At last, at last! It’s spring at last! We in the Northern Hemisphere of Luxury Defined, inspired by a season of change, offer a few bright ideas to bring drama, light, mood and color into your home.

One of the hottest trends for 2025 is “color drenching”—saturating a space with rich thematic colors. As the fashion bible Vogue put it, “This method involves painting the ceiling, skirting boards, doors and architraves in harmonising or contrasting tones—ergo, using anything but white.”

Neutrals are also big, in earthy shades such as “Mocha Mousse,” the Pantone Color Institute’s Color of the Year. Color is making a comeback in bathrooms and kitchens, taking the form of onyx, green marble, quartzite, and other colorful stones.

Classic patterns, such as stripes, are also having a moment, in what Better Homes and Gardens calls “pattern play,” and it’s everywhere, from wallpaper to upholstery and linens.

Lighting, too, is going big. But instead of large, stand-alone pieces, designers are taking a layered approach, by using recessed, ambient, and back-lit lighting to add dimension and instant calm to interior spaces.

Earlier this year, we discussed similarly emergent themes for interior decor. They included Earth colors, sustainable materials, dramatic drapery, upholstered walls, and Art Deco fixtures and finishes.

All these trends make 2025 an exciting year for luxurious decor. Read on to see their effects at play in four luxury homes.

1. Lakefront Mansion in Winnetka, Illinois

Trend: Pattern Play

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This majestic waterfront estate on Chicago’s North Shore encompasses three levels of palatial living space for four-season entertaining on a grand or intimate scale.

Deluxe design touches are on display throughout the 8,086-square-foot interior. Its palette of beachy hues and vibrant wallpapers by The House of Scalamandré creates a home that is both on trend and calming. Farrow & Ball lacquered bookcases in gorgeous greens and blues are offset by white Villa Blanca marble.

The lake is perhaps best observed from the palatial great room, with its finely paneled cathedral ceilings and three tiered terraces for lakeside entertaining. Lake views also set the stage for the gourmet kitchen with appliances by Wolf and Sub-Zero.

The luxury is turned up to 11 in the soothing, first-floor primary suite with sunrise views, two walk-in closets, and a white spa bath.

The amenities are worthy of a boutique resort: The cinema (with stadium seating and a concession stand) is a new addition. There’s also a multi-sport simulator, a sleek home office, fitness studio, and an 88-foot-wide sandy beach.

2. Oceanfront Estate in Manalapan, Florida

Trend: Colorful Stone

This dramatic Mediterranean-style estate on the prized barrier island coastline of Manalapan’s Estate Section is the creation of award-winning Yates Rainho Architects.

Completed in 2018, the 2.14-acre private compound provides 200 feet of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and another 200 feet (with an ipe wood boat dock) on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Lantern-lit gated entries sweep past verdant lawns to the stately main residence, while a second drive approaches the separate two-story guest house, which together offer 23,795 square feet of living space.

The interiors, styled in the classic Gold Coast tradition, have a soft neutral and gray palette. Ornate details include exquisite millwork and floors of creamy Corsica marble and wide-plank walnut. Windows, shielded by impact glass, frame the ocean panorama.

The lofty foyer with its spiral staircase brings guests into the airy double-height great room with a fireplace clad in pastel blue stone. A cocktail bar and lounge open to the ocean loggia and pool.

Accessed by either of the two elevators, the second floor features a sumptuous oceanfront owner’s suite with a fireside sitting area and romantic balcony.

Added luxuries include a saltwater pool with flow-over spa, a summer kitchen, five-bay garage, a 1,100-bottle wine room, a full-house generator, and a robust security system.

3. The Icon in Charlotte, North Carolina

Trend: Layered Lighting

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The Icon is a masterpiece of modern luxury overlooking the fairways of Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 13,919-square-foot residence and 1.4-acre grounds offer a resort experience with designer details and all the creature comforts.

Contemporary light fixtures are thematic throughout the home. The standout is a glass-enclosed foyer illuminated by a custom fixture lighting the three-story floating staircase. The gourmet kitchen has recessed lighting above the dual island breakfast bar. Adjoining is an elegant dining space opening to a sunroom, family room, and covered terrace out to the infinity pool and rear gardens.

The primary suite is also on the garden level, and pampers residents with its dual walk-in closets, spa-like bath and steam shower.

The VIP suite is on the lower level with the gym, sauna, steam room, and playroom. The upper floor houses a media room, guest apartment, and indoor pickleball court. Golfers can practice on the private putting green.

4. Coastal Villa in Saint-Tropez, France

Trend: Color Drenching

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Light, air, and the tan and sandy tints of Mediterranean beaches suffuse this St. Tropez villa built in 2014 and just a short walk from pine-bordered Salins Beach.

The spacious, bright “great room” is open-plan under a double-height beamed ceiling. It flows to an elegant dining space and a fully kitted, contemporary kitchen. The mezzanine level offers a comfortable media lounge. The primary bedroom provides a dressing space adjoining an en suite bathroom. The second bedroom has its own shower and bath.

Executed in a relaxed tan and cream color scheme, the reception spaces look out to the pool terrace, basking decks, and landscaped gardens. Beyond lies the two-bedroom guest cottage with a mezzanine media lounge.

Explore more luxury homes with trending design features here.

Writer’s bio: Lucy Carsen is a regular contributor to the Luxury Defined blog and has written for luxury lifestyle publications including Worth, Christie’s and Christie’s International Real Estate magazines.