Decorating with yellow

With its sunny appeal and versatile nature, yellow is one of the most popular colours for decorating. It warms up a cool room and brightens a dark space, but you need to keep in mind a few guidelines when using yellow, so that it does not overpower.

 

Although you may think that mixing yellow with other colours could be tricky, try mixing it with pink, turquoise, green, or even purple and orange. Even the most unlikely pairs can work if you use the right amount and intensity.

ABOVE and BELOW: For a bold, graphic feel, add black and white accessories with strong silhouettes to a room already vivid with colour. A yellow and white room tempered with bits of black is guaranteed to be cheerful.

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What it's paired with red, yellow takes on a reddish hue, but when paired with green, it takes on a citron-ish hue. No matter how much time you spend pouring over paint chips, you never really know how yellow will look until the room is complete. Yellows moving towards red are warm and welcoming, which makes than ideal for large walls and piece of furniture - especially in rooms that are south-facing and otherwise cold. Yellows such as pale citron or mellow ocher are usually easier to incorporate than brighter tones, which can quickly become overbearing.

Yellows on the blue side of the colour wheel seemed colder and vivid. For a pop of citrus fresh colour in a south-facing room, try combining yellow and lime with pops of red to warm up the cool colour. If your goal is a vibrant, sunny room, be cautious when choosing colours. What appears just right on the paint swatch will usually intensify once it’s on your walls.

It's a good idea to pick out a colour that looks good on the swatch and then go a few shades lighter. It may take a few attempts before you find the shade you had in mind, but paint is one of the most affordable ways to add colour and a few tester pots to try out on the walls will help you decide if you can live with it.

After a few days, you’ll have a clearer sense of whether that daffodil hue is refreshingly jaunty or just plain over stimulating.

 

Cottage style, modern or traditional, when combined, yellow and white refresh and revatilise even the dullest setting. If you want to paint the wall in a strong yellow, try to balance it with neutral furnishings. Paint the trim white to give it a crisp look.

The high contrast of yellow, black, and deep taupe gives the living room of a Los Angeles house "a smoky, glamorous, old-world Hollywood style," says designer Mary McDonald. "And all the symmetry with the furniture placement gave me the most latitude in creating several seating areas for entertaining — anchored by that big pouf."

Don't be afraid to mix several shades of yellow in the same room. Just be sure to ground it with something else. Black is always a good choice. It will connect all the shades together and give the eye a place to rest.

A formal living room gets a cheeky colour treatment with deep brown walls accented with egg-yolk yellow accessories. A deep colour needs strong accents for contrast.

BELOW: Step up from the start, white minimalist look by adding splashes of vibrant yellow. Because yellow is a strong colour, you might not want to have too many large scale pieces done in it. It can become overwhelming so it's well-suited to side chairs and accent pillows than it is large sofas.

The yellow in the room above prevents the room from feeling washed-out and bland. When introducing yellow pieces, try to match the vibe of the room - an upholstered screen against a white bright chair with a crisp, contemporary design.

Pair yellow with crisp white for a setting that is refreshing, sunny and traditional. These two colours are perfect for a small kitchen that does not receive a lot of natural light. Now, add a splash of black here and there and you have a more modern look.

It's easy to add sunny yellow, citrus yellow, green or yellow-green colour tones to your kitchen, dining room or living  room decor with small inexpensive decor accessories, saving you money on spring decorating and creating beautiful natural accents with warm or relaxing shades that match your home interior colour schemes.