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Pantone's colour of 2026 is a white. How to use Cloud Dancer in hotels, restaurants and events without the stains
Pantone named Cloud Dancer, a soft white, its Colour of the Year 2026. What it means for chairs in hotels, restaurants and event rental, and how to use white where it works.
The news
On 4 December 2025, Pantone named PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer its Colour of the Year 2026. It describes it as "a lofty white neutral with an aerated presence" and "a symbolic invitation to pause and reset" (source 1).
"Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start," said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute (source 1).
The problem with white
Designers and venue owners know the catch. White looks wonderful on the first day. In a busy restaurant, a white seat meets coffee, wine, jeans and children. In a rental fleet, white chairs travel in vans and get stacked in warehouses.
So the question is not "should we use white?" It is "where does white work, and where does it need help?"
Where white works
- Events and ceremonies. A room full of white chairs is calm, bright and photographs well. Events are short, and rental chairs are usually cleaned between bookings.
- Chair frames. A white or whitewashed frame gives the light, airy look. The frame is touched less than the seat and is easy to wipe.
- Hotel breakfast rooms and lounges with daylight. White reflects light and can make a room feel bigger.
Where white needs help
- Seats in busy restaurants. Put the white on the frame and choose a seat that is easy to clean, such as faux leather, or a darker fabric.
- Rooms without daylight. White can look grey under warm artificial light. See a sample in the actual room.
- Care homes. A white chair on a light floor can almost disappear for older eyes. Contrast matters more than fashion. Read our guide to dementia-friendly chairs.
Three combinations that work
- White and natural wood. A white frame with an oak or beech table keeps the room warm.
- White and one strong colour. White frames with seats in one colour, such as blue or burgundy, give a calm room a clear accent.
- Whitewash instead of pure white. A washed finish shows the wood grain and hides small marks better than a solid white.
Where RikoStyle fits
We offer white and light finishes across the range (source 2):
- Banquet and event chairs: White and Lime wash, among 8 frame finishes, on models like the Maximus, Medallion, Chivari UK and Emotion chairs.
- Restaurant, hotel and care chairs: White beech and Distressed white, among the 10 frame finishes available on 171 chairs, armchairs and bar stools.
- Seats: faux leather in white, cream, grey and stronger colours, so you can choose how much white the seat carries.
We offer these models to interior designers, hotel and restaurant owners, event rental companies, furniture retailers and importers, and care homes, and we are looking for long-term partners in each of these groups.
Sources
- Pantone via Texintel, Pantone unveils PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as Color of the Year 2026 (4 December 2025): https://www.texintel.com/press-room/pantone-12-25-p-pantone-unveils-pantone-11-4201-cloud-dancer-as-color-of-the-year-2026-offering-a-sanctuary-of-calm-in-a-chaotic-world
- RikoStyle product data as published on rikostyle.com, November 2026.
