Cloud Dancer: Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026 reaches new heights
- Written by: Angie Turner
Pantone have unveiled their Colour of the Year for 2026: a warm, enveloping, pillowy-soft shade of white that slips effortlessly into any design scheme. After all, white truly does go with everything.
Chosen to evoke relaxation, clarity, and the promise of a fresh start, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a serene, beautifully balanced white designed to both calm and gently energise the senses.
PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer doesn’t shout — it whispers. It sets the stage for creativity to flourish, inviting light and warmth into any space. Whether used as a confident standalone or paired with a spectrum of colours, it offers a subtle yet unmistakable presence.
Among our own foundational materials is Alba, a perennial favourite whose soft white tones prove neutrals need never be dull. With rich character drawn from its history and delicate silver flecks that hint at its past life as yoghurt pots, Alba has elevated countless schemes across hospitality, retail, and education. As we celebrate Pantone’s choice for 2026, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on some of our favourite Alba applications.
Substantial Furniture by Alexander Schul. Photography by Veronika Shoberer
Substantial Furniture by Alexander Schul
Aiming to use plastic waste for the creation of a new aesthetic and style of sustainable furniture, Alexander Schul developed a collection of products, from seating to lighting, using our Alba material.
Substantial Furniture is a functional collection that proves one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Café Dix at the Berlinische Galerie
Café Dix at the Berlinische Galerie has had a completely fresh look for the first time in ten years. The new interior, designed by architectural studio Kinzo and fitted out by Berlin furniture brand Objekte Unserer Tage (OUT), is defined by bold contrasts of colour and material. Occasional walls in midnight blue set off the light white Smile Plastics Alba counter and tables, while a long Alba table runs the full length of the room, parallel to the bar. Other striking details include OUT’s bright orange SHULZ bar stools and a large illuminated DIX sculpture by NULIGHT.
GAIL’S Petersfield by Holland Harvey Architects. Photography by Katerina Antos-Lewis
GAIL’S, Petersfield
At GAIL’s Petersfield bakery, the focus on community and sustainability is clear. The bakery embraces a circular economy by carefully sourcing high-quality ingredients and prioritising waste reduction across its operations.
Since opening, GAIL’s Petersfield has followed a ‘waste not’ ethos, guiding everything from baking practices to interior design. For this site, Holland Harvey Architects applied a ‘light touch’ approach, upcycling furniture and highlighting original features to minimise environmental impact. For counters and tables, Smile’s Alba material was selected. This choice turns recycled single-use plastics into ultra-food-safe surfaces, reflecting GAIL’s commitment to reducing waste while maintaining functionality and style.
Klättermusen, London
For Klättermusen’s first UK store on London’s King’s Road, the brief was clear: combine sustainability with high-quality design. Reflecting the brand’s mission, the project embraced innovative materials and solutions that minimised environmental impact while keeping the product centre stage. Smile’s Alba material was used for counters and product displays, complemented by durable mild steel and soft furnishings made from recycled fabrics. Designed entirely for disassembly, the store embodies both functionality and responsibility.
The Beeches Bathroom. Photography by Fred Howarth
The Beeches Bathroom
At The Beeches Bathroom, Smile’s Alba panels, crafted from 100% recycled/recyclable HIPS, transform the space into a sleek, spa-like retreat. A contemporary family bathroom designed to feel light and airy, with a palette of white and pale timber accented by black grout lines and hardware. Alba’s elegant white base, subtly flecked with silver foil, brings timeless style while remaining 100% waterproof, mould-resistant, and hard-wearing – perfect for wetroom environments. Used as 5mm wall panelling, the recycled surface elevates the bathroom with a seamless, contemporary aesthetic, proving that eco-friendly materials can be both beautiful and functional.
Even prior to Pantone’s reveal, we were already exploring new expressions of white. Loom, introduced earlier this year as part of our Smile Fibres launch, is a fresh white-based material that also marks our first step beyond recycled plastics.
Light, bright, and full of texture – Loom captures the softer side of waste. Made from shredded cotton offcuts and colourful trimmings, this speckled white panel evokes paper, fabric, and confetti in equal measure. The result is a clean yet playful surface, delicate in appearance, but built to last.
“At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete hue offering a promise of clarity […] a conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.” – Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute.
Feeling inspired by Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2026? Let PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer guide your next design project; whether you’re looking to create a calm, serene space or a backdrop that lets other colours shine.
Explore Pantone’s suggested palettes for ideas, and don’t forget to order samples of our signature white materials, Alba and Loom, to see how these timeless materials can elevate your schemes.