Y’all, ROYGBIV is having quite the moment right now. Specifically, primary colors (red, yellow, and blue if I remember correctly) are IN and I’m not immune to the trend. The cerulean blue monologue from Devil Wears Prada rings through my head all the time when I see a trend forecast that I snub (ha, I will NEVER wear sneakers with dresses!), only to a year later embrace (while wearing sneakers with dresses). Now YELLOW has always been around (lol), what with the prevalence of the “sun”, but it’s fluctuated in and out of mainstream popularity due to its rather bold and bright hue. But my goodness is it a happy color that can make a room pop (similar to red, which I’ve always loved and had in our homes). Yellow is a very activating color, one that can really shift your mood upward (if you want) and certainly adds a burst of unbridled joy. So where-o-where can I put this sunny color in my home?? Sure, mustard and ochre are easy. Done. But the primary yellow that is happening now is harder for me to incorporate into the more permanent investment finishes or furnishings. I do fear that I will tire of seeing it prominently. So surely there is a spot that feels deserving of this risk in a less risky way?
My In Person Inspiration:
Last year I went over to Anne’s house (the lead interior architect of ARCIFORM) and she has an all-yellow sitting room. It was SO FUN and dare I say magical to be washed in that yellow. Now they live in a legit Georgian Mansion so they have extra rooms in which to explore these color “risks” where most of us don’t, but it did get in my head like an earworm song that keeps singing over and over. Yellow? Could I do yellow here? But what about here? I may not really execute any of these, but I thought it would be fun to show you the ideas and inspiration.
Birdie’s Room – A Couple Pops Already…
Birdie’s room has a few pops of color – on the wallpaper, vintage lamp, and throw. I love them. Last year I pitched to her to stripe her ceiling, picking up from the yellow butterflies on her wallpaper. She thought it was weird (preferring turquoise – her color du jour) and I’m sure glad I didn’t force it as her style has already changed 9 times since then, wanting a “cheer” themed room LOLOLOLOL. So instead we put these scallop decals in her closet:
It is such a happy fun detail that is totally removable (I bought from Etsy and they have a million colors and sizes). As I feel more and more drawn to this color I wondered if there were other places it felt appropriate, but less “kid”.
The Landing
If you are keeping tabs on my 2024 project list you will find that this was supposed to be done in January. I have been collecting and framing a ton of family photos, kids’ art, and memorabilia for a happy family wall, but had to prioritize other projects. But this landing feels like a great place to incorporate it.
One option is in the sconce shades. Rejuvenation has a bright yellow version of these glass ones that is sooooo fun. This might depend on the art that goes up here (and it’s VERY colorful).
Another option is to paint or wallpaper the skylight shaft. How fun would it be to look up and see a happy color/pattern up there? It also might be totally weird TBH, but it’s something I’ve thought about. I still need to stencil or paint the floor…
I’ve even thought about a large-scale mural on the floor that has yellow in it, but it’s a whole thing that would need to be really thought through). I’d have to be ok with it getting very scuffed over time which feels painful when it would be really time-consuming to execute. I keep thinking there will be a month or even a week of “downtime” where I can do it, but the kids wouldn’t be able to really sleep in their rooms and time keeps slipping by with other priorities. Perhaps I can partner with Racheal from Banyan Bridges to help me create and execute something up here with yellow in it? Paint can be a really temporary low-risk thing to do if you do it yourself (not when it’s on trim or woodwork or cabinets TBH) but I need to feel really solid about the idea before I invest my time in it.
Yellow In Charlie’s Room?
I owe you an update on Charlie’s room which I think will be very relatable to parents, but I think he could handle a pop or two of yellow. He has it in his skateboard “sconce” that we bought at the flea market and in the standing lamp. Maybe that will be it, we’ll see if he’s into me even being involved (LOL).
The Art Barn?
Oh, the art barn is turning out SO CUTE (we’ve made A LOT of progress since this photo). I actually did want more yellow in it (it’s very colorful) but there aren’t that many quilts with yellow in them that I liked. I just ordered a big arched sconce for over the table, which came in yellow and I almost got these pendants in yellow, but y’all I don’t love the yellow against the pine – it’s fine in person but it just doesn’t pop like a red or blue would in this space. But it’s still a color I want to bring in here along with the greens, blues, and reds that are on their way. Update: Anne of ADF upholstery is almost done with our quilt cushions and stools. I’m SO EXCITED.
My Nephews Room
My last opportunity as of now is my 6-year-old nephew’s room which my brother has said he wouldn’t be opposed to an Oregon Ducks bent (green and yellow). So I have been collecting pins of fun decor for walls, lamps, pillows, etc that could work. And I think the yellow would look so awesome against the dark blue/green (aptly called Studio Blue Green by Sherwin-Williams).
In case you need some convincing on yellow, I’ve collected a ton on Instagram of people who have executed it really well. I know myself well enough to know that a bold color like that can’t have a dominant permanent space in my home (like tile or cabinetry) but some of you might be able to handle it. Either way, I want to be in a restaurant or hotel that is all yellow!
Have a great rest of your day. xx
Opening Image Credits: Design by ARCIFORM | Photo by Christopher Dibble
I’m a big fan of pops of yellow both indoors and out. I painted our backyard shed F&B Babouche last summer and it makes all the difference–especially during our snowy, gray winters.
Babouche is my favorite sunny, egg-yolky yellow!
i have also been incorporating yellow because it is so freaking happy and sunshiney! i got a pair of lemon yellow vintage lamps at an estate sale, and one of them is in a corner of my living room. it makes me so happy whenever i look at it! but i’ve been spreading it all over ever since. the first pinned picture on my insta shows this corner and eeeeeek!
https://www.instagram.com/lovelyloveley
I live in a yellow (Dulux: Open Sesame) house and have accents oftellow inside as well.
However, the ‘acid tellow’ trend is so not my thing!
I much prefer buttery, muted yellows…so some of the high-pigment and spewk-y yellow examples are, frankly, gross to me and I certainly wouldn’t want to live with them affronyitng my eyebslls every day.
It’s important to create spaces for the soul and eye to relax and more subtle, buttery tones encourage this.
💛 💛 💛
I also live in a yellow house and love buttery yellow accents in most rooms (not stark, bright yellow). In my kitchen, this includes the Majestic yellow Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer and yellow oven mitts. I also love yellow vases for flowers and have a few muted yellow pots for flowers in the backyard.
I have a yellow mixer, too! Love love love yellow, especially how well it pairs with blues.
I kept a vintage yellow toilet and sink in our mudroom bath. Tiled the floor in a mosaic Daisy pattern, but now I’m stumped on wallpaper! 2 years and I can’t pick! Love these examples.
obvi a banyan bridges collab is an excellent idea….
Yellow diagonal stripes or checks on the floor would be great! My artistic aunt once painted green 14” checks on her porch floor and they were perfection. Pair with some abstract art with tons of yellow on one of the walls and you have it!
Our living room in our 1930’s house in the Northeast was painted Farrow and Ball Dorset Cream. I had previously not been a “yellow” person, but it nearly read as a neutral. I loved it in every season, but especially in winter for all those sunshine-y good feelings you mentioned. It remained that color for (gasp) 18 years until we sold the house.
I adore yellow in all forms from soft buttercup to acid yellow to mustard. I think a bright yellow, like chartreuse or orange can freshen up a so-called ‘timeless’ interior and stop it from looking too staid and stuffy. I love the way it’s been used in this house, which also features a yellow sofa and yellow office chair.
A bright yellow door is super fun and using yellow as an accent in furniture, art, lighting brings sun rays to any space. I’m not that into yellow walls for my own home but I think that’s because I grew up with too many faded yellow kitchens, ugh, not pretty. With your grey Portland winters, the idea of bringing sunshine yellow into the skylight well and ceiling of the landing seems wonderful! It’d make it a cozy place to hang out and reflect warm light all year long.
Yes! My son’s room has several pops of yellow (and red). The walls are planked and a medium green, and when we added a vintage yellow floor-to-ceiling lamp it brought the room to life! He also has some art with yellow frames and I’m thinking about painting the metal full-size bed we want to add bright yellow too!
I painted a 10×12 guest room, including the ceiling, a banana-color yellow, and WOW was that a lot of yellow. It was like having my own personal sun shining 24/7. When it came time to repaint, I painted the walls BM Floral White, but ran out of paint when it came time for the ceiling. So, the ceiling is still banana yellow. You know what? It works. The room is so warm and cozy with just the reflection of the yellow, which you never know is there, I love it.
I love ceilings painted in unusual colors! Ceilings are the 5th wall.
I love warm colors (our family room is a warm Tuscan gold) but this summer, yellow has been calling to me too. In our kitchen, a yellow footed bowl sits on the island with lemons and airy brown-eyed susans and a totally “cute” yellow bird ($$ at HomeGoods) are cheerful additions to a side counter, also some yellow flowers slipped into a potted plant. No yellow paint or yellow wall paper or investments of any kind required!
Nope!
How about painting the double doors in your upstairs landing in yellow?
I went up to the Lowe’s paint counter once and asked, “What’s your advice for picking a yellow paint color?” His immediate reply: “Don’t do it.” I ignored him and painted my guest room a bright, fun yellow.
LOVE the idea of partnering with banyan bridges on the landing ❤️
I’ve had a sample of Benjamin Moore’s YOLK for months just waiting for her moment to shine : )
We painted my son’s room a very bright yellow when he was about 2 (he’s now 22). I came home from work the day my husband painted and said open the windows the fumes are so bad you are going to kill us. Guess who ends up in ER the next morning on a drip due to anaphylaxis reaction to the paint. Find out months later I’m allergic to chromate, that is a pigment used in yellow paint (and green) and multiple other things.
Two rooms in our house have neutral walls that lean yellow, one more than the other. When paired with light warm woods, white and greens it feels very natural and sunny — a great pick me up on foggy summer days.
For your upstairs hall, have you considered a painted floor cloth? I am from Williamsburg VA and I see them all the time in our historic buildings. Definitely not the commitment of painting the floor itself. And you can DIY.