How to Decorate a Kitchen With the Color Yellow
Yellow is one of the perennial favorites in kitchen palettes. A pale yellow or white with yellow undertone can serve as a warm neutral on kitchen walls, while a sunnier yellow adds a bold splash of color to accent walls, textiles, dishes or even cabinetry. Yellow works well in most decor schemes, including shabby chic, French country, midcentury modern, contemporary country and bohemian modern. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine which types of yellow you prefer in your kitchen. You can freely mix your yellow hues, but larger pieces such as cabinetry or walls will set the tone. Yellows typically have either blue undertones, making them cooler, or red undertones, making them earthier and warmer. You can also opt for antique, yellowed whites for a pared-down, minimalist look popular in Scandinavian design.
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Choose which walls or architectural elements would benefit from a yellow finish. You can paint all four walls yellow for a monochromatic backdrop, or do an accent wall in a bolder yellow, contrasting it with either a neutral white or pale blue, or a bolder shade such as poppy orange, lime green or cobalt blue. Yellow also works well on doors, window frames, baseboards and over brick.
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Use furniture with natural materials to contrast with the yellow. Light shades of wood, bamboo, stone gray, sisal floor mats and wicker keep your yellow kitchen decor looking light and bright. Yellow can also warm up painted woods. Try it against soft poppy seed black for a French farmhouse aesthetic or with white woods for contemporary country charm.
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Accessorize with brights spots of yellow. Pale yellow cafe curtains emulate the effect of bright sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. Line a corner shelf with brilliant yellow ceramic vases filled with cornflowers or daisies, or hang an arrangement of yellow plates on the wall. On the kitchen table, a large yellow bowl filled with limes, lemons and oranges adds tropical style.
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Use warm accent lighting rather than fluorescent overhead lights to illuminate your yellow kitchen design. Pendant lights add a touch of moody sophistication when suspended over the kitchen table, while wall sconces sheathed in clear or light glass provide small spotlights near a doorway, cabinet or large shelf.
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Tips & Warnings
Try using yellow foods and beverages such as lemonade, cheese, bananas and olive oil to accent your kitchen.
