What Color Goes With Yellow? – Best Color Combination for Yellow

“The happiest color on earth” is how we would describe the color yellow. The bright, cheery, and warm color reminds one of summer, nature, and joy. Despite these positive connotations of yellow, when it comes to interior design, yellow can seem like a tricky color to master, and designers tend to stay clear of it entirely. To get behind the crux of the cause, we will be going back to basics throughout this article by constantly referring to the color wheel and the related color theory of yellow in order to find suitable color combinations for yellow. Hopefully, this will make the incorporation of yellow into your interior less daunting of a task.

The History and Meaning of Yellow

It is important to consider the emotions that yellow evokes as well as the associations that people have made with the color over the years, especially when it comes to interior design. The connotations with regard to the color yellow are the results of many different occasions and traditions throughout history.

The history of yellow is just as rich and vibrant as the pigment itself. Since the dawn of time, yellow was considered an expensive color, as it was usually associated with gold, which has always been a valuable pigment. We see this in Stone Age cave drawings, where a yellow pigment was used. In places like China, it was only the emperor who was allowed to be dressed in yellow.

Aboriginal painting at Jabiru Dreaming (c. 5000 BCE); Sardaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It was only during the 20th century that yellow became associated with safety in terms of information. Yellow is highly visible, even from very far away, hence why so many road signs have yellow backgrounds. The taxi industry also took advantage of the attention-attracting color by making it the primary color for their cars. Yellow is not all positivity though, as yellow cards are known to be given to players during sports games like rugby and soccer as means of a warning to the player.

Yellow is widely known to be a very gender-neutral color, which has made it a popular color to use in the design of nurseries over the years. A very soft, pastel yellow is usually used against a neutral backdrop of white or light gray.

Because yellow is closely associated with the sun, we tend to partner the color with energy and warmth. Other emotions that come to mind when the color is perceived are emotions like fun, happiness, and hope. According to color psychology, yellow has the potential to evoke upliftment and optimism when used sparingly. 

Being over-exposed to bright yellow, however, can have the opposite effects of the previously mentioned emotions, and in turn, cause frustration and aggression.

The Different Shades of Yellow

The different shades of yellow play a large role in when deciding on what colors go with yellow. Although a predominantly warm color, yellow can have cool undertones as well, which can change the look and feel of the entire interior. Below is a list of some of the different shades of yellow and their color values.

Yellow Color Combinations

When choosing what color goes with yellow, it is important to be aware that yellow comes in various shades and tones, and depending on your choice, the mood of the application can shift entirely. Below we will be taking a look at the color theory of yellow, like its complementary color, split complementary colors, monochromatic colors, triadic colors, and analogous colors. It is important to note that for each shade and tone of yellow, the result of these color theories will have different outcomes. For the sake of simplicity, we will be making use of what is considered a “true yellow” shade, which is not overly warm or overly cold in tone. 

This being said, it can also be useful to play around with the different shades of yellow with varying combinations regardless of its color theory to make for interesting color combinations.

Complementary Color of Yellow

The complementary color of yellow can be found directly opposite to yellow on the color wheel. In the case of the pure, bright yellow that is being used as an example, you will see that a bright violet is the complementary color of yellow. Although some variations of this combination work well, try to avoid using the combination in its brightest form, as it can be quite straining on the eyes.

Split Complementary Colors of Yellow

Split complementary colors sit on either side of a color’s complementary color. Because violet, which is the complementary color of yellow, sits directly in between magenta and royal blue on the color wheel, it makes those two colors the split complementary colors to yellow. These colors are incredibly bright and equally as straining on the eye. 

If used in variations of lighter tones with one chosen bright color, it could make for great textile designs for interior decoration purposes. 

Monochromatic Colors of Yellow

Monochromatic color combinations are highly favored in interior design scenarios, as they tend to have a satisfying effect on the viewer. From the chosen color, draw a line directly to the center of the color wheel. All the colors that sit along this line can be considered monochromatic colors of yellow. Because true yellow is so bright, the monochromatic colors of bright yellow tend to lean more towards green on the color wheel.

Triadic Colors of Yellow

Triadic colors form a perfect triangle with 60-degree corners on the color wheel. Because yellow is a primary color, we know without having to draw the triangle on the color wheel, that its triadic colors will be red and blue. Once again, these colors work well when combined in more muted tones. Choose one primary, bright color and combine it with the other two in their more toned-down forms. 

Making use of these three colors in their brightest tones can work well when used minimally through the use of pops of color on a white or black backdrop.

Analogous Colors of Yellow

When drawing a circle from the chosen color and keeping the center point of the color wheel in the center, all of the colors that sit along the new circle that was drawn can be considered analogous colors of yellow. Of course, pairing yellow with its closest analogous colors makes the most sense, as it creates a natural rainbow-like effect. People tend to respond well to colors that are paired in this matter, as it creates a sense of stability.

What Color Goes With Yellow?

The above color theories make it clear that there are many colors that go with yellow, depending on the shade and tonal value of the yellow you are making use of in your interior. Below we will be looking at specific shades of yellow and what colors they pair well with in an interior setting. Keep in mind that these pairings are not set in stone and playing around with the shades within the pairings can create even more interesting color combinations.

Yellow and Purple

Naturally, purple is one of the colors that go with yellow. Because violet is yellow’s complementary color, shades of purple tend to work well when combined with yellow, in moderation. Very dark, burgundy purples look great when combined with softer, pastel yellow. 

For a dramatic interior, make use of dark purple as the predominant color, with subtle pops of yellow to create contrast and interest.

Yellow and Storm Blue

Storm blue and yellow create a very moody and contemporary atmosphere. This combination works particularly well when storm blue is used as the backdrop color and is complimented with accents of mustard yellow. This combination is a very sophisticated choice for a room like a study if you are set on introducing yellow in some way without creating a sense of overstimulation.

Yellow and Olive

Green is one of the colors that go with yellow in almost any shade pairing. Pairing olive green with a dark, warm yellow creates a natural, earthy color palette that can be adjusted quantity-wise to suit almost any room in the house. But because of the properties of both colors, promoting cheer, health, and vitality, it may just be the perfect, albeit unexpected, color combination for a kitchen. 

A good application would be olive green kitchen cupboards with warm yellow tiles for the splash back. 

Yellow and Gray

Yellow and gray make for a very contemporary color combination. This combination works particularly well in interior design when gray is used as the backdrop for the interior in various hues with pops of yellow furniture, to warm up the space and make it livelier. Consider the tones of colors when choosing your yellow and gray color combination: Pair warm yellow with a shade of gray that has a warm undertone, and cool yellow with a cool undertone gray. The darker the gray against the yellow, the interior will be perceived as contemporary and sophisticated, whereas pairing yellow with a lighter gray gives off a youthful pairing that can work well in nurseries, for example.

Yellow, Black, and White

Yellow and black is considered a very sophisticated and modern color combination but can be quite straining on the eyes if not combined with a buffer color. Using white as a buffer makes for a perfect tonal color palette. The shade of yellow depends on whether you want yellow to be the feature color used the most, or if you only want to use it as an accent color. 

When making use of yellow as an accent color it is perfectly fine to introduce a very bright yellow into your color pallet, but when yellow is your main color, then a softer yellow is a better option, especially when paired with black and white.

Yellow and Teal

Teal is such a fun and energetic color and adding it to a yellow color palette emphasizes its cheerfulness of it. Unlike many color combinations, this specific color combination tends to work well when both colors are used in very bright shades and can work particularly well in rooms where stimulation is required such as a children’s playroom.

Yellow and Warm Brown

Because warm brown is a very dark shade of orange, it pairs very well with warm yellow. This pairing is made easy when choosing furniture items that are made from natural woods that aren’t too dark (walnut) or too light (ash). Making use of wood furniture pieces means that yellow will naturally become the backdrop of the combination. 

This can be done with the walls, big, built-in furniture pieces, or other larger furniture pieces such as the sofa in a living room, or the bedding in your bedroom. 

Yellow and Beige

Yellow and beige is the more mature and sophisticated version of yellow and white. Pairing yellow with beige embodies warmth and together they have the power to create a very inviting atmosphere when used in the right setting. This combination can work well in a living room, dining room, or kitchen.

Whether yellow is your favorite color, or you simply want to push the boundaries of your comfort zone, it is the perfect color to play around with. As long as you remember that yellow, as with all colors, has countless different shades and hues, and when these undertones are evaluated, it is easy to find a combination for any shade of yellow, especially when making use of color theory. No matter the shade or combination you end up with, the properties of joy and vitality remain the same, and we all can do with a little extra of those.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Color Combination for Yellow?

What is the best color combination for yellow? It depends heavily on the shade of yellow and the mood you want to achieve. Colors that tend to complement yellow well in an interior setting according to color theory are purple, black, white, gray, and navy blue.

What Is Yellow’s Complementary Color?

What is yellow’s complementary color? According to color theory, to find the complementary color of a primary color, the other two primary colors should be combined. In the case of yellow, red and blue are combined to form purple, which is then yellow’s complementary color.

What Is a Good Color Combination With a Yellow Wall?

What is a good color combination with a yellow wall? It all depends on the shade and tonal value of the yellow wall and what you want to achieve by pairing another color with the yellow wall. If you like your yellow wall and want to make it the focal point of the room, pair it with neutrals like warm brown, dark gray, white, and black. If you want to draw attention away from the yellow wall, choose opposing colors like purple or blue furniture pieces to balance the room out evenly in terms of color distribution.

What Color Goes With Yellow and Brown?

Introducing orange into a pallet that is already made up of yellow and brown, creates a very satisfactory sunset color scheme. If orange is too bright of a color, consider the fact that yellow and brown are very earthy colors, which makes it a great pair to combine with another earthy color such as green.

What Color Goes With Golden Yellow?

Golden yellow simply means that the yellow has an orange undertone, which means that the color theories that apply to orange need to be taken into consideration when trying to find a color combination for golden yellow. Golden yellow is a very saturated color, which means that it is best to pair it with other saturated colors such as sky blue, green, and brown.

Kylie Deyzel( Interior Designer )

Kylie Deyzel is an interior designer and sustainability enthusiast from Cape Town, South Africa. She has a passion for writing and educating others on various interior design topics. Her favorite interior design topics include interior design theory, interior design history, and most of all: sustainable interior design.

She received her B-tech degree in interior design from the University of Johannesburg in 2018 and has worked at various interior design firms since and had a few of her own freelance interior design clients under her company name binnekant.

Learn more about the Art in Context Team.