40+ Ways to Make a White Room Feel Absolutely Grand

A strict palette of white and gray gives this Connecticut farmhouse an airy sense of grandeur, combined with large-scale paned windows, distressed white oak floors, and sculptural light fixtures.

For an apartment in Miami's legendary Surf Club, Delphine Krakoff creates a vivacious welcome in the all-white entry hallway with a wavy, rainbow mural by Sol LeWitt that snakes through the 50-foot-long, windowless space.

A white perforated steel staircase contrasts with the black stained-oak floors in a Brooklyn triplex, creating a modern sense of openness that feels refined yet playful.

In an East Hampton house designed for a pair of art collectors, crisp white walls and floors are the perfect backdrop to an exuberant collection of paintings and sculptures.

Bright white walls serve as the backdrop of fine art in this Emma Jane Pilkington-designed prewar Manhattan apartment. In the entryway, an Alexander Calder sculpture sits atop an antique table, while a colorful painting by Jean Dubuffet hangs above.

In the Hamptons home of Oscar de la Renta executive Erika Bearman, the kitchen's stools are by Design Within Reach, the ceiling fixture is from YLighting, the refrigerator and wine cooler are Sub-Zero, and the photograph is from Natural Curiosities.

The living room in Lisa Perry's Florida home is covered in terrazzo flooring. The sofa is by de Sede, the cocktail table is by Cini Boeri, and the painting, Elaidyl Alcohol, is by Damien Hirst. In the den beyond, the sofa and ottoman are by Francesco Binfaré, the chair is by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset, the pillows are by Lisa Perry, and the multi-panel painting is by Tadaaki Kuwayama.

The neon wall sculpture in the master bedroom of designers Kevin Roberts and Timothy Haynes's New York City home is by Glenn Ligon, and the Corian platform bed, a custom design, is dressed with Belgian linens; the circa-1960 bedside tables are by Joseph-André Motte, and the walls are sheathed in a Marmorino wall finish.

In an Upper East Side apartment the playroom's 1970s sofa by Brueton Industries is covered in a velvet by Maharam, and the Alf Svensson swivel chairs and Robsjohn-Gibbings cocktail table are vintage; 1960s chairs are paired with a table designed by Superstudio, and the photograph is by Barry Frydlender.

In the Paris home of designer Christopher Noto, a fabric-covered, geometric light fixture and a large, gold-framed wall mirror accents the marble room. The bathroom sink and tub are custom designs, and the fittings are antique. The Japanese screen on the wall is from the Edo period.

Antique Italian mirrors hang above consoles by Conde House in the living room of this Capri home; the slipper chairs are by Creazioni, and the antique tile flooring is original to the house.

In the contemporary L.A. home of interior designer Georgia Tapert Howe, the kitchen’s refrigerator is by Sub-Zero, the range is by Wolf, and the Rohl farmhouse sink has fittings by Waterworks; the stools are from Design Within Reach, the counters are in a gray marble, the Roman shades are of a C & C Milano sheer, and the pendants are by RH, Restoration Hardware.

In the living room of a TriBeCa apartment designed by Kevin Dumais, a vintage Mies van der Rohe daybed from Lost City Arts is upholstered in a Brochier velvet; the table is by Caste, the chandelier is by Studio Van den Akker, the rug is by Joseph Carini, the sculpture is by Kohei Nawa, and the painting is by Sarah Crowner.

In Bunny Williams' Connecticut studio, custom bookshelves act as a mural of color for the room; a Japanese vase rests on a zinc-topped table from RT Facts.

In the dining area off the kitchen in a bohemian retreat in San Miguel de Allende, the Saarinen table is by Knoll, the Lee Industries settee and armchair have white denim slipcovers, and the vintage Mexican chair was purchased in town. The blue-and-white vintage plates were mostly found on the couple’s travels, and the throw is Mexican.