Yellow is believed to be notoriously difficult when it comes to painting a room. However, once you understand how to choose this delightful color, its beauty can transform a space.
Yellow is more versatile than you might think. The right shade of yellow paint can be daring and sophisticated or soft and calming. It's also a classic color that pairs well with other traditional tones. Whether in kitchens or guest rooms, yellow can be a vibrant, beautiful choice that brightens up a space.
Overview
- Color Family: Neutral, pastel, or saturated
- Complementary Colors: Purple
- Pairs Well With: Whites, pinks, browns, grays, and shades of red
- Mood: Cheerful and uplifting
- Where to Use: Gives any room in the house a glow, good for front doors and exteriors
Here's a guide to the 12 top yellow paint colors and how to make them work in any room in your home.
- 01 of 12
Sherwin-Williams Cachet Cream
If you want to experiment with yellow, but you're not quite ready to go full-on fiery, you may love the softness of Sherwin-Williams Cachet Cream (SW 6365). This peachy neutral yellow paint color is a subtle hue perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, or entryways.
The underlying peach in Cachet Cream helps it pair well with reddish wood, while its ginger tones will intensify if placed near green accents.
- 02 of 12
Behr Turmeric
Behr's Turmeric (M290-7) is not for the faint of heart, but in the right room, it adds endless mood and personality. This dignified deep yellow is perfect for living rooms or dining rooms, and it pairs well with other bold colors such as orange or teal. If you want a yellow that packs a sophisticated punch, this is it.
- 03 of 12
Magnolia Heirloom Yellow
Joanna Gaines of Magnolia fame is a pro at selecting colors to accent the perfect modern farmhouse. Magnolia Heirloom Yellow is a rustic and antique color with a little bit of green undertone mixed in to make it almost a muted mustard. It's an earthy tone that feels grounded and mature and works well in nearly any space that needs just a hint of bold sophistication.
- 04 of 12
Behr Bicycle Yellow
Bright yellows are happy and mood-boosting. Paint a room with Behr Bicycle Yellow (370A-3), and you won't be able to keep your smile away every time you step in the room. Bicycle Yellow is the color of sunny kitchens (even when there is no sun around) and welcoming guest rooms.
Continue to 5 of 12 below - 05 of 12
Sherwin-Williams Moonraker
If you love the idea of using a light green in your home but are afraid it could become a Kermit-inspired mess, Sherwin-Williams Moonraker (SW 6701) is the perfect yellow paint color to consider. Moonraker is a yellow-green hue that is muted enough to make it surprisingly versatile. Consider this color for laundry rooms, nurseries, or dining rooms.
- 06 of 12
Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow
Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow (HC-4) is a traditional medium yellow paint color that is easy to work with. This rich yellow color is extremely popular with designers and colorists because of its presence and depth. Hawthorne Yellow shines as an exterior paint color but is also a favorite choice for front doors. It's just bright enough to add a little pop of color while remaining mature and sophisticated.
- 07 of 12
Annie Sloan English Yellow
Annie Sloan is the queen of chalk paint, and her versatile English Yellow hue is the perfect color for creating bright and elegant poppy accents. The color mimics the yellows used in Chinese hand-painted wallpaper but also works well in a vintage-inspired room. Use this chalk paint to DIY a dining room table or dresser, and add the perfect amount of cheer to an otherwise neutral or all-white room.
- 08 of 12
Clare Lemonade
Energizing but not overly bright, this hue is a great addition to a wide range of rooms. Dreary home offices in need of a joyful upgrade would do great with this painted on the walls. Anyone who may be a little bit timid in using bright yellow in their home can also incorporate this as an accent wall.
Continue to 9 of 12 below - 09 of 12
Backdrop Miami Parasol
Take it down a notch with this pale yellow that still holds its own in a room. It won't be an overtly bright zing, but Backdrop's Miami Parasol provides the warm, creamy yellow that can instantly warm up a room. Bathrooms, kids' rooms, and guest rooms are all great candidates for this color.
- 10 of 12
Magnolia Summer Pear
Gold can be so many different things—regal, cozy, modern, and vintage. Depending on how you use it, the sandy Summer Pear from Magnolia can be a great addition to living rooms, sunrooms, and dining areas. Whether it's for a plant-filled bohemian room or a more contemporary one—it's a relaxed starting point for venturing into the world of yellow paint.
- 11 of 12
Benjamin Moore Sunshine
It's possible to have sunshine year-round without leaving the comfort of your home. Benjamin Moore's aptly named "Sunshine" paint is not for the faint of heart, but even the most conservative color fans can appreciate the happy glow that this hue brings to any room. Even if it's not selected for walls, painting this around door frames or on trim and baseboards is an exciting way to infuse color in a room.
- 12 of 12
Backdrop Mood Lighting
Combining the warmth of yellow with the satisfying neutral tone of beige is Backdrop's Mood Lighting. At first glance, it hardly even appears to be yellow, but it is—and therefore you can say you do have a yellow room. Living rooms, nurseries, and kitchens are just a few of the viable spaces that could easily accommodate this color.