Happy, sunshiny yellow – it’s the colour of spring and summer, of warmth and cheeriness. It brings a bit of brightness into your life and makes you smile.
So why don’t we see more of it in interiors? Yellow is one of the most vivid colours in the spectrum, so it can be a scary colour to use. But while intense daffodil yellows may be a bit much on all four walls of a room, there are many yellow-based colours that look amazing.
These yellows are a bit muddied and stretch from soft straw tones like Resene Putty to deeper mustard hues like Resene Hacienda. Such saturated colours lend sophisticated warmth to a room, and look fantastic in older homes with a heritage bent. You can give these colours an acidic edge by adding a touch of green for sharp urban interiors and team them with charcoal or black. Or add some red for a spicy saffron yellow that looks great in ethnic-inspired interiors.
Resene Moonbeam walls with Resene Half Dutch White trims.
Another easier shade to live with, pale lemony yellows, like Resene Witch Haze, impart a bright, welcoming look to any room. They look great with clear whites and fresh greens, and suit country-style or French-style interiors.
Creamier yellows, like Resene Energy Yellow, haven’t been seen much in interiors; our paler neutrals have tended more towards stone tones. If you deepen custard yellow a little for a warm, tropical-banana yellow, it becomes a lovely colour for a child’s room. Or if you’re feeling really brave, go ’70s retro and use it with brown!
We’re set to see more gold tones in metal accessories and fittings, as they move from silver and chrome to yellow metals like gold, bronze and brass. Check out the Resene Metallics and special effects range for colours like Resene Bullion or Resene Gold Dust.
When used on the walls of a room, yellow is a colour that reflects off itself so the look of it intensifies even more. If in doubt, choose a softer, creamier yellow. Yellow can also become acidic quite quickly so unless that’s the look you’re after, veer towards creamier, more wheaten tones.
Resene Turbo door with Resene Crowshead weatherboards; designed by Hunter Design/Red Shed. Resene Double Raffia walls. Resene La Luna walls, drawers in Resene Rapture (bottom), Resene Renew (middle) and Resene Sentimental (top) with top in Resene Double Bianca, Resene Bambina chair, Resene Hemisphere floor.
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