From the glow of the sun to the daffodils in spring, yellow is a colour that oozes positivity. Its cheerful and happy vibes make it a great choice for a huge range of interior styles and schemes. That’s exactly why it’s listed among our top interior colour trends.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at yellow paint colours, including the best colour combinations and some inspiration for your yellow interior design.
Getting to know the yellow colour palette
While it’s all seemingly summed up in one word, yellow offers up a very wide range of shades and tones to choose from. Naturally, that affects how you use them and the impact they have on your yellow interior design.
Yellow neutrals
Some yellow shades can act as neutrals, like creams and straw tones or soft ochre. They’re simple to use on practically any wall, piece of furniture or other surface, as they’re not going to overwhelm a space.
Rich yellow for north-facing rooms
Because stronger yellow paint colours are almost always brighter and warmer, they’re great for rooms with low natural light. That’s especially true for those with earthiness from red or orange undertones. You'll find these colours work great in north-facing rooms that get minimal sunlight or those with small windows.
Cooler shades for lighter rooms
That's not to say yellow interior design is restricted to rooms with a northern orientation. Green-toned yellows like certain lemony hues can inject a sense of fresh, clean light. They work best with higher levels of natural light.
Yellows add warmth and promote creativity
Whether it's a warm shade, cool green-yellow or soft neutral, all yellows bring a sense of warmth to your interior design. It's cheerful, energetic and full of joy in all of its guises, which can inspire creativity and vitality in your living spaces.
Colour combinations for yellow interior design
If you're intrigued by the resurgence of yellow interior design and want to add some colour to your surroundings, you'll be happy to know that it’s great for introducing contrast to neutral, super-safe grey or monochrome schemes. While there is a wide range of yellows to choose from, most mix well with greys – even the strongest tones.
But yellow is far from a one-trick pony! Its fresh vibrance is wonderful for complementing greens and navy blues. Yellow interior design also works well with textures and finishes like rattan and natural wood. Both ideas are shown below, with zesty, mustardy yellow Hot as Mustard used to brighten up a cabinet alongside a velvety grey-blue, plus a touch of natural wood from the stack of logs.
Yellow interior design ideas
Yellow walls
When you want to add colour to a space, many people’s first port of call is the wall. With good reason too. A yellow feature wall can really brighten up a room. It can also be paired with your choice of complementary or contrasting shades for a half-and-half wall. White and grey are both popular partners for yellow on walls, but it’s really up to you!
If you want to go bold with your interior design, try yellow on full walls or even full rooms. A yellow hallway is a bright statement that can energise you the moment you step into your home. Using a softer yellow neutral can prevent the space from becoming overwhelming.
Yellow accents
However, you don’t always need to go as far as painting a feature wall to include more colour. Experiment by adding soft furnishings or perhaps painting a door or piece of furniture like a chair. Even something as small as a lamp base or picture frame can be enough to get you started.
You could try adding richer shades of yellow to chair legs in your dining room for a burst of energy. Or use a bold shade of yellow on small pieces in your living room. Pare it back with natural materials to balance energy and warmth with calm and earthiness.
Yellow on woodwork
Like the colour-blocking trend, you can use yellow to add interest in unexpected ways – from a statement piece of furniture to small accents throughout the room. Another idea for yellow interior design is painting your woodwork. This bold, unusual choice looks great on door surrounds or cased openings.
Creating a colour scheme for your yellow interiors
As you get better acquainted with yellow interior design, you can start to pair ideas to get the look you're after. Check out this bold yellow entryway between two rooms paired with small yellow features dotted throughout the dining room and living room…
Yellow paint colour inspiration
If you’re not ready to go all-in with yellow interiors, the bright shade is perfect for pepping up a safe scheme. From pastels through to sunshine or sandy tones and even strong mustards, yellow paint colours can be a fabulous addition if you want to add energy to an existing scheme. These are more commonly used in small doses as accents or for features and which contribute some contrast and interest.
That’s reflected perfectly below, with a mustard yellow headboard juxtaposing a newly transformed chest of drawers using deep, dark Blackjack.
In fact, super-saturated yellows or acid tones are perhaps best kept as strong pops of colour. Again, they can be surprisingly effective for lifting a scheme. Sometimes, even a tiny amount of yellow is all that’s needed...
If you’re looking for a small project that offers plenty of impact with a fabulous yellow statement, how about painting your front door? Hot as Mustard from the Lazy Range is used below on the internal side of a front door to add a splash of colour and warmth. Accentuated by the yellow cushions on the bench, the zesty yellow shade pairs perfectly with the neutral grey features, off-white walls and natural wood floor. It's a simple but effective step towards yellow interior design. Also, for a splash of yellowy cheer outdoors, check out Daffs.
Who says brightness has to be confined to living spaces? Yellow is a beautiful way to add some warmth and interest to your bedroom. Start small with cushions or throws. Go one further with a yellow bed frame. Or create a cohesive theme with several yellow features all tied together.
The yellow bed frame below is matched by the door and frame – all in Lazy Range Hot as Mustard. Tying in with pops of yellow in the wallpaper for a bright and delightful bit of yellow interior design.
Get started on your yellow interior design
Ready to add some yellow cheer to your home? Frenchic makes it easy with beautiful yellow paint. From our Lazy Range with a unique wax infusion to our weatherproof Al Fresco Inside / Outside Range, our yellow paint is self-priming, self-levelling and self-sealing to minimise preparation and aftercare. It’s also water-based and certified (UKCA & EN17-3) as safe to use on children’s toys.
Put simply, you can use it on a wide range of surfaces for excellent yellow interior design results every time. If you’d like any more advice or inspiration, be sure to check out our blog – The World Of Frenchic. And don’t forget to send us the results of your bright and beautiful yellow paint projects on Instagram!
