Lighten Up — or Brighten Up — With Yellow

Yellow can be soft or shocking, add energy or a mellow vibe, and exude country charm or edgy, modern appeal. In other words, it’s a versatile color that can work in any room. However, while many people love the sunny shade, they tend to steer clear of it when decorating, fearing it may overpower their home.


The key to doing it right is having a carefully considered plan. Think about whether you want the color to be the room’s main attraction or take a supporting role. Also think about what shade best suits your personality and whether it’s the best fit for the room. It’s important to consider balance — think about how you can use different colors and design elements to either enhance or temper the specific shade and amount of yellow you’ve chosen for your design. The following inspiring spaces offer ideas on how to decorate your home with bright or mellow shades of yellow with great success.



Make a memorable first impression. Who could quickly forget this charming cottage? A painted picket fence in sunshine yellow and a yellow and white striped awning (note how the stripes are thick, so the pattern doesn’t look too busy) brighten up this home’s traditional facade and ensure it stands out from the other dwellings on the street.


To re-create this look, all you’ll need is a paintbrush and a can of yellow paint and you’re good to go. If this is a little too bright for your taste, just paint your front door in a coat or two of your favorite shade instead.



Add eye-popping accents. Provide warmth and character to cool, muted color schemes by adding splashes of look-at-me yellow around a room. Rather than making any permanent or costly changes, decorate your space with small accessories you can easily replace. That way once your love affair with the tone is over, or you simply wish to swap the accents for decor in lighter or darker shades as the seasons change, you can mix things up without any fuss.



Keep it in the family. The color family, that is. Layer your space with contrasting shades of yellow for a dramatic look that offers loads of warmth and visual interest.


This eclectic living room shows how it’s done; dark yellow-green grass cloth wallpaper anchors the room and infuses it with a touch of sophistication, while a tangerine and lemon artwork lightens the palette and adds a dash of cheerfulness. A strip of high-impact neon yellow runs across the rug, breaking up the abundant use of turquoise and helping tie the colorful, contemporary look together.


You can use this versatile color to create a buttery backdrop, add a zesty accent or make a bold design statement. Continue reading here.



Lighten Up — or Brighten Up — With Yellow

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