Mellow yellow
Yellow is a wall colour that is often overlooked when consumers are deciding on paint colours for their home but it is a very versatile colour that can look great in any room.
Brighter yellows, such as citrus, can be a challenging choice but there are many other shades of yellow that are easy to work with.
Our feature photograph, courtesy of Dulux Australia, is a gorgeous example of how well a yellow paint colour can add dimension and personality to your décor. The main colour in our photograph is a Dulux colour called Sandswept. This medium-tone, creamy yellow is warm and soft but still provides tons of depth and dimension to this room.
Without this stronger paint colour, this room could looked washed out. The light-coloured furniture, natural accents and pale upholstery are brought to life via the wall colour but the room still maintains its breezy, white-washed beachside atmosphere.
Versatile
Yellow works well with many secondary colours, which makes it a great choice if you want to use accent colours in your space. Splashes of bright red or orange set against a yellow backdrop will bring excitement and visual movement to a room that could be fun -- a kitchen or bathroom.
Navy blue and yellow are a winning combination that has a slight nautical flavour while green and yellow can provide a nice contemporary setting. Yellow and white come together to create a crisp, clean look that can work in a kitchen or bedroom. Purple and yellow is a regal combination that can look great in a bedroom, bathroom, den or living room. Even yellow and black can be stunning in the right setting.
Yellow is a mood lifter. Yellow brings about a sense of wellness and optimism because it represents the sun. If your room is dim or lacks enough natural light, then yellow is the way to go.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that leaving the walls white is the way to resolve this issue. Yellow is more light reflective than plain white and can make your space feel lighter and brighter. Even using a pale yellow on the ceiling, rather than plain white, can help the cause.
Fabrics
Window treatments, upholstery and linens that encompass yellow can make a room feel light and fresh. A pattern of small yellow and white checks or polka dots, for example, would be fun as accent linens for the kitchen, while wide bands of yellow and soft white on a sofa or chair can set the tone for a contemporary, elegant room. If you find a fabric that is appealing, use it as a jumping off point for your colour palette and the proportion of colour as your guide to where each colour should go. For example, if you find a fabric with a mainly yellow background with small bits of red and green throughout, along with traces of black you'll want to use mostly yellow in the room (walls) along with splashes of red (toss cushions or an accent chair), a dotting of house plants (green) and small accents of black (such as black candleholders and photograph frames). If the colours and their proportion work in the fabric design then it will be a great guide for your décor.
When you are choosing your tone or shade of yellow consider the colour of your flooring, trim or cabinetry. Be brave! Choose rich, golden tones rather than wimpy pale yellows. Think of golden corn, flax and creamery butter. If you are using two wall colours try to keep them in the same colour strength. A combination such as corn yellow and medium denim blue, for instance will work well together. Both colours need to have the same intensity in order to balance the look. By the same token, if you choose to go with a light, creamy yellow you'd want to balance it with a robin's egg or soft sky blue rather than, say, navy blue.
Yellow is a great colour for the home because it's cheery, fun, versatile and timeless.
Keep it in mind the next time your space needs a makeover.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
