Using yellow in interiors the smart way
Time to liven up dull spaces with zesty yellows that will bring your home to life. With everything that is currently going on (see Brexit) I think we could use a colour that is as uplifting as yellow. But careful: use too much yellow, the wrong yellow for you or the wrong tone and you can end up with the negatives properties of yellow such irrationality and anxiety. So here are a few things to remember when choosing this colour for your interiors.
The psychology of yellow
Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, yellow is uplifting and illuminating. It is a great colour for accessories and if you ask me it's just super fun and cheerful. It's a colour that can definitely make you happy! At the same time, yellow inspires original thought and inquisitiveness. They say that it is a creative colour, in fact the colour of new ideas (hence the yellow light bulb, lol!) helping us to find new ways of doing things.
Which room would it be suitable for?
Yellow is the best colour to create enthusiasm for life and can awaken greater confidence and optimism.
A paler yellow would look good in a coastal themed living room while a retro styled home would benefit from sofas or armchairs in yellow colours. So living room is a great place for it. You can also use it on accessories if you're not too brave for furniture in lemony colours!
Could it also be used in other rooms? Sure! Think about how impactful you want the yellow colour to be. You can use a little or a lot around dining rooms and in the kitchen. For a very fresh look, use it with white. For a more sophisticated look, go for greys and for something masculine use it with blue. If you're feeling a bit fiesta, then go with pink all the way!
Which colours to combine it with ?
Combine yellow with white, light grey and blue or pink and you will be on trend.
It looks great when combined with grey colours, and here's a perfect example. In a home shot by Elisabeth Aarhus for Elle Decoration the lower cabinets of the kitchen were painted bright yellow while the top and backdrop are in a grey with purple undertones colour that almost resembles Farrow & Ball's 'Brassica'.
Where to avoid yellow
But watch out! Yellow can produce anxiety and cause you to feel agitated as it is fast moving. That makes a very poor candidate for your bedroom walls, unless of course you're trying to keep yourself up all night! Instead, use it on your bed frame or on your bed linen and cushions.
Above: Yellow Roller Blind from £13, Blinds247
Clockwise from top left: Eye cushion, ETSY | Yellow Metal Table Lamp, HABITAT | oversized yellow wall clock, Graham and Green | Bedding, John Lewis & Partners | White and yellow soft storage basket with handles, HABITAT
An eye catching dining area, complemented by an urban jungle, photo via Armelle Habib. Similar YELLOW GLOSS painted chairs are available on ETSY. For similar photograph, try ARTFINDER.
Image: Elisabeth Aarhus
