Tips & Tricks for Decorating with Yellow
Now that winter has started to loosen its grip, are you longing to refresh your home in time for spring? As the days grow lighter and the world becomes a little brighter, few shades feel quite as uplifting as yellow.
Decorating with yellow is a great way to breathe new life into your interiors after the colder months. From soft buttercup tones that gently lift the mood, to richer ochres and mustards that add depth and character, yellow offers endless promise when it comes to interior design.
In today’s blog, we’re sharing our top yellow interior design ideas to help you decorate with this cheery shade with confidence.
How to choose the right yellow tone for your space
Yellow is joyful, restorative, and full of energy. It’s associated with happiness, creativity, and brightness, which is exactly what many of our homes need at the start of a new year! But before you dive into decorating with yellow, you need to select a shade that works for your space. Here are our most popular yellow colourways:
Saffron
Definition: A rich ochre yellow that feels confident and inviting.
Perfect for: Curtains and blinds in living rooms, especially when paired with darker greys such as our winter or charcoal shades.
Our bestselling saffron fabrics: Pretty Maids in Saffron & Winter, Stockholm Stripe in Saffron, Dove & Winter, and Cow Parsley in Saffron & Charcoal.
Hay & straw
Definition: Hay is a soft, gentle yellow with a restorative and calming quality, while straw is a deeper mustard tone that adds depth and cosiness to your space
Perfect for: Rooms that benefit from extra visual richness (like bedrooms and sitting rooms), works beautifully with greys and pigeon blue.
Our bestselling hay and straw fabrics: Lapland Stripe in Smoke, Duck Egg & Hay and Plain Linen Union in Straw.
Sand
Definition: A subtle and sophisticated shade inspired by sandy beaches and brown paper parcels.
Perfect for: Dining rooms and spaces where you need additional warmth but without the brightness.
Our bestselling sand fabrics: Plain Linen Union in Sand and Stripe & Dash in Sand & Cornflower.
Buttercup
Definition: A vibrant yellow shade that is fresh, cheerful, and full of light.
Perfect for: Kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, especially when balanced with cool greys and soft blues.
Our bestselling buttercup fabrics: French Ticking in Buttercup & Clay, Fruit Garden in Buttercup, Clay & Winter, and Song Birds in Buttercup, Clay & Charcoal.
Ochre
Definition: A golden and indulgent tone that brings drama and warmth to any space.
Perfect for: Creating snug, cocooning interiors, especially when paired with deep greens.
Our bestselling ochre fabrics: Berries & Leaves in Ochre & Smoke, Dotty Check in Soft Ochre, Ochre & Smoke, and Little Fern in Ochre.
Our top yellow interior design ideas
Once you’ve selected the perfect shade, it’s time to get decorating! Here are our expert tips and tricks for decorating with yellow:
Use yellow as an accent colour
Choose yellow curtains, blinds, cushions, or an upholstered headboard to gently introduce this joyful colour into your room without overwhelming the space. For example, you could add curtains in our Up the Garden Path Saffron colourway to instantly lift your living room, paired with some warm cushions in our Plain Linen Union fabric in Sand.
Balance with neutrals and soft greys
Yellow truly comes into its own when paired with calming neutrals. Many of our yellow fabrics also feature a secondary colour such as clay, winter, or charcoal, which helps to ground the warmth of the yellow and give it a more refined, calming feel.
Mix with florals and stripes
Yellow sits beautifully with floral prints and classic stripes. Choose one of our classic yellow designs such as Sunflower in Ochre or Lattice Leaf in Ochre & Lichen to soften and lift your room, and pair it with Lapland Stripe in Smoke, Duck Egg & Hay or Stockholm Stripe in Dove, Saffron & Winter to add structure and balance.
Tips for using yellow in every season
One of the greatest joys of decorating with yellow is its versatility throughout the year. Here’s how to use spring in your interior design scheme in every season:
- Spring: Build a spring colour palette of yellows, soft greens, and whites for a fresh, natural feel.
- Summer: Introduce blues and natural textures alongside yellow tones for an airy, relaxed look.
- Autumn: Layer yellow with oranges, deeper greens, and rusty tones for added warmth.
- Winter: Balance yellow with charcoal and dove greys to keep your room cosy and inviting.
Add a little sunshine to your home with Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics
We offer a fantastic selection of yellow fabrics to help you bring this cheery, energetic colour into your home – just in time for spring! From bold floral prints to refined stripes, our beautiful nature-inspired designs are perfect for curtains, blinds, cushions, upholstery, and everything in between.
Explore our full range of yellow fabrics and get ready to add a little bit of sunshine to your home.
Or check out our other decorating guides for further inspiration:
- Decorating with blues
- Decorating with greens
- Decorating with pinks
- Decorating with patterns
- Decorating with stripes
FAQs
What’s the easiest way to introduce yellow without overwhelming a room?
Using yellow as an accent is the best way to introduce the colour without overwhelming a room. Choose yellow curtains, blinds, or cushions to add warmth and brightness to your space, and opt for designs where yellow is woven through florals or stripes to help it feel balanced and relaxed rather than dominant.
Which colours work best with yellow?
Yellow pairs particularly well with soft greys, warm neutrals, and gentle blues. Shades such as clay, winter, and charcoal ground yellow beautifully, while pigeon blue and soft greens create a calm and refined look.
Can yellow fabrics work all year round?
Yes, yellow fabrics can work all year round. Lighter tones feel fresh in spring and summer, while deeper ochres and mustards bring warmth in autumn and winter. Layer yellow with different textures and companion colours to transition seamlessly through the seasons.
Is yellow suitable for bedrooms and calmer spaces?
Yes, yellow works beautifully in bedrooms and calmer spaces, but make sure you choose the right tone. Softer yellows such as hay or sand create a gentle, soothing atmosphere in bedrooms and living spaces, especially when paired with natural linen fabrics.
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
