’s basically not even a color. The bottom line is the same shade as your ceiling, your refrigerator, and that blouse you ruin the first time you wear it out, is the color we’ll be seeing everywhere this year—from runways to rugs to your Instagram feed. Palm Beach County locals had a lot to say about this color.
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Sarah Martin of Experience Epic Events is an expert in color palettes. She had this to say.
Pantone’s Cloud Dancer has always been one of my favorite foundational tones; it’s actually the color of the walls in my own home. There’s a calming, effortless elegance to it that invites creativity. In both interiors and events, a shade like this becomes the perfect blank canvas, subtle enough to soothe, powerful enough to let distinctive colors, textures, and moments shine. For events, it’s a dream. It’s timeless, adaptable, and endlessly inspiring.
~Sarah Martin, Experience Epic Events, Lake Worth Beach, Florida
According to Pantone, Cloud Dancer represents “lightness, clarity, and emotional cleansing—a return to simplicity in a complicated world.” Translation: we’re all exhausted, and white goes with everything. The color experts refer to it as “a soft, ethereal white evoking calm and purity.” Some people see serenity; others see primer.
Owen from Boca Raton brought in full snark but didn’t want to give his full name, stating that the new color is making him feel paranoid.
They actually had the nerve to pick an off-white color. What kind of message is that? It feels like a conspiracy. They’re all against us. I need a session with a psychiatrist now. I feel triggered.
~Owen, Boca Raton
Designers love it, though. It’s soothing. It makes small spaces look bigger, and it doesn’t clash with the throw pillows you bought last year. It’s also in step with the recent run of neutral tones—2025 gave us Mocha Mousse (basically coffee with too much milk), 2024 was Peach Fuzz (a lovely tribute to blush-colored loungewear), and back in 2023, we actually had some life with Viva Magenta. Remember that one? Bold, fearless, fabulous. Then came beige, taupe, and now… nothingness. White.
But, of course, it wouldn’t be 2026 if someone didn’t find a way to be offended. Some critics say this is a “whitewashing of culture” and a “dog whistle” for white nationalism, hitting right after Sydney Sweeney’s so-called “polarizing” American Eagle ad stirred up another round of culture-war fury. Others find the whole thing just plain boring.
Still, when Florida Jolt asked locals what they thought, most said they love it. Floridians, practical as ever, know that white is perfect for reflecting heat—and matching with just about every coastal living room aesthetic from Palm Beach to Naples.
Lauren Malis, Co-President of America First Club, had this to say.
White is the beauty of a clean slate, a spotless surface. It’s pure, calm, simple, and fresh. For years, I only wore black, white, or navy. Only recently have I been wearing more colors, living in Florida. All of my walls are white. I add color in the form of furniture. This new Pantone color makes us all the color. We’re the standout stars.
~Lauren Malis, Co-President of America First Club
Susan Lebrun from Boca said that she painted her new apartment in a similar color, and it feels nice to her. Airy, fresh, neutral, soft. Former West Palm Beach resident Nina Friedman said it’s a creamy, warm white when you want a neutral palette. The designers love it for walls. She’s seen it everywhere and has been reading all about it. Katherine Metzger from Delray Beach was a little more skeptical.
What color? It lacks color!
~Katherine Metzger, Delray Beach
Maybe there’s something deeper going on, though. With the world’s mood shaky and uncertain, perhaps people crave purity, hope, or even divine calm. White does suggest clouds—and heaven—and in a time when religion is making a serious comeback, maybe that’s the peace people are looking for.
Then again, this is about fashion and design. Peace never lasts long. Don’t be surprised if 2027’s color of the year swings hard in the other direction—say, fiery red, or if it keeps the neutral theme going and goes with “Piggy Pink,” because after a year of Cloud Dancer calm, we may all be in for a shocking pivot.
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- Palm Beach Reading List — The Titles That Defined 2025 - December 24, 2025
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- Cloud Dancer: Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year Is… White - December 9, 2025