The color yellow represents joy and lightness of spirit

Learn the best ways to use the color yellow in your home

The color yellow is undeniably the happiest color in the spectrum. It is uplifting, raises the spirit, and delights the eye. It is the brightest, cheeriest color of the rainbow.

After a long winter, we are starved for a little color. The first colors of spring are the sassy little yellow crocuses, followed by the dignified kingly golden daffodils. Our hearts soar to see this vibrant color and we are filled with happiness knowing great weather is on its way. Is it any wonder the "Smiley Face" is a bright, happy and intense yellow?

How to use Yellow in color schemes

Close your eyes and imagine what you see when you think of the color yellow. Most likely you'll picture the sun first, followed by bright yellow flowers of primroses, buttercups. Perhaps you think of Van Gogh's vibrant "Sunflowers". Maybe you see yellow lemons, golden corn or ripe bananas.

Whatever you see, all these images are symbols of life and joy. This is the quality yellow will bring to your home. Yellows range from the lightest cream to purest sun yellow. When gray is added to yellow, subtle shades of olive green appear. As you can see, a wide range of yellow colors can be used without your having to be overpowered by "Smiley Face" yellow in your home.

Below are some ideas for color schemes:

Monochromatic

The monochromatic color scheme is developed using only shades, tints, and tones of only one color. A neutral color such as white or beige may also be used in this color scheme.

If you were to go to a paint store and select a handful of sample yellow paint strips, from the lightest light to the darkest dark, you would be able to develop a monochromatic color scheme from these.

The living room above has a monochromatic color scheme.

Complementary

The complementary color scheme is made of two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel.

The complementary color for yellow is violet. This color scheme is very popular in home design. The colors can range from the palest cream and pastel violet to the rich colors of royal purple and gold.

Split Complementary

The split complementary scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. For the color yellow these colors would be yellow, red and blue (red and blue being the 2 colors on each side of violet which is the complementary color)

This color scheme is popular for nurseries using pastel colors. Check out the pastel color wheel above for some possiblities.

Triadic Color Scheme

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. The triadic scheme is more balanced and harmonious than the split complementary.

Yellow, magenta and turquoise would be a triadic color scheme. To see more triad colors check out the Ives color wheel below. Choose one color to be used in larger amounts than others. If you find the colors are overpowering, used subdued tones to create a pleasing color scheme using triads.

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Avoid combining warm and cool colors in this scheme.

By using the color yellow and it's closest neighbors you can create a harmonious analogous color scheme. Usually analogous schemes use three, five or seven neighboring colors. Avoid using too many hues in the analogous scheme, because this may ruin the harmony.

If you love working with hot tempered colors consider using golden yellow in an analogous color scheme. Using golden yellow as your center, yellow orange and red orange would be on one side with chartreuse and yellow green on the other. The golden yellow can also be used on the end, giving you a wide range of oranges or greens in this color scheme. Again, check the color wheel below for more ideas for an analogous color scheme using the color yellow.

Compare the photo of the anologous room on the right to the color wheel below. Can you pick out the anologous progression?

The color yellow and feng shui

The color yellow symbolizes authority or rank, and is associated with tolerance, acceptance, honesty, and trustworthiness. Gold, a shade of yellow, symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

Yellow is positive and full of vibrant energy. Light, bright shades on walls will help the life giving forces flow through your home. Yellow in a room provides a sense of well-being and harmony which makes it a good choice for the center of your home such as the living room or kitchen.

The healing properties of the color yellow

Introduce the color yellow in your home if your health needs a boost or your mind needs clearing. Burn a yellow candle on your desk while working and it will help focus your mind and intellect. This color family also is known to help the digestive system. For this reason it is often used in family kitchens. Men usually are not fond of the color yellow, so use it sparingly if at all in areas they frequent.

One last caveat

Use yellow to evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings. It will raise your spirits and promote vitality. However like red, it must be used carefully because it is very stimulating and may have a disturbing effect. Studies have shown that babies cry more in a bright sun yellow room than they do in rooms painted in less intense shades of this color. This may be something to think about if you are thinking of using yellow as an alternative to pink or blue in a nursery.

Exercise - Develop a Monochromatic Color Scheme

In this exercise, go to a home improvement or paint store and pick out a handful of yellow (or any color of your choice) sample cards. Get a large variety of cards. Look through magazines, books, the Internet or any other resources you may have. If you shop in fabric stores, see if you can find a yellow ( or color of your choice) monochromatic print you could use as a basis for your color scheme.

Build a Storyboard in order to help you see your color scheme. If you have some old home dec magazines, cut out pictures you can use in your room decor.

These exercises are not etched in stone. They are just some fun ways to help you develop your decorating skills and creativity. You may find yourself inspired by some of these exercises to try and do many things in your home that would not have occured to you if you hadn't tested yourself with these exercises. Feel free to ignore these if you feel they are not useful or take too much of your time.