Decorating With Yellow: One of Home Décor’s Hottest Colours in 2025
Whether it’s a soft butter or a rich shade of mustard, the sunny shade is showing its versatility in interior design.
4 min
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
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