If there's one color to know about for spring and summer 2025, it's butter yellow. Pale, buttery yellows are everywhere in interiors right now, and for good reason: this soft, nostalgic hue is both playful and soothing.
But when decorating with yellow, it's important to choose the right color combinations to achieve your desired aesthetic. From pairing butter yellow with light neutrals for an understated look to richer shades for a colorful scheme, there are endless ways to enhance this soft hue.
'From a color psychology perspective, butter yellow is warm, optimistic, sunny, and emotionally uplifting,' says Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design at Lick and color psychologist. 'Whatever space you want to create, buttery yellow will create a welcoming environment.' Here, we've rounded up eight of the best colors to pair with butter yellow, as recommended by interior designers.
1. Creams and whites
'It sounds obvious, but creams and whites are perfect with butter yellow,' says interior designer Vivian Shao Chen. 'It makes it less about the color and more about the nuances in tones and textures while still benefiting from the happy hue. This powder room I designed was inspired by hand-painted walls and faux panels I saw while traveling in Sweden. They are experts at using yellow especially!'
'Butter yellow is so soft and creamy it can serve as a warm, sunny neutral in the space. For a minimal look, butter yellow looks great paired with other neutrals like white or cream and brown wood accents,' agrees designer Jacqueline Goncalves.
Here, the deVOL butter-yellow kitchen cabinets are paired with calming whites, creating a calming and timeless kitchen color scheme. If you're considering paint ideas for your butter-yellow scheme, this color pairing makes a strong choice since it won't overwhelm or feel too colorful. Below, Tash Bradley recommends some of the best paint shades to use:
'Lick's Yellow 07 is our muted buttery yellow with warm brown and gray undertones. Yellow 07 is earthy and mellow, it creates soothing spaces that give off a warming, positive glow. If you want to create a contemporary look to the room, color-drench the walls, woodwork, and your ceiling in buttery yellow. For a more traditional feel, pair it with White 03 or White 05.'
Use butter yellow as your wall color with Lick's Yellow 07 – a stylish yellow that's not too saturated.
2. Rust tones and terracotta
To lean into the warmth of butter yellow, consider pairing it with earthy rust tones or terracotta decor. While these tones appear more colorful than neutrals, they have a natural, earthy quality so the result won't be too vibrant.
'Butter yellow is a versatile hue that pairs effortlessly with a wide range of colors. I love it alongside rust, clay, and pinkish tones, but it also blends beautifully with browns and reds for a richer, more grounded look,' explains interior designer Amanda Jacobs of Amanda Jacobs Design.
A linen pillow is a great choice for the warmer months, and this brick-colored one from Lulu & Georgia has dark green piping for added interest.
Refresh your bedding for spring with this linen bedcover that would pair wonderfully with yellow accents.
3. Brown
Another way to lean into neutral room ideas when decorating with butter-yellow is to incorporate brown tones from natural wood. Here, Farrow & Ball's Hay pairs well with the natural brown tones of the wooden ceiling beams, creating a timeless and pared-back look.
'I love pairing butter yellow with rich brown tones – think warm wood, chocolate velvet, or a touch of cognac. It’s a great way to balance the playfulness of yellow and give it a more sophisticated feel,' explains designer Thea Bloch-Neal, Durham-based founder and lead designer at Curated by Thea.
'Butter yellow begs to be paired with warm, earthy ochres and browns – it’s a classic, bread-and-butter combination that exudes happiness and effortless charm,' agrees designer Christina Kelley. 'Butter yellow brings a soft, radiant energy, while ochre deepens the palette with a grounded, almost luxe warmth. Together, they create an interplay of lightness and depth, with a subtle contrast that adds complexity without ever feeling heavy.'
4. Warm brass
When decorating with butter yellow on the walls, whether with paint ideas or wallpaper ideas, it's important to think about the color of your metals through fixtures and fittings. Designer Elizabeth Taich of Elizabeth Tach Design says that warm brass can be a winning combination:
'Brass and butter yellow are tonal best friends – they both have a golden warmth that plays so well together. The brass fixtures in this bathroom – those sweet vintage-style faucets and the tulip sconces – add just the right touch of polish without going full glam. They elevate the yellow and make it feel more refined and more intentional. Skip cool metals like chrome or nickel, which can feel a little off against the cozy vibe of yellow.'
Create a similar look in a bathroom with this yellow and white patterned wallpaper.
Complete your powder room or bathroom with this brass hook for a timeless look.
5. Dark pink
'I love mixing berry pink with butter yellow – it is a more unexpected pairing that is extremely soothing and easy on the eye,' says designer Alexis Warren of Alexis Warren Designs who designed this pastel living room. 'When working with these colors, I like to make sure the pink has enough saturation and vibrance so it creates enough contrast against the powdery yellow.'
This is echoed by interior designer Miranda Cullen of Inside Stories, who adds: 'One of our favorite color pairings with butter yellow is deep burgundy – it creates a striking and unexpected contrast. Our tip for using these two colors together is to let one take the lead and use the other as an accent color. For example, if you have a room painted in butter yellow, incorporate burgundy through decor elements to add a subtle yet impactful touch of contrast.'
Lean into a traditional look with this floral linen pillow featuring dark pink tones.
Contrast butter yellow walls with this statement Pooky lamp for a playful look.
For a summery look, elevate your living room sofa with this pink shell-patterned cushion cover.
6. Cool blue
Referencing the color wheel is a good idea when choosing room color ideas, and by choosing those that sit opposite one another (yellow and blue) you can create a complementary color scheme.
‘When chosen carefully, the specific shades of blue and yellow can drastically alter the mood and aesthetic of a room with the balance of cool and warm tones creating a vibrant combination that catches the eye while still maintaining harmony,' says Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene.
'Evoking feelings of nostalgia and warmth, perfect for spaces such as a kitchen or cozy living room, a softer, pastel light blue paired with a warm, buttery yellow can lend a charming, traditional feel – evoking the cheerful, sunlit warmth of classic countryside homes or coastal cottages. Combine the confident mid-blue, Air Force Blue alongside warm yellows such as Carys and Light Gold to create a joyful living space that’s redolent of the sun in the sky,' Ruth suggests.
Ruth recommends Air Force Blue for a colorful look – a mid-toned blue that works well with yellow.
Or, for a less vibrant but equally stylish scheme, embrace the golden tones of Light Gold.
7. Green
While some say yellow and green room ideas should be avoided, they can be incredibly stylish, especially during the spring and summer months.
'One of my favorite pairings is butter yellow and soft olive green,' says Vyanca Soto, owner and principal designer at Market Studio Interiors. 'The green is grounding, while the yellow lifts the palette with light and optimism. It’s perfect for spaces where you want a blend of freshness and warmth.'
'I love pairing golden-yellow tones – especially those with warmth and richness – with deep, earthy greens,' adds designer Jessica Whitley. 'The contrast feels both inviting and elevated, like a fresh take on classic heritage colors. The yellow brings a sense of light and vibrancy, while the green grounds the palette and adds a moody elegance.'
As seen in this bathroom, Gervase Yellow is a pale yellow that maintains a liveable quality.
Add a pop of green to your butter yellow scheme with this scalloped pillow cover.
Ideal for the spring months, this striped green rug can be used outside too.
8. Red
For a bold look, consider adding red to your butter-yellow scheme. To do so stylishly, Ruth Mottershead recommends layering yellows and neutrals on the walls and adding a red as an accent:
'Middle Buff, an intriguing, deep neutral color makes a surprising and grounding partner to yellows. Use Middle Buff on the ceiling and Affogato on the woodwork with the cheerful Yellow-Pink on the walls to create a captivating scheme with depth and dimension. Add a painted chair in Atomic Red for a more confident and unexpected scheme that will bring joy and design interest to a kitchen or dining space.'
Daniela Araya of Daniela Araya Color & Interior Design Consultancy also enjoys pairing red with butter yellow. She adds: 'If playing with red paint feels too permanent (or risky) for your personal color tolerance, try working it in through more flexible elements. A red coffee table book or bright picture frame can deliver that same hit of visual interest, just with a lower commitment.'
Opt for this modern table lamp for a smaller dose of red.
When decorating with butter yellow, you can lean into a colorful, playful look by pairing it with bolder hues – from warming dark pinks to contrasting blues – ideal for more maximal decorating styles. If you prefer a neutral and quieter look, neutrals are an equally stylish match for butter yellow, while offering plenty of timelessness.
