Delightful variations inspired by the sun put golden yellow on this season’s hot list.
What could be more inviting than stepping into a room dressed in golden yellow, whether it be a bold statement or subtle accents? It’s like entering a ray of sunshine, enveloping you in warmth and cheer. It’s no surprise then, that these radiant hues of yellow—whether in paint, fabrics or furnishings—are elevating the style and spirit of our favorite spaces, both indoors and out.
While bright citrus yellow frequently steals the spotlight with its sunny disposition and mood-lifting qualities, designers today are drawn more to the warmer tones of yellow. From soft, butter creams to luxurious honey hues, these shades exude the same upbeat energy but with a more sophisticated and timeless allure.
Today’s sun-lit yellows encompass a wide range of tones. On the softer end, consider Honeybee, a new paint color described by Benjamin Moore to be as sweet as it is versatile. There’s also Limitless, Glidden Paints’ Color of the Year for 2024. Straddling pale straw and whipped butter, the near-neutral embodies the warm, creamy colors that have been cropping up across many designs of late. These include those of designer Shea McGee, who is obsessed with butter yellow. “It is such a good shade, landing somewhere between beige and yellow yellow,” she says. McGee and her design team love butter yellow’s versatility, seamlessly weaving the hue into wallpaper and paint, along with smaller accents including throw pillows, wall art and lamps. The resulting spaces are as cheerful as they are soothing. “I love how sunny and relaxed it is without going full force into lemon territory,” McGee says. And for those who are timid about using color, butter and similarly mellow yellows resemble cream, making a jump from basic white to yellow a comfortable and stylish move.
Of course, there are others who whole-heartedly embrace color and are always on the lookout for the next must-have hue to bring home. For many, today’s choice is a warm yellow, and top-notch paint brands offer an impressive assortment, as do luxury furniture, fabric and wallpaper makers. Schumacher, for example, recently touted Marigold among the lively, organic colors in its new Live It Up! collection of indoor/outdoor fabrics. Bluestar named Honey Yellow the color of the year for its kitchen appliances, and Thibaut included Daisy among the “vibrant yet slightly heathered” tones enriching its Locale Collection’s textile offerings. The list goes on.
Indeed, golden yellows seem to be everywhere, instantly elevating and enlivening every space they grace with their soothing warmth and energizing charm. Pale or saturated, they speak to our innate desire for comfort and connection at home. And these days, who doesn’t want that?
No-Fail Yellows
