Our monthly series asks: How do you use color in luxury design? White can be surprisingly warm and multi-toned, writes Jill Krasny

Hollywood Hills, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

Ever notice how some homes catch your eye while others fail to make an impression? The colors in the design scheme may be at play. Whereas dark blue feels relaxing and bright red gets people talking, white, which our series on color in luxury design turns to next, evokes subtler and more sophisticated feelings of calm. 

For decades, white has been the go-to for contemporary interiors in sunny climes. Now, “Cloud Dancer,” a subtle off-white shade with warmer undertones, has been named Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2026. White is not without its design pitfalls, of course. 

“In a contemporary house with clean lines, the thought of doing white everywhere with teeny tiny pops of neutrals can get clinical really fast,” says Lisa Shaffer, chief executive and creative director of Lisa & Leroy, an interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. However, the clever layering of textures and materials is the best way to keep things approachable, she says. 

Hollywood Hills, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage

A secluded, sun-drenched retreat in the Hollywood Hills shows the power of choosing materials with similar undertones, says Shaffer. Though the home appears all-white at first glance, surface materials like poured concrete walls, porcelain floors and dark oak cabinetry add interest, warming things up with their slight color differences. 

Nor do the white walls come across as cold, says Shaffer, noting that the tree-covered mountains of Laurel Canyon, visible from the windows, may have informed the design scheme. There isn’t an ocean nearby, she says, so the bright paint creates contrast.

Mykonos, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty

In Greece, where the clifftops are dotted by traditionally whitewashed homes, the color reads cooler and brighter than that of the Hollywood residence. And that’s a good thing, says Shaffer, because it makes the water look bluer and turns it into the focal point. 

A contemporary subterranean villa in Melora, Mykonos, a five-minute drive from the island’s main town, shows how incorporating natural materials like teak—and little else, beyond well-chosen accessories—put the Cycladean views front and center. .

Belgravia, London | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

Meanwhile, a 19th-century mansion in London’s exclusive Belgrave Square proves why Italianate “stucco” villas remain such a prominent feature of the capital’s most affluent neighborhoods, such as Mayfair, Belgravia, Kensington and Chelsea. 

Inside, white hallways serve as a “palette cleanser,” says Shaffer, playing up the bolder color choices of the reception rooms and bedrooms They also serve as a through line, giving a residence of this size and heritage a sense of continuity. “This house is such a good reminder that a home is designed to be cohesive—not match,” Shaffer says.

Vero Beach, Florida | ONE Sotheby’s International Realty

An oceanfront mansion in Ocean Pearl, a gated community in Vero Beach, Florida, combines the cohesive white of its exteriors and interiors with cozy detailing like wood ceilings and floors, Shaker-style cabinetry and crown molding. “This house you could pop anywhere, and convince me it belonged there,” says Shaffer. “A lot of it has to do with the architectural choices.” Such details have the power to evoke emotions, she adds, and “this is a house where a family can feel really comfortable.” 

Explore our Color Chart series, from crowd-pleasing blue to zingy orange and bright red