Sometimes people think of decorating as a choice between two extremes - blah neutral and wild color. The truth is that most colors can work as neutrals by using more sedate tones. Yellow is one of the colors that does this extremely well.
When there are more attention-seeking colors in a space, yellow can easily bring some life to the neutral areas without immediately drawing the eye in. Yellow also compliments many other colors quite nicely. In a warm room, use yellow to create some contrast without straying too far from the primary palette. A neutral yellow also has the ability to add life to a cool blue room. It can ground the more intense colors and contrasts with just the slightest hint of warmth.
Images: 1. Decor Pad; 2. Decor Pad; 3. Decor Pad; 4. Decor Pad; 5. Cococozy; 6. Decor Pad; 7. Decor Pad; 8. Decor Pad; 9. The Lennoxx; 10. Soul Decor.
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Beautiful when it doesn't hit you over the head - as it is in these examples. Yellows can be tricky. I recently tried it as an accent in my kitchen and couldn't wait to paint it over --it was just TOO MUCH in that space. A little goes a long way.
What a fantastic collection of images!
Just realized that a pale yellow is the perfect color for my home. We have pets, so any white/light colored furniture and rugs are out, and we have a very open floorplan that makes switching colors difficult. But yellow will let me stick with taupes, grays, navys, and browns without being boring. I can also add cool or warm accents.
Thanks AT!
What is a good neutral yellow paint color (warm) that would go with olive/moss green? I am looking for a something that would hide and not compete with a very stron burnt pecan (benjamin moore) colored dinning room...which it opens into.
Thanks
I have too much yellow in my apartment hahaha! but I think it could be easily fixed with more white accents like white-matted artwork. Just waiting for more money.
I have a friend who said pale yellows just make things look like they're covered in cigarette smoke and I think he has made a really good point.
I painted our baby boy's nursery a very light yellow green (like the 2nd photo) that reads as a neutral. Since we painted the ceiling and walls - it's an attic space - I didn't want anything too bright or overpowering. It ended up being the perfect color, and I'm so glad I picked it over white or taupe.
This reminds me of the argument Antonio made for himself on Design Star when the military family wanted neutral walls and he painted them a muted blue.
These pics are an inspiration.
I love the curtains in picture #1. They would work well in my room. Gray and yellow, with cream walls. Anyone know where they are from?