Spring is a time of new growth, warm weather and colours to lift your spirits. One of my favourite colours for this is yellow. I thought I’d jot down a few tips for using yellow in decorating.
Warm yellow is one of my favourite colours, always giving me positive energy and feeling optimistic and happy – love the colours of this snap taken at Canberra’s Floriade recently.
Choosing colours is a very personal choice, and if you let them, the colours will speak to you, you just need to relax and you’ll feel the difference in tones. If you’re unsure or need more specific advice, it’s always good to meet with a colour consultant to give you guidance.
When decorating using yellow, here are some things to take into consideration.
A little bit of yellow goes a long way – my personal preference is to use neutral walls with splashes of yellow for cushions, curtains, a vase or specific pieces of furniture. This way if you feel you’ve had enough yellow it’s easy to change your accessories, rather than repainting entire walls. Small amounts of yellow give off lots of energy in the correct tone for your purpose – warm (red based) yellow adds warmth while cool (blue based) yellow gives a slightly aloof feeling.
Using some yellow in the bathroom can help you wake up in the mornings – try adding some yellow towels.
The tone you choose depends on the aspect of the room (whether it faces north, south, east or west) as different levels of light affect colours differently. This has a significant effect on how colours and tones look and feel. South facing rooms have less light and are colder, while north facing rooms have lots of natural light and feel warmer. If unsure, buy a couple of sample pots and paint large pieces of white cardboard (important to use white as white is the primer coat and will give a true tone). Watch how the colour looks different in rooms with different aspects and notice how the colour feels in the different light.
Too much yellow gives out too much energy, and if used in a bedroom can cause sleeplessness. This I’ve found from experience. Early on in my renovating career, I chose a Dulux colour called “Clotted Cream” from a small sample. Looked good and then I painted the kitchen (luckily just one room) and it felt wrong. The colour was more warm yellow than cream and I could feel the energy coming from the walls nearly feeling jittery. I was looking for a calmer and relaxing colour which this wasn’t. Back to the drawing board and I chose a more neutral colour which felt a lot calmer. Choosing the right colour and tone is important in creating the atmosphere and feeling that you want in a room.
Have fun decorating!