An interior design expert has shared her advice on styling Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026.
Kate Conrad, Lead Designer at Madison & Mayfair, has warned that whites like 'Cloud Dancer’ can easily lead to home design disasters, if used carelessly.
She said: “There’s much to be said about incorporating white hues into your home. It offers versatile pairings with other colours and textures. In years to come, you’ll be able to adjust furnishings and accessories to changing tastes, whilst maintaining a practical blank canvas.”
“Cloud Dancer is the perfect shade for creating an atmosphere of serenity and sophistication. But it can also make spaces seem overly harsh and clinical.”
Kate has shared her five top tips for making white work in your home.
1. Understand natural light
Natural light reflects off white surfaces better than any other colour, which can be used to make rooms appear more spacious.
When incorporating ‘Cloud Dancer’, maximise the impact of natural light by focusing on your windows. Voile curtains diffuse light to create the billowy and airy effect denoted by Pantone’s colour of 2026. Alternatively, white blinds and curtains looks sleek when kept clear of clutter.
North-facing rooms can be particularly gloomy, as they receive the smallest amount of natural light throughout the day. Prioritise lamps in these spaces to avoid a cold, grey appearance.
2. Pair colours
It’s generally best to stick to one shade of white, like ‘Cloud Dancer’. But use this as a backdrop to warm neutrals, soft pastels or deep contrasts. Layering shades from the same families adds depth and avoids an overly harsh sensation.
Glossy mahogany or slate grey tiles offer a particularly effective balance to brilliant white walls.
White also complements blues shades that are recommended for sleeping spaces. I’d suggest matching white linen bedcovers and carpets with sky blue or navy accents.
3. Layer textures
White is usually in abundance in bathrooms, create a spa-like atmosphere. The smooth surfaces tie in nicely with wooden blinds, statement mirrors and Egyptian cotton towels.
I’d also recommend coloured glass accessories, as these diffuse light well and add pops of colours without seeming overly juvenile. Soap dispensers, reed diffusers or candles are great examples.
In kitchens, ‘Cloud White’ marble tabletops are an excellent way to add sophistication. Rough textured walls and deliberately placed wooden utensils create a rustic look.
4. Play with space
Walls painted white can make smaller rooms appear larger. Adding accent colours is then essential for avoiding the overly clinical sensation. Do this with patterned bedcovers or blankets on sofas.
When working with spacious rooms, big white walls and high ceilings can appear flat. Instead, use ‘Cloud White’ to divide the room into different zones.
You can control visual lines by splitting walls horizontally with a different colour paint. Or introduce different textured furnishings, like wooden cabinets for organisation and linen sofas for comfort.
5. Make a statement
Use white as a blank canvas to prop up other statement colours.
In bathrooms, ‘Cloud White’ would create a monochromatic contrast to black and gold. These can be introduced through appliances or accessories.
Just be wary that block colours can be a fine balance between impressive statements and childish oversimplification. 
