How to Decorate with the Color Yellow
According to the psychology of color, using yellow in your decor is a great way to induce feelings of joy, enthusiasm, fun, originality, and confidence. In general, it’s an excellent option to give life to a space in the home. This tone easily blends with others and freshens any environment.
In addition, it’s currently quite trendy in the world of design and fashion although you must know how to apply it correctly to make the most out of it.
For one, you don’t have to use the most vibrant yellow tone. In fact, it’s best to play with multiple variations and shades in your bedroom or living room. Shades in the scale of grays, blues, and even lilac are great here.
Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about creating a special yellow room!
Reasons to decorate with the color yellow
Only the most daring ever think about using the color yellow in their decor. It’s always good to take a risk, though. However, this tone really adapts to all seasons and so using it as an accent might be enough to give a total twist to any of your rooms.
Not convinced yet?
Well, here are some more reasons to do it!
The color yellow adds luminosity
Is there a dark space in your home or office that you’d like to liven up? Yellow might be the key to make it fun while maintaining a certain degree of sophistication. Actually, this color is ideal to brighten up a dark environment.
It’s joyful
Rooms, where neutral colors predominate, are common. These are precisely where this color would take center stage to bring some joy to a small space. It can enhance gray, white, and black tones. Try it and see how cozy it turns out.
It’s adaptable
One of the advantages of decorating with yellow is it’s rather versatile. Thus, you can incorporate it into both warm and cold environments. In addition, it’s great for children’s rooms as well as spaces dedicated to work.
Check out these Four Feng Shui Decoration Tips for Rental Properties
It conveys personality
Yellow is a vibrant color that brings its own personality to any space that invites it in. Don’t be afraid of being original and innovative with your home decor, anytime is as good as the other when it comes to including some yellow elements. This beautiful color draws attention and so it’ll make your spaces bright and shiny.
It’s easy to find
Believe it or not, you can get many yellow decorative objects due to the adaptation of the current market. There’s anything from flower pots to large pieces of furniture in either classic or minimalist style.
Select them according to your tastes or needs, you might even find a good deal somewhere!
It’s ideal for children
The yellow color promotes creativity and joy in children so it’s great for their rooms.
This is why any decorative yellow element can stimulate their creative side. In general, it’ll induce optimism.
There are many shades to choose from
Indeed, there are more than a hundred shades of yellow and any of them can improve your mood. Try a mustard tone if you’re still not sold on a vibrant color.
The truth is you can find one that best suits your environment and taste, and it’s a great way to bring about a new vibe.
Keys to decorating with the color yellow
Now that you heard about the advantages of decorating with this oh-so-vibrant color, you should also know the main keys to incorporate it into your environment.
The application doesn’t have to take over the house. Just a little accent will be enough to make a space unique.
1. Balance
You must balance this color when it comes to home decor so don’t let it predominate in your work or home environments.
You want harmony so make sure your combination of decorative elements isn’t too aggressive.
2. Mix and match the color yellow with neutral colors
This color adds a summery vibe so don’t mix it with other equally vibrant ones, try to stick to the neutrals for that purpose.
The most recommended ones to mix and match are:
- A calming gray
- Blue in any shade
- Green shades but not the intense mid-tones
- Purple, works better in the medium tones than the soft ones and must be well-balanced
- Brown will give add sobriety and give it an avant-garde touch
- Wood isn’t a color per se, but the light and medium types blend well with yellow
3. Highlight specific pieces
Do you have a vase or a decorative piece that’s special to you and you’d like to highlight? Just paint it yellow, it’ll be like a light in the room.
Many interior decorators place elements, such as blankets, cushions, or vases of this color to bring life to the environment. Don’t go overboard though.
4. Pay attention to the chromatic palettes with the color yellow
The chromatic palettes are the set of existing colors and tonalities (other than black or white as these aren’t exactly colors). Yellow has a great variety of them.
It’s important to pay attention to the palette you’re going to choose so it matches the existing tones in your decor. For example, don’t mix a “chick yellow” with strong shades, stick to medium to darker tones.
5. Being daring is essential
Yellow may strike you as a rather risqué color but it’s actually everywhere. Thus, use it in your decor if you’re not afraid to take risks and want to try something new in your home.
Any room or corner can use a little yellow, so start by placing some small elements and see how it adapts to what you already have.
6. Be careful with the amount of the color yellow
Yellow is a color that’ll automatically make you smile and feel cozy but don’t overdo it. Use it as an accent in curtains, paintings, vases, or cushions. Don’t paint an entire room with it unless you like living in a banana.
Decorate with the color yellow without fear
The main question you should ask yourself is what part of a space you’d like to highlight. For example, you can paint the middle wall in your bedroom but also place a vibrant blanket over the bed to make it the center of attention. It all depends on what you’re going for really.
Finally, in order to play it safe, add other colors like gray, brown, or a wood texture. Of course, seek the advice of an interior decorator to know how to make the most of what you have.
The goal is for you to feel comfortable and happy. Take a chance and start using the color of the season in your space!
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- García, J. “Psicología del color.” (2017).
- Conde, Dominga González, and Encarnación Sueiro Domínguez. “Uso del color en la infancia.” Revista De Estudios E Investigación En Psicología Y Educación (2017): 085-088.