Yellow is a warm color that offers bright and cozy feelings; it reminds us of sunshine, warm summer days, and little buttercup flowers. It's a popular color used for nurseries and kids' bedrooms because it is lively, fun, and gender-neutral. Yellow also looks good in traditional, contemporary, or eclectic bedroom styles creating elegant and stylish rooms. If yellow is the color for you, here are some photos, ideas, and color combinations that will help you get started.
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Hang Yellow Wallpaper
Another easy way to bring yellow into your decor is by using wallpaper that includes it as the primary color. A floral pattern is always a winner, especially in the room pictured here. Despite that the yellow flowers are the only yellow item present, the wallpaper effortlessly ties together the other tones and items throughout the rest of the room.
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Paint Your Desk
Bringing in yellow to a bedroom can feel like a daunting task, so start small by choosing a single piece of accent furniture. Even in a room with cool tones, one brightly colored statement piece can illuminate the space. A chair or a desk, as in the room above did here, shows how yellow can still be eye-catching without dominating the whole room.
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Channel the Sun
Without a doubt, yellow can pair well with plenty of different colors across the spectrum. Yellow and orange in particular invoke the idea of the sun, and can easily rejuvenate you in the morning after a great night's rest.
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Make It Monochromatic
If you're afraid that there is such a thing as too much yellow in a room, we ask you to think again. Working with a monochromatic color scheme takes thoughtfulness, but the results are well worth it. An easy way to achieve this is by sticking with a similar shade of yellow, yet using different fabrics, textures, and elements. This room, designed by Amanda Marie Martinez, uses the closet door, window panes, statement chair, and plush sofa bench at the end of the bed as a canvas to display the cheery yellow hue. The white walls help each item pop, and the different elements at play make for an interesting and delightful space.
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Make It Golden
Yellow is a wonderful accent color. If it’s paired with a nice variety of cool shades, it will pop. Rather than sticking with solid color decor items, playing with different textures and patterns can bring yellow to life in a whole new way. The golden wallpaper grabs your attention, yet the small gallery wall above the bed featuring different colors and styles doesn't detract from the background. Add in the floral pillows and wicker lamp, and you have an intriguing and stunning result. This design looks complex, but it’s easy to achieve. With a little planning and ingenuity, you too can combine patterns and color schemes to create a pleasing and stylish bedroom.
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Be Bold
There's no need to shy away from bold colors. Bringing together bright shades of blue, orange, and yellow can serve as a fantastic backdrop for an eclectic bedroom like this one from Dazey Den. The gorgeous wallpaper in turquoise with golden accents, an orange throw and curtains, and the yellow comforter all work together to create a stunning space. The additions of the geometric lamps, hanging wall art, and unique chandelier create an eclectic style we absolutely love.
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Pair With Blue
Two colors that will create a pleasing color scheme for your bedroom are yellow and blue. This color duo is a long-term partnership as well as a fail-safe solution for a unique, fun, and gorgeous color concept. Interior designer Maite Granda does an excellent job in this room, using the sofa bench at the end of the bed and a single accent pillow to bring a bright burst of yellow, but anchors it with dark blues in the adjacent pillows, bedside lamps, and striped rug on the ground. The whole room comes together in perfect, colorful harmony.
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Keep It Simple
Adding this vibrant color to your space is often as easy as including it in simple details around the room. The blanket on the end of this bed has a simple yellow circular pattern, brightening up the gray and white tones that dominate most of the room. Rather than going big by painting a wall or including several types of yellow, weave smaller aspects throughout.
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Playful Plush Headboard
Another fun way to bring the sunshine into your bedroom is by incorporating a headboard as a statement piece. This version brings a softness with its plush fabric paired with a yellow tone. It allows the color to shine without too much trouble.
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Mix With Gray
For those concerned that yellow is only for eclectic or children's rooms, try pairing yellow with gray. These two balance each other well, especially a mustard yellow and lighter stone gray–they create a sophisticated pairing that is equal parts light and grounded. The yellow also keeps the strong contemporary gray colors from looking too cold or dreary. Finding a wallpaper or wall art that includes both hues is a great way to unite the room, then decorate it with different items in solid patterns. The results feel grown-up and stylish.
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Go Deep
Rather than sticking with neon or lemon yellows, try using a darker version in your room instead, such as mustard or gold. Some lean towards an orange shade, which can open up an entire range of possibilities. This is a great choice, particularly if you have lighter or white decor like the room shown here. The white artwork and dresser stand out exceptionally well against the darker backdrop color.
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Choose a Pastel Shade
If you're trying to create a soothing atmosphere, try using a pastel yellow to soften the mood. Rather than bright, exuberant tones, the pastel wallpaper here sets the tone for a relaxing, welcoming environment and easily pairs well with the wooden, classic decor items included in the rest of the room–a perfect setup for a nursery. This can work well for traditional-style bedrooms as well.
For a pastel room with a grown-up air about it, try pastel yellow walls as a dreamy backdrop to other pastels like peach and pink, but with strong contrasts of dark brown accents. If you opt for cooler green, blue, or purple pastels, then add contrasting elements of black or silver.
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Accent With Neon Yellow
A pop of yellow can make all the difference, and it works incredibly well as an accent wall. Regardless of which shade you use, any version will stand out and have guests admiring your daring color choice. Brighter hues are a big splash for accent walls, given their ability to hold their own despite other walls and decor maintaining a typically neutral tone.
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Pair With Pink
Yellow and pink can create the stunning bedroom of your dreams. Soft pinks and muted yellows create a soft, upscale feel without going over the top in the process. This eclectic guest bedroom really proves our point, with soft pink walls and bedspread paired with a golden yellow headboard and quilt. Both shades allow other patterns to stand out, like the leopard print pillows displayed prominently on the bed.
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Try a Yellow Throw
Want to try out yellow but not commit to paint or wallpaper? Test the waters by using a yellow throw on your bed or over a chair instead. Even a solid color can make a big impact on the rest of the room and can be arranged in a variety of ways to achieve the look you desire.
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Mix With Primary Colors
One of the most well-known color schemes involving yellow is a primary color scheme. Containing red, blue, and yellow, these colors can be used in a wide range of themes, from coastal, and beach-inspired, or even just through simple touches on a neutral backdrop like the bedroom shown here. This trio is always a safe bet and a delightful color scheme to work with.
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Tone Down With Beige
This soothing bedroom from Fantastic Frank has beige walls and simple bedding that is accented with linen pillowcases in two shades of yellow that add a vibrant focal point and echo the pale yellow walls of the adjoining patio.
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Add Boho Vibes
A vintage-style rattan headboard is the perfect complement to the bright yellow patterned wallpaper in this sunny guest room from A Beautiful Mess. A palette of white and pure yellow is a classic way to freshen up a room. Gauzy white curtains and window shades help to balance the strong color, while hanging plants and a kilim rug in shades of pink add to the boho-style vibes.
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Use Soft Tonal Shades
In this relaxing bedroom from Fantastic Frank, soft shades of yellow from the painted door frame to the lightly textured painted walls create a soothing tonal feel. The aesthetic is enhanced by the light wood bed frame, neutral linens, and a graphic black bedside light suspended from the ceiling.
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Keep It Sharp
The walls of this crisp white and yellow kids' room from Mindy Gayer Design Co. are covered with cheerfully illustrated lemon slice wallpaper that gives it a softly playful feel while adding a burst of color and pattern to the walls.
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Mix With Wood Tones
A luminous shade of egg yolk yellow glows in the sun of this tranquil bedroom from Fantastic Frank. A mix of wood tones and a pair of straw hats on the wall add to the laid-back, summery vibes.
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Black It Out
This nursery from A Beautiful Mess has multi-colored botanical wallpaper and a pair of striking gold velvet blackout curtains that frame the window behind the crib.
Is yellow a good color for the bedroom?
Yellow is a happy color that puts a smile on most people’s faces. But like the sun, it’s easier to wake up to the color than to fall asleep to it, so keep that in mind when choosing the right shade of yellow. If you find a bold yellow overstimulating, pick a softer butter yellow or a deeper calming mustard shade that will feel more neutral while adding a subtle dose of mood-boosting color to your bedroom.
How do you make a room with yellow walls look good?
You can pair yellow walls with crisp white window trim or curtains for a clean, sunny look. Complement yellow walls with a rattan bed frame or mirror, and accent with plenty of green plants for a natural, boho-style feel. Or layer in blues, reds, pinks, oranges, or other bright colors for a high-contrast look.