Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into luxury design? Burgundy adds warmth and glamour, writes Jill Krasny

Knightsbridge, London | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

Some homes make a lasting impression while others quickly fade from the mind. Almost always, the design and color scheme is a factor. Navy is elegant, versatile and timeless, while terracotta, a hue that’s been used domestically for centuries, suits traditional and contemporary spaces alike. 

Burgundy—which our series on color in luxury design turns to next—brings comforting warmth to any interior while injecting a little old-fashioned “decadence and glamour,” says Patrick O’Donnell, an interior designer and brand ambassador for British paint maker Farrow & Ball. The color reigned supreme in the Victorian era, says O’Donnell, when “dark, sumptuous and textural interiors” were in vogue, along with layered damasks, busy prints and plush velvets.

Lenox Hill, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage

Burgundy was also used in ancient times, he notes, as evidenced by the Roman city of Pompeii in Italy, where many frescoes feature the color. Meanwhile, the interior walls of the Pantheon in the grounds of Stourhead, a grand estate in Wiltshire, England, show traces of purple-red porphyry stone. It was inspired by the original Pantheon in Rome.

In recent years, shades of both burgundy and maroon (with its brown rather than purple undertone) have surged in popularity, says O’Donnell, as homeowners grow tired of muted palettes and opt for bolder, more expressive colors. Burgundy enlivens any neutral room, he says, and especially pops in “small or poorly lit spaces,” where “its red overtones add a cozy, inviting vibe.”

Knightsbridge, London | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

A newly refurbished apartment in London’s Knightsbridge proves O’Donnell right. “It creates something rather masculine and cocooning,” he says of the deep burgundy bedroom walls paired with floor-skimming charcoal curtains. The L-shaped galley kitchen, with European-style cabinetry in a vampy red, feels similarly off-kilter—in the best way possible—thanks to its wavy glass window set over the sink. 

In the traditional living room of a Lenox Hill townhouse in New York, the richly patterned carpet highlights the wood-paneled walls and chintz-covered seats without detracting from the historic art. The grand foyer’s light burgundy wallpaper, O’Donnell notes, “serves as a clever foil for the extensive collection of black-and-white photography.” Additionally, it draws out the sweeping spiral staircase and checkerboard tile floor.

Bridgehampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Bridgehampton Brokerage

In a striking home in Bridgehampton, New York, burgundy walls provide a bold backdrop for art and collectables in a vestibule space connecting the main reception area and a paved terrace. The color pairs well with both the adjacent white and greenery outside, while an unusual blue and gold starred ceiling provides a pleasing contrast.

This makes sense, says O’Donnell. Strong colors such as burgundy aren’t suited to light-filled spaces; they tend to work best in smaller areas as accents. And this applies to furniture and soft furnishings as much as a wall, which explains the popularity of burgundy velvet sofas and rugs.

Germantown, New York | Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty

Meanwhile, a modern farmhouse in New York’s Hudson Valley offers a subtler take on decorating with burgundy. “The dresser gently draws the eye to the objects on display,” says O’Donnell, noting the tonal backing. “Even the color has been ‘washed’ to create a sense of softness,” he adds. 

Also helpful: the eclectic-patterned rug spread across the wide plank floors. Further burgundy rugs line the living room and an impeccably decorated bedroom that complements the owner’s eclectic mix of art, curios and wooden four-poster bed.

Explore our Color Chart series, from bold red, joyful pink, zingy orange, versatile turquoise and uplifting yellow to natural lilac, historic terracotta, classic green, calming white and sophisticated navy