Skip to main content

What colors go with yellow? 6 fantastic options to transform your home

If you’re looking for a fun, bright color to add to your color palette, you need to consider yellow. Yellow is a joyful color that inspires a light, airy feel in any space while also bringing a touch of warmth to your existing palette — and it’s also been known to bring people happiness. So whether you’ve been craving a change of pace in your interior design, or you already have your heart set on this lovely color, here are some fantastic colors that go with yellow.

yellow accent wall behind a white sofa
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Best combinations of colors that go with yellow

Not knowing what color goes with yellow turns many homeowners away from using this hue in their homes. However, yellow has some fantastic color combinations that look stunning in almost any space. One of the best color combinations for yellow is to pair it with cream, beige, and light reddish-brown.

Creams and off-whites pair beautifully with yellow since they add a soft touch to a palette while also brightening the overall look. The issue with plain white is that it can appear cold and stark within a yellow-based palette. So it’s best to opt for off-white and cream instead to heighten the warmth of the space.

Additionally, beige and light browns look lovely with yellow. They add a natural feel to the space while also increasing the warmth. Reddish undertones are also favorable color choices with yellow since they appear more vibrant and lush against the bright and sunny backdrop.

Warm colors that go with yellow

Warm colors are often paired with yellow. When designers aim to create a stunning yellow-based palette, they’ll use other warm hues to ground and enliven the space.

Rustic orange

Rustic orange is a popular tone to pair with yellow. This charming color feels rich, luxurious, and down to earth. These two shades can create a sense of warmth and calmness in a space, which is perfect for homeowners looking to brighten a dark room without making the design feel too cold. This color combination best suits retro and rustic styles as the two colors can come off as quite bold.

Warm off-white

As mentioned above, traditional white can feel stark and overbearing against yellow. Since yellow is a bright color on its own, it’s best paired with softer, muted tones. Off-white presents a lovely opportunity to soften the look of the space while also accentuating the light and bright feel. Off-whites with red or yellow undertones look best, so we recommend opting for subtle cream and beige tones to help maintain balance within your design.

Pale pink

Pale pink has made quite the comeback recently, particularly in vintage and retro-inspired designs. This light color pairs beautifully with pale and muted yellows. While many people think of a bold, sunshine yellow when imagining the color, pastel and muted yellows are certainly worth considering! These gentler tints look best alongside rustic shades and pale pinks, creating a soft, feminine space that feels cozy and eclectic.

yellow room color with beige couch and plants
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Cool tones that go with yellow

While warm tones are often paired with yellow, a few cool tones look equally impressive when paired with such a vibrant hue. Below are some of the most common cool colors that go with yellow.

Green

Green is often paired with yellow. The two colors almost seem made for each other, as the yellow enhances the liveliness of the green shades, and in turn, the green highlights the yellow’s natural vibe. For example, dark evergreen looks beautiful alongside a warm mustard yellow. Alternatively, pairing a pale yellow with a lighter green shade can add a sense of airiness and light to your room. If you’re looking for a more natural look, pair these two shades with warm beige or brown. And if you prefer something more vibrant and experimental, try using a dark evergreen with pale pink and mustard yellow!

Teal blue

Teal blue is another stunning color pairing for yellow. On their own, these two colors can look quirky and unique. Though, pairing them with off-white and a rich navy hue can help create a sophisticated and timeless color palette. Teal blue and yellow are best used for homeowners who aren’t afraid to play with color. Additionally, people using maximalist, retro, and some bohemian styles may find this color combination to be the perfect fit for their designs.

Royal and navy blue

Of course, this list could not be complete without the inclusion of royal and navy blue. These dark, richer shades of blue look gorgeous alongside yellow. Whether you’re opting for a pop of color, a contemporary twist, or something more timeless, this color pairing can be everything you’ve been searching for. Navy and yellow palettes have a depth to them that is hard to pinpoint but easy to see. While both are rich, luxe colors, they balance one another in most settings, creating a design that will impress visitors.

Yellow is a lovely color fit for a variety of designs. Pairing well with so many different colors, it’s unsurprising that this shade can be the perfect accent or base color for nearly any room. Unfortunately, homeowners sometimes neglect to consider it within their palettes because of its bold and bright nature. However, when used correctly, this hue can create a rejuvenating space filled with joy and inspiration.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
The best indoor plants to decorate your home with in October
Resilient indoor plants to brighten your home during the fall months
Croton plant

Fall is a slow and underwhelming season for avid gardeners. Summer plants start to die off or go dormant, and it's too early to cut down a Christmas tree, right? So, what can you do to keep some of that glorious greenery in your life when the air starts to get chilly? The good news is you don't have to give up your green thumb just because summer is over. There are a ton of low-maintenance indoor plants that can thrive right inside your home during the brisk fall season.

What makes the best indoor plants for fall?
Not every indoor plant is suitable for indoor life in the fall and winter. Many varieties need high heat and long hours of direct sunlight, and they just won't get the vital things they need while inside your home in the fall. The days are shorter and the air is cooler, after all. To prevent the disappointment of browning or wilting leaves, look for indoor plants that have a few key characteristics so you can reap all the benefits of your fall foliage.
Pick plants with high durability
Since fall and winter produce shorter days and dryer air, direct sunlight and humidity will be scarce in your home. It's a good idea to pick the heartiest, most resilient plant varieties that can withstand, or even prefer, the low light conditions and lower moisture levels.
Some indoor plants have great health benefits for cooler months
Among the dry, recycled air blowing around your HVAC system, there are a lot of germs, toxins, and impurities that you and your family breathe in during colder months. Fortunately, many indoor plants can improve the air quality in your home. Through the process of photosynthesis, they filter out those harmful toxins and even give the air a little more humidity. Pick indoor plant varieties that are the best air purifiers out there.
Go for some decorative beauty
Our moods and energy levels definitely take a hit during the chilly months, especially when the trees are bare and the lawn is yellowing. Arguably the best quality of indoor plants is their natural beauty and greenery. Amidst the long nights and barren lawns, having some decorative plant life around may be just what you need to brighten up your day.

Read more
Time for a new bedroom accent color? These are our 4 favorites for fall
You will love these bedroom accent wall colors that are perfect for fall moods
Couple posing with paint rollers in front of painted white wall

Fall is well on its way, and if you're anything like us, you're already planning all your home remodeling projects for the season. Many remodeling projects focus on the public-facing areas of your house — updating appliances, decor, and furnishings to better cater care to your guests. But it's always a great idea to use a fraction of your renovation budget on yourself. If you're looking to redecorate one or many rooms, consider transforming the bedrooms with a new coat of paint. Your bedroom is meant to be an escape from the day — a place to rest, recharge, and get some much-needed peace from the outside world. Make it your own with one of our favorite bedroom accent wall colors.

There are some inviting and fun colors that are on-trend for the cozy, cool season, and these hues are sure to revamp the space, whether you paint the whole room or just a single accent wall. These accent colors for your bedroom are bold but versatile, so they can work with most decor as long as you know what you're doing.

Read more
What colors go with gray? How to make a neutral hue pop in your home
Make gray walls work for your home decor with complementary colors
Modern living room with gray walls and yellow furniture

Neutral colors like gray and taupe are always popular options for your home's interior design. Both are versatile shades that can go with a plethora of other hues, which means you can easily change up the look of your decor with gray walls and a rotating rainbow of accessories like colorful throw pillows. With all the different shades of gray paint available, from matte to glossy, warm to cool, and brownish to blueish, it's certainly possible to find the one that's perfect for you and your home.

Of course, you can always have too much of a good thing. While gray can be a sophisticated and elegant shade, too much gray can wash out a room or make it feel dull and dingy or cold and unwelcoming. Think of gray as the neutral backdrop on a canvas that lets your color palette shine, and you can't go wrong. So, it’s important to incorporate other colors into the decor, whether it be with pieces of furniture, art, or throw blankets -- but what colors go with gray? If you're looking for the best options to brighten up your current decor, keep reading to find out how to accent this elegant tone.

Read more