Decorating With Yellow: One of Home Décor’s Hottest Colours in 2025

Art enthusiasts may wax poetic about yellow, one of the oldest hues in the history of art. The colour can be seen in some of the world’s most ancient works from Egypt and Rome, and pieces by Gauguin and Van Gogh reveal that these iconic painters were wild about yellow.

Although it may be the lightest hue on the basic colour wheel, yellow’s not the most timid. Sure, yellow can be soft and sweet, but it can also pack a punch. Designer Matthew Boland of MMB Design in Scottsdale, Arizona, praises the hue’s power in interiors.

“Yellow can be soothing or electric; it is a very versatile colour,” Boland said. “The warmth of yellow and the flexibility of yellow make it extremely appealing to all.”

Mansion Global asked Boland and three other interior designers to share suggestions on decorating with the myriad moods of yellow, one of home décor’s hottest colours in 2025.

Coat a Room in Soft Yellow

“Butter yellow is a beautiful soft colour that doesn’t read feminine, which is why you are seeing it pop up on the men’s and women’s runways. It is a colour that is beautiful with all skin tones and reads neutral when paired with other colours. It is warm and inviting while being whisper quiet. undefined undefined “I love red and butter yellow, they are both warm tones and they pair well together. I also like cobalt blue and a great bright green. Turquoise is also extremely complimentary.

“I love yellow drapery, it catches and reflects light beautifully. I love it for outdoor upholstery as it looks amazing with green plants and grass, and I love it in lacquered furnishings because it changes with the light during the day.”

—Matthew Boland, MMB Studio in Scottsdale, Arizona

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Dust a Room With Yellow Accents

“From butter yellow to citron and canary to goldenrod, this optimistic and cheerful hue lends itself well to interiors and fashion as it ignites a smile and happy mood. The bright yellow in this classic check pattern [pictured] with a white background adds charm to the room.

“Consider adding a pair of yellow velvet pillows to your sofa; a bright yellow throw over your favourite chair, or maybe even just a large bouquet of yellow flowers for your coffee table. (Or try) painting a bathroom cabinet and trim for a fun refresh.”

—Designer Maggie Griffin in Gainesville, Georgia

Balance Bold Yellow With Neutrals Like Grey, Black and Navy

Yellow can be used as an accent colour in just about any single piece of furniture or accessory, or as the focal shade in a space.

“If you use yellow throughout a space or on large surfaces, keep the other colours in the room on the neutral side. It can be difficult to add other shades of yellow or introduce another colour into the space, so keep other furnishings and accessories neutral, allowing the yellow to be the focal point.

“In this room, yellow is the primary colour of the wallpaper, evoking warmth and calm. This yellow wallpaper also reflects natural light, making the room brighter. [Yellow] enhances vintage spaces, such as this older, historic residence, but can also be used in more contemporary designs.

“Grey and white are the primary accent colours because they are subtle, allowing the yellow to shine. But other neutrals, such as black or navy, look beautiful with yellow as well and act as a secondary colour that enhances the yellow tones without taking away from it.”

—Designer Kelley Proxmire in Bethesda, Maryland

Drench a Room in Goldenrod Yellow

“I love using yellow in rooms that need to echo positive energy–– everything from kitchens, laundry and mudrooms, to kid bedrooms and playrooms. Yellow belongs everywhere.

“Pairing yellow with too many bright colours versus balancing it out can make it too loud or overbearing. Use colour theory to ensure balance and harmony with your selections in a space. Examples of this include pairing yellow with its complementary colour, blue (complementary colours are any two colours that are directly opposite each other on the colour wheel) or its analogous colour, orange or green (analogous colours are located next to each other on the colour wheel). Pairing yellow with a colour like red would be more harsh and not as compatible.

“I used this colour, Sherwin-Williams Tassel, in this guest bedroom [pictured] to create a colour-drenched, beautiful oasis that feels like a boutique hotel. We balanced out the bright colours with neutral furnishings and bedding, and bolder colours on the upholstered bed, rug and artwork.”

—Amber Guyton, Blessed Little Bungalow in Atlanta

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.