What Colors Go With Yellow? Try These Complementary Colors

What’s the perfect color for your home? Everyone has a color that’s just right for them (there’s even a color for each astrological sign!). Maybe yours is yellow. If you’ve never thought about decorating your home using yellow, you’re probably not alone. But we’re here to show you that this color is seriously underrated. If you know the colors that complement yellow, you can easily create the perfect look in your home.  

Keep on the sunny side of the street with these tips for decorating with yellow.

• Consider the space: All colors, especially bold ones like yellow, have the power to affect your mood. A bright shade might be perfect for a sunny living or dining room, but a muted hue might work better for the bedroom. 
• Have fun: Playing with vibrant colors is a great way to show your personality through your decorating style. Don’t worry too much about matching — as you’ll see below, there are plenty of colors that pair perfectly with all shades of yellow! 
• Shop vintage: While yellow is considered more of a statement color today, it was a staple in previous decades. From the mustard of the ’70s to the pale butter of the ’50s, past trends mean that your local antique store is likely overflowing with unique yellow pieces. 

All it takes is some accents like throw pillows and florals to prove that navy is one of the best colors to go with yellow. In this room from a small Oakland, California, attic apartment, golden yellow and navy blue work surprisingly well together. Choosing a blue that’s a bit on the somber side keeps your brain from immediately thinking of an IKEA store.

The living room of this U.K. new build is decorated with a pretty combination of mustard and blush pink, which proves that this soft hue totally goes with yellow. We love how the space comes together with various decorative elements, like throw pillows, a table lamp, and wall art. 

As complementary shades on the color wheel, purple and yellow were practically made for each other. Designer Maggie Griffin of Maggie Griffin Design agrees, and favors a pairing like the one in this Brooklyn studio. “I’m a fan of mustard and aubergine, lemon and aqua, or daisy yellow and navy blue,” she says. “Each complementing color has happy, cooler tones that look fantastic with shades of yellow.” If you can’t decide whether you’re a warm or cool color person, try this kind of pair. You can have the best of both worlds.

Phoebe Robinson — comedian, author, and co-host of the podcast and HBO special 2 Dope Queens — styled her Brooklyn, New York, apartment with a yellow accent chair in the bedroom set against a gray pillow, wallpaper, and paint. With this color pairing, you’ll get the same vibes as yellow and black, but with a more muted, relaxed feel. Yellow adds a touch of cheer, while gray brings in the sophisticated aesthetic. 

The pretty bedroom in this mid-century modern Maine home totally nails the yellow and sage green look, proving that the popular hue should definitely be on the list of colors that go with yellow. Here, a yellow storage piece is a small-but-mighty focal point that pops against the sage walls in the background. An accent chair with a faux sherpa cover is the perfect finishing touch. 

Red and yellow are within the same color family, so it makes sense that they’d work well together in a space. Take this Amsterdam home, for example, which masterfully pairs the two colors, with a simple red rug and matching side table that let the bold yellow sofas shine. To balance all the warm shades, try a neutral wall color and drapery in a hue like cool white or light gray.

The bright green of the houseplant completely pops next to a cozy bed complete with fluffy white bedding in this Bronx studio apartment. Bright yellow walls are the perfect complement to this vibrant color scheme. 

This Zen-like Istanbul apartment is decorated in black and yellow. We love the use of such a bold color combination in a space that’s meant for relaxing; and it totally works. There are plenty of ways to use black as a color that goes with yellow without channeling bumblebee vibes. Simply add a third color (like the green houseplants shown here) and keep accents to a minimum. 

This yellow bedroom is replete with deep, beautiful jewel tones. Seen in the dark purple pillows, aqua bedding, mustard-colored throw blanket, and even the bright pink dog bed, these lovely hues are all colors that go with yellow. To pull off this look, opt for a darker yellow tone, rather than a brighter one. 

Ever thought of hot pink as a color that goes with yellow? This eclectic San Francisco apartment proves that it does! We love the use of mustard pillows (a color that’s totally hot right now!) on the hot pink couch, and the soft yellow of the walls in the background. 

If you’re wondering whether teal can go with yellow, the answer is yes — as long as you use a bright yellow, like in this Chicago loft.  

The classic color combination of white and yellow is always a favorite. Both colors give a clean, fresh vibe, and it’s totally possible to style them in a way that doesn’t look boring and washed-out. This animator’s Seattle cottage is decked out with yellow decorating inspiration from room to room, but especially so in the home office pictured here — it’s equal parts cheery and organized, thanks to the white shelving and cabinetry plus the yellow paint.

Brown and yellow are a dynamic duo in this Boston dining room. A darker yellow hue takes center stage on the walls, while brown elements — also part of the warm color family — complement the space and create an earthy, inviting atmosphere. 

A bold couch in this San Francisco home makes the case for thinking pink. Paired with various shades of yellow — ochre curtains, mustard artwork, and a buttery seat cushion on the accent chair — this color duo is a bright, lively addition to the home. Try a wallpaper design with similar shades to seamlessly tie your decor together.

A California home proves sometimes more is more with a monochromatic yellow look. The cheery bedroom walls and drapery are a lighter shade, while the bedding and bedside tables are slightly darker hues and closer in color to mustard. Some variety in shades and textures keeps the scheme from feeling snoozy. For additional visual interest, try adding elements like black-and-white striped lamps, which introduce a high-contrast finish that’ll pop in the space. 

“Yellow also shines when surrounded by its fellow sunrise and sunset hues — unified gradations of color provide balance without sacrificing impact,” Von Dreele explains. Take a look at this bedroom to see this design theory at play. Shades of yellow bring a welcoming warmth to the walls and bedding, while burnt orange and rosy details tie the look together with ease. To avoid overdoing this somewhat monochromatic color palette, try introducing other finishes to the space, like the wooden nightstands and shelves here. Of course, plants never hurt in the mix, either.