The power colour of spring, nothing signals happiness and hope like bright, sunshine yellow.
As well as dazzling visually, yellow can lighten the mood, make everything look fresh and bright – and most importantly in the scheme of things, it’s very easy to place this pigment in the home and jazz up your space.
Whereas stylists and fashionistas often cite yellow as a difficult colour to wear and suggest it should only be worn sparingly, interior designers love to incorporate yellow in their design edits.
Best of all, yellow is surprisingly versatile and an easy shade to mix and match. You can use it as a colour block to break up a room, introduce pops of canary yellow, primrose or mustard to brighten up a dark corner, or for a sunlit twist, energise an open-plan space.
Here’s some of our favourite ways to work yellow into rooms right now…
Glasshouse Mustard Wallpaper, £60 per roll, Graham & Brown (furniture and decos, stylist’s own)
One of the brightest ways to introduce yellow is to let it star in a feature wall central to your design scheme. The new Glasshouse collection at Graham & Brown illustrates a flourishing garden paradise with herons and egrets walking among honeysuckle and clematis, and emerald toned leaves softening the look. Think of this luxurious matt paper as a cheat’s sheet to a flight of fancy, without having to leave home.
The Lover Sofa – 3 Seater in Barley, from £1,373, Willow & Hall
A statement sofa positioned just so always looks amazing, and you can play up the sunny accents by stacking it with cushions in a warm gold (we love anything tasselled, especially velvet for a luxe boho vibe). Otherwise, go for a striking black and white monochrome print to add depth and texture against the bold yellow backdrop and keep the lines clean.
Emma Bridgewater Daffodils And Narcissus Set of 2 Half Pint Mugs, £39.95, Daisy Park
Bright and beautiful, you can build on this set of mood enhancing mugs by stacking them with other daffodil prints. You’ll have a host of golden daffs to add extra cheer to your morning coffee in no time.
Artificial Floral In Window Box, £25, and Artificial Ditsy Floral In Vase, £22, Next
Bright as brass and zero maintenance, faux foliage doesn’t get more fabulous than this. Especially when you consider these trumpet blooms bring joy and cheer 24/7.
Orla Kiely House for Harlequin Classic Stem Wallpaper, £67 per roll, Orla Kiely Juniper Stem Ceramic Table Lamp, £75, John Lewis & Partners
If you want to play with prints and match mellow yellow with yoke yellow, a clever concept is to choose your wall space (south-facing rooms love colour and will bounce the light around) and take a simple print such as Orla Kiely’s stem design, build on it with coordinating decos, and bring in brighter shades to maximise those beams of sunlight.
Bold Monkey Princesses Have Feelings Too Armchair, £549, Cuckooland
Who wouldn’t want to sit pretty in this sumptuous winged back chair? Finished in a modern, oriental style print with a shimmer of gold, it’s a real hero piece and will work just as well in the living room, bedroom or study.
Chroma Curtains – Mustard, from £95-£160, Clarissa Hulse (furniture and decos, stylist’s own)
Dressing windows with some sunny yellow curtains is an easy update if you want to make a room bright and airy. To see how the colour can be a game-changer, these ready-made drapes, paired with muted decos and touches of palm-green, don’t overpower but still offer visual impact. They’re 100% cotton, lined, and available in six sizes with a gathered 3-inch tape top for a sleek finish.
House by John Lewis Hex Table Lamp – Mustard, £25, John Lewis & Partners
With yellow stealing the spotlight, this trendy bulb lamp ticks all the right boxes.
Espinillo Bed Linen – Tumeric, from £15-£75, Clarissa Hulse
For a fresh approach that’s not overwhelming, we love this botanical bed linen, featuring fanned acacia leaves against an ombré of turmeric yellow and dove grey. You could even team it with other pieces in the collection, such as silk lampshades and cushions for a super-luxe feel.
Pom Pom Trim Fleece Throw Blanket, £10, Matalan
This eye-catching throw can be draped over the sofa or bed for an extra dose of brightness and comfort. We also think it’s pretty and soft enough to be worn as a wrap – if yellow tops your fashion colour chart and you like the idea of heading outdoors with a spring in your step.
House by John Lewis Round Jersey Cushion – Mustard Yellow, £10, John Lewis & Partners
Hello sunshine! Whatever the shade of your sofa, who could resist this fun and summery touch.
Lemon & Bergamot Home Fragrance Collection Candles and Diffusers, from £6-£16 each, Next
We can’t think of anything more uplifting than the zesty scent of lemons blended with bergamot. Next’s range of diffusers and candles will scent your rooms and add some lovely pops of yellow.
