These Are the Yellow Paint Colors Interior Designers Love to Use

Get the best yellow paint colors for decorating your home in a fun, sunny shade.

Whether you choose maple gold, cheery sunflower, or buttercream, there's a yellow paint color for every design style. Color experts and interior designers share their all-time favorite yellow paint colors, plus how to incorporate the primary color into your decorating scheme.

Related: Yellow Bedroom Decor We Love

How to Use Yellow Paint Colors

Yellow paint colors are chameleons. How a shade looks on your walls depends on the amount of natural light in your home and the colors of other surface finishes, like floors. Testing your top picks is essential. Pale floors reflect light, brightening the color, while rich wood finishes can have a darkening effect. Have a lot of brown furniture? Go for a warm yellow. "The umber that is evident in a warmer yellow is very friendly to antiques," says designer Ann Lowengart.

Paint colors pictured:

• Buzz-In P300-6, Behr

• Lemon Twist 3006-2B, Valspar

• Citrus Punch PPG1212-5, PPG

• Cheerful SW 6903, Sherwin-Williams

Related: How to Use Color Swatches to Pick Paint Colors

Buttercream Yellow Paint Colors

With colors so delicious you could eat them, the lighter end of the pale yellow paint color spectrum tends to be for anyone looking for a color that won't overpower. "Stay really pale on the walls so the yellow gives the room more of an overall feeling than a statement," says designer Sara Gilbane.

Paint colors pictured:

• Lemonade Slush BHG605, Glidden

• Homey Cream 3007-6B, Valspar

• Honey Moth 350E-2, Behr

• Straw A22-3, Ace Hardware

• Cornmeal B12-2, Olympic

Sunny Yellow Paint Colors

Cozy up with these shades of yellow paint drenched in a summer color palette with hints of nature. If you are planning to paint a room unfamiliar with daylight, these tones might make all the difference, according to designer Sara Tuttle. "Not all colors can warm up a room that doesn't get a ton of natural light like these yellows can," she says. But don't let its summery inspiration fool you. "Yellow is beautiful because it's seasonless," Tuttle says. "It sets the tone for a warm, cozy room."

Paint colors pictured:

• Sawdust A15-3, Olympic

• Morning Sunlight 360A-2, Behr

• Goldenrod GLY04, Glidden

• Fulfilled 15b2, True Value

• Hello Yellow! BHG611, Glidden

Gold Yellow Paint Colors

Go to the richer side of yellow with these maple gold hues. Golden yellows are classic, fresh, and cozy. But they're also one of the trickiest colors to get right, says New York City designer Marlaina Teich. She says to use a pillow, area rug—anything that will be in the finished room—to hone in on your paint choice. If a hue doesn't coordinate with the item, move on.

Paint colors pictured:

• Sunbeam 328, Benjamin Moore

• Honey Tone 360C-3, Behr

• Maple Taffy 3004-3C, Valspar

• Egg Yolk A14-5, Olympic

• Dandy Lion BHG614, Glidden

Related: 33 Living Room Color Schemes for a Cozy, Livable Space

Bright Yellow Shades

These lively yellows look just like a spring day. From concentrated yellows to delicate ones, vibrant yellow paint colors are a visual pick-me-up, leaving you feeling happier and more creative. "Bright yellow in a tiny space feels unexpected. It surprises and delights," says Lowengart.

Paint colors pictured:

• Optimistic Yellow SW6900, Sherwin-Williams

• Sunbeam A12-3, Olympic

• Dazzling Daffodil GLY03, Glidden

• Buttery 14-5, Pratt and Lambert

• Gold Path A23-7, Ace Hardware

Cool Yellow Paint Shades

Consider temperature when choosing a yellow paint color. A shade with cool undertones feels crisp and fresh, especially when paired with grays, whites, or greens. When opting for a more saturated yellow, pair it with lighter shades to avoid overwhelming the space.

Paint colors pictured:

• Sawdust A15-3, Olympic

• Lemon Butter 3008-4B, Valspar

• Pineapple Sorbet GLY22, Glidden

• Hibiscus 2027-50, Benjamin Moore

• Casava 15-10, Pratt and Lambert

Warm Yellow Paint Colors

While this color scheme might not be one you typically conjure when picturing the color yellow, the undertones in each of these paint colors bring a different approach to a typical shade. Warm yellow paint colors feel cozy and comforting.

Paint colors pictured:

• Apple Cider B18-4, Olympic

• Arctic Tern NT593, Nautica at Home

• Amber 168, Benjamin Moore

• Deckled Edge RL 1044, Ralph Lauren Paint

• London Stone No. 6, Farrow & Ball

Yellows with Orange Undertones

These yellow paint colors have traces of warm orange. Pair with vibrant teals or calm navy for a colorful primary or tertiary color palette. Adding one of these yellow-orange shades in a living room or office space can liven it up and boost creativity.

Paint colors pictured:

• Palomino Gold GL031, Glidden

• Daisy Dew C2-4, Dutch Boy

• Yuma B21-6, Ace Hardware

• Evening Glow A17-3, Olympic

• Sunflower SW6678, Sherwin-Williams

Cheery Yellows

Yellows that look as delicious as a lemon tart easily refresh any kitchen. These soft yellow paint colors are a great addition to any room to bring in subtle hues. Choose from lighter shades of yellow for a sweet nursery or powder room, or opt for something more saturated for a breakfast nook.

Paint colors pictured:

• Lemon Souffle 350B-4, Behr

• Mayapple 40YY65/427, Glidden

• Warm Summer 3008-2B, Valspar

• Lemon Twist, SW6909, Sherwin-Williams

• Collegiate Yellow IB70, Ralph Lauren

Yellow and Blue Color Scheme

Take a risk and go to extremes with the tried-and-true yellow-and-blue color palette. Start with pale yellow paint and run to the opposite end of the saturation spectrum with indigo blue. For an extra dose of drama, sprinkle in glossy black accents.

Paint color pictured:

Monterey White HC-27, Benjamin Moore

Related: What Colors Go with Blue? 10 Gorgeous Combinations for Every Room

Yellow Cabinet Paint Colors

Painting cupboards and cabinets can take a kitchen from blah to wow with a few coats of paint. Choose a fun yellow paint color and commit it to a kitchen island or piece of furniture to make a statement. This idea works especially well if using a shade with just enough attitude.

Paint color pictured:

Bee SW-6683, Sherwin-Williams

Yellow Bathroom Paint Colors

Wake up an all-white bathroom with a warm yellow hue. If you're matching a paint color to an existing feature, such as a tile or an upholstered piece, resist a perfect color pairing. "It makes your room feel flat and one-dimensional," says Gilbane. "Go two shades lighter or darker."

Suggested paint color:

Philadelphia Cream HC-30, Benjamin Moore

Yellow Ceiling Paint

Another tip to getting the most out of your yellow paint color is moving beyond your walls and onto the ceiling. "Whenever I can, I try to put a hint of the wall color on the ceiling," Marlaina says. "It makes the room feel more complete. The color will look darker on the ceiling, so cut it by 50 percent."

Paint color pictured:

Weston Flax HC-5, Benjamin Moore

Yellow Bedroom Paint Colors

Yellow on yellow on yellow! If that's your dream, mix up the strength of the hue in the pieces and textures around the room to avoid the monochromatic doldrums. Plus, if your room comes equipped with any sort of view of the outside world, your wall color choice will shine. Yellow paint colors work best on walls in a room with a lot of natural light, Gilbane says. Dark rooms can make yellow look dingy.

Paint color pictured:

Tea Light CI-163, Valspar

Primary Color Palette

Blue and yellow paint colors almost always hit a decorating home run, especially in rooms where you start or end your day, such as a breakfast nook. Maximize this color opportunity and add in a few red or orange accents and fabrics. It'll be a primary palette you can live with for years.

Paint color pictured:

Woodmont Cream 204, Benjamin Moore

Related: Space-Savvy Breakfast Nook Banquettes

Light Yellow Paint Colors

Even the palest of yellows can brighten up a room. Yellow takes a step back in this living room and lets saturated pastel hues shine. A crisp white on the walls might have caused the peppy hues to read as electric rather than sweet, but the slightly yellow paint color ensures the room is sunny, not stark. It's essential to pick the right base when looking for the right yellow. Stay away from white-based yellows—they can turn out chalky and cold, Tuttle says. Her rule of thumb: Stick with ocher and brown undertones.

Suggested paint color:

Reed Yellow, Pratt and Lambert

Painting Tips

If you plan to paint your walls yourself, follow our tips for making your project successful. First, choose the right kind of paint for your project, whether flat, eggshell, or glossy, and make sure you have the proper primer. If your project includes painting furniture, get a paint specifically for that. When you get the paint home, open the can carefully to avoid spills and messes that could be hard to clean up.

When you've finished, safely dispose of leftover paint or store it so it lasts longer and can be used for touch-ups.

Related: 23 Fundamental Painting Tips to Know Before You Pick Up a Brush

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