Not-so-mellow yellow: Summer’s hottest hue

I’ve had a bit of a thing for yellow lately and last week impulsively bought two grey cushions with acid-bright butterflies embroidered on them. Incorporating them into the lounge’s existing decor scheme necessitated a total re-organise – but that’s another story for another time.

They look divine nestled against my scuffed black leather armchairs. Even so, introducing them to hubby was a nerve-wracking moment. Luckily he loves them – and the bright hue – as much as I do. And so, it seems, does my new favourite website Room Decorating Ideas, which even goes as far as to call yellow summer 2011’s hottest trend.

But decorators agree that yellow can be tricky to work with, saying almost unanimously that a little goes a long way. The up-to-date way of using it is as a focal point, rather than a background colour. By this I mean paint one wall rather than all four, or cover just one sofa rather than the entire suite. Too much can very easily lead to your room looking gaudy and overdone.

Interestingly, many interior designers are mixing hues and tones within the palette – combining splashes of bright accessories with more conservative wall treatments, for example. Others are advocating complete contrasts: jewel-toned walls against glossy black flooring. And with this trend, as with most others, there’s also room to stay neutral – incorporating a pop of colour against a creamy canvas can be just as eye-catching as going the whole nine yards.

The really great thing about yellow – apart from it instantly bringing a bright sunshiney feeling to a room – is that there are so many shades to choose from. Ranging from butter to lemon, dandelion to canary, mustard to acid, there’s a hue for every room in every home. Designer Jamie Drake loves a yellow with a touch of red in it, so that it stays warm and bright “like an optimistic embrace”. Who can resist that bit of colour theory?

Nurseries are often decorated in pale yellow, especially when the baby’s gender is not known at the time of the room revamp. But staining the furniture in a brighter tone can take your baby’s room from a nappy to a happy space. Or try super-sophisticated grey and yellow with a glossy sheen in an adult bedroom, or sunny yellow for a teen – combined with pink and orange for a girl. Yes, really. Primary shades and combinations work well for younger kiddies.

Use yellow to brighten up a dark hallway or a dingy staircase, or paint your front door a welcoming shade. Add this magic ingredient to your kitchen – perhaps in a saffron hue. Or give your guests a memorable experience by introducing it in their “powder room” (for want of a politically correct term).

Bright yellow is a powerful, energetic, revitalising colour. Its paler variants can be calming and soothing. In all its tones, it’s the colour of self-love. (Hah, bet you didn’t know that!

So spread a little love. Make your home a happier place. Go yellow.