How to decorate with yellow – 10 of the best ideas

shendries January 22, 2014 4:13 pm

What could be more inviting than a bright pop of yellow in your home? The colour of eternal summer, we can’t think of any shade we would rather come home to on a bleak winter’s day – or better, a warm spring evening.

Light up your house with pretty accents of buttercup yellow, or make a statement in one room with block colour in lemon or dandelion shades. Yellow is such a versatile colour: From deep mustard to bright gold, you will be able to find a version that fits in with your current decor.

Plus, there are so many ways to make this scheme work for you: Follow the trend for colour blocking and mix your yellow with cobalt blue or dark grey. Yellow accessories will be the perfect accompaniment to bold colour on the walls, adding a vibrant touch to a darker colour scheme.

Or, team yellow with white for a sunny room that is full of light. Soft, zesty shades on cushions, curtains and lampshades – and even on woodwork – will be a perfect partner to a neutral backdrop and bright white sofa or chairs.

Gentle additions of yellow, in patterned wallpaper, look just as good as a block colour. Choose pretty floral-printed paper to team with soft neutrals for a subtle take on the trend. Alternatively, make that bold statement with a yellow sofa or even a freshly painted yellow fireplace against dove grey walls.

White sofa and green chairs in front of yellow patterned wallpaper

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Yellow decorating ideas for your home

Make sure your new yellow tones work for your tastes: Brightly coloured furniture in this sunny hue will give your home a definite 60s vibe, where as muted mustard on the walls, teamed with leather chairs and dark pine bookcases will create a much more colonial look.

Living room with yellow wallpaper
Looking for the perfect yellow-themed wallpaper? This pretty floral print is both bright and sophisticated. Combine with a neutral sofa and a few simple accessories.

Wallpaper
Harlequin

Grey room with yellow fireplace and white sofas

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Grey living room with yellow fireplace

Introduce shades of yellow to a calming grey scheme. Here, a traditional fire surround has been painted in an eye-popping hue.

Paint
Farrow & Ball

Room with yellow walls and leather chair and stool

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Garden room with yellow painted walls

Go for a colonial look with yellow walls, mahogany furniture and leather seating. Stone flooring, plants and a few eclectic accessories add interest.

Similar paint
Dulux

White armchair with yellow floral cushions in a neutral room

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Living room with yellow furnishings

Choose a soft shade of yellow for walls and woodwork. Layer up with zesty ceramics and cheerful cushions.

Lampshade
Heal's

Yellow sofa and blue cushions in front of patterned wallpaper

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Teal living room with yellow sofa

Combine shades of teal with a bright, acidic yellow to add sharp contrast and definition to your living room space.

Sofa
Sofa Workshop

Blue walls and sofa with yellow cushion

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Blue living room with yellow accents

Blue and yellow is a gorgeous colour combination. Choose a deep cobalt hue and mix with a sunny, bright shade of yellow.

Cushion
The Rug Company

Grey cabinet with shelves in front of yellow patterned wallpaper

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Yellow floral wallpaper and fabric

Yellow works well in a country scheme. Why not layer up different patterns and prints? Here a large floral design brightens up the walls, while a smaller, more detailed print is perfect for the inside of the cabinet.

Fabric (inside cabinet)
Camengo

Grey living room with yellow sofa and brown chair

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Grey and yellow living room

For the ultimate in luxurious sophistication choose tones of yellow and grey. Here, a large-scale damask wallpaper works well with a yellow velvet sofa.

Sofa
Sofa.com

White living room with grey chimney breast and leather sofas

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Dark grey living room with splashes of yellow

Add drama to your scheme by mixing dark grey and bold yellow. Try painting a feature wall in a slate-coloured hue and add a vibrant touch with curtains and cushions.

Yellow stripe curtains
Next

Pine table with yellow chair and shelves

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Warm yellow dining room

Bring the sunshine inside with brightly coloured furniture. A statement piece, such as this eye-popping bookshelf, is all you need to create a sunny vibe.

Bookcase
Ikea

Love this? For more ideas check out our dedicated living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom galleries