Pantone Picks White, And Designers See Red!

The colour world just lit a match and called it neutral. Pantone crowned white as Colour of the Year, and we couldn’t let that pass without a serious debrief. With our friend and designer Jono Fleming, we dig into why a “blank canvas” lands as apathy for many, how politics always sneaks into palettes, and what this choice says about the stories brands tell when the world feels anything but calm.We pull apart the forecasting machine—zeitgeist reading, panel dynamics, and the messy lag between runway hype and real homes. From Benjamin Moore & Co's safe browns to WGSN’s transformative teal and Dulux UK’s wave of blues, we compare signals and ask what colour could have held the moment with more honesty. Grey with a breath of blue. A slightly uneasy avocado. Blues that steady rather than sedate. These choices admit tension, instead of painting it out.Then we get practical. What does white mean in lived-in spaces with pets, kids and real budgets? Why does white often telegraph luxury by exclusion, and how can you use it intentionally—layered, textured, characterful—rather than as a default? We share how trend cycles really move, why your home shouldn’t swing with every headline, and how to keep your colour confidence when the feed shouts “reset.” Design is allowed to soothe, but it should also say something. If your palette helps you act, rest and connect, it’s doing its job.Subscribe for more candid interior talk, send this to a friend arguing for the landlord special, and tell us: what colour actually reflects the year ahead for you?Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open -  Book nowLauren also offers design consultations, so if you're needing expert guidance & inspiration for your project, please reach out  @sisalla_interior_designWould you love to be part of a small group of 8 designers joining Lauren & Bree on The Design Anatomy Tour of Paris & Milan Design Week in 2027?Please reach out to us via DM @design.anatomy.podcast, or @sisalla_interior_design & @bree.banfield