Jimmy Butler's entryway color is the perfect backdrop for styling art in a modern, eye-catching manner – designers break down his bold look

When you think 'white entryway,' you might think 'boring and dated,' but Jimmy Butler's space demonstrates this needn't be the case. The basketball player's modern space takes white as a jumping off point in which to couch gorgeous, modern design details.

The athlete's entryway idea (and entire home) was designed by the inimitiable Tiffany Brooks Interiors. It features white walls opening to a staircase with lightwash wood floors. In the center, a round natural wood coffee table is styled with flowers, a white vase, and a stack of art books. Most striking is the vignette at the back of the entryway, showcasing a painting by Keith Jackson over a modern cow print chair. All together, the look demonstrates that white paint will never go out of style, as long as it is used in the right way.

There has been copious backlash against white hallway ideas in color reports for 2025, and for good reason. For too long, the neutral shade has been used as a stand in for modern design, trying to create something that appeals to everyone by refusing to choose a point of view. However, Butler's space demonstrate a new take on white; where it is used to create negative space against dark and striking design details to make them stand out all the more.

To create a similar look, it starts with building up your neutral background. In Butler's case this starts with white walls, and light wash floors, but you could accomplish a similar look with cream, tan wood, or even sand colored walls. Really, any warm neutral paint will work. Then, consider what you want to bring in: a piece of art, a patterned chair, and a coffee table are the perfect places to start.

One thing that Brooks does very well in Butler's home is bringing the thread of a color throughout his space. For instance, the painting has a lot of reddish brown and black. These tones are then echoed in the rug, the flowers, and the cow print chair. This technique is an easy way to make your color palette look cohesive when using a variety of ecclectic objects.

Jimmy Butler's home is proof that a white entryway doesn't need to be just one look. Instead, it functions as the perfect backdrop.