What Colors Go with Yellow? A Guide to Complementary Hues

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Learn which colors pair perfectly with yellow decor or clothing

Co-authored by Juli Roland and Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: May 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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Best Colors to Pair with Yellow

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Colors to Avoid

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Using Yellow in Decor

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Wearing Yellow

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In the realms of home decor, fashion, and design, yellow is a star color that deserves to be complemented properly. But how do you combine yellow with other colors without creating a visual eyesore? Keep reading for a guide to which colors flatter yellow, from classics to unexpected combos. We spoke with color specialist Juli Roland and personal stylist Susan Kim for expert insight on the best combinations.

What colors go best with yellow?

Yellow can be paired with white, orange, blue, pink, black, green, red, and brown. Yellow goes best with colors that either complement its warmth or ground its brightness and intensity. When using yellow in home decor or an outfit, consider the feeling and intensity of different shades of yellow before pairing.

Section 1 of 4:

Best Colors to Pair with Yellow

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White Pair white with bright yellow or a softer, pastel yellow for a clean, sunny look. Because white is neutral, it won’t compete with yellow as the focal point in a room or an outfit. The combination of white and yellow is popular in bright spaces of the home, such as kitchens or dining areas.^{[1]
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- To use yellow and white in interior design, add yellow accents like throw pillows or flowers to white furniture. Yellow is a welcoming color when used in an entrance room, says Roland.^{[2]
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- To wear yellow and white, try a yellow top with white pants. For a more subtle look, wear a pale yellow coat over a white dress or find a white T-shirt with a yellow graphic.
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Orange When paired together, yellow and orange remind people of a beautiful sunset. The inviting, warm hues make for a strong duo in home decor. Use yellow and orange furniture to brighten up an otherwise neutral living room.^{[3]
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- Pastel orange and pastel yellow are refreshing together, while deep orange and gold create a more mature look.
- For example, coordinate deep orange curtains and a golden yellow couch to add pops of color to your white-walled living room.
- Yellow and orange may be harder to wear together without clashing. Style them in a subtle way, such as stacking yellow and orange bracelets on your wrist.
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Blue Blue and yellow are a popular duo for a reason. The two colors are strong on their own, but the right shades also complement each other beautifully. In darker spaces, a rich blue flatters metallic yellow accents, such as gold picture frames or brass fixtures in a bathroom.^{[4]
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- For a brighter combination, pair mustard yellow with pale blue in a bright space like a kitchen. Yellow also goes with turquoise, says Roland.^{[5]
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- To wear blue with yellow, try gold jewelry with a dark blue dress or top.
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Pink Pair soft shades of yellow and pink together for a soft look that feels fresh and feminine. Combine pops of bright yellow with baby pink for a modern design. If you want a less shocking look, pick a mustard yellow and a pale, almost beige pink.^{[6]
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- For example, offset a cool pink wall color with a bright yellow coffee table in your living room.
- To style pink and yellow together, stick to patterns that incorporate both colors in pale shades for a flirty, feminine outfit. Kim suggests wearing pink shoes with a yellow outfit on warmer days.^{[7]
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Black Yellow and black are a surprising color combination, but in the right amounts, they can complement each other. Skip black-and-yellow patterns that resemble a bumblebee or taxi cab. Instead, add dashes of warm yellow in subtle ways alongside graphic black patterns.^{[8]
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- In interior design, add a swipe of yellow around a bold black-and-white pattern for a dramatic look. For example, place a bright yellow bath mat near a shower with black-and-white tiling.
- Wearing black and yellow might not work as well as using the colors in design. If you want to blend the colors, carry a yellow bag or add a yellow headband to an all-black outfit.
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Green Put green and yellow together to evoke the beauty of the natural world. Pair pastel yellow and green together for a cleansing combination in a bedroom or living area. If you’d prefer a darker palette, use a sage green that goes with an earthy shade like dark yellow.^{[9]
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- Bright green and bright yellow might feel jarring unless you’re going for a vibrant, tropical theme. Otherwise, stick to a light pale or pastel yellow or a dark yellow to offset the saturation of bright green.
- For example, pair a green easy chair with a dark yellow accent pillow or nearby lampshade.
- To wear green and yellow together, rock green sandals or heels with a yellow outfit for a vacation-ready summer look.^{[10]
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Red Red and yellow are too eye-catching colors that energize a space, outfit, or design when put together. Space them out with another grounding color to avoid reminding people of McDonald’s. Decide which of the two strong colors will be the star, and accent it with the other color in smaller amounts.^{[11]
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- Pair lighter yellows with pink or pink-red, and darker yellows with crimson or maroon.
- In interior design, match mustard yellow with pink-red for an eye-catching detail in a space. For example, pair mustard yellow cabinets with a pink-red kitchen countertop.
- Wear the colors together by spacing them visually. For example, don a yellow dress and red heels or earrings.
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Wood browns Pair yellow colors and brown woods for an earthy combination that’s relaxed and grounded. Brown is essentially a combination of red, yellow, and black pigments, so it naturally complements yellow. In interior design, use yellow furniture or accents to brighten up rooms with wooden floors or highlight wooden furniture.^{[12]
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- For example, place yellow books and knickknacks on an oak bookshelf.
- Wear earthy browns with pops of yellow in the fall for an earthy, autumnal fashion statement.

Section 2 of 4:

Colors that Don’t Go with Yellow

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While purple and yellow seem like they go together because they’re complementary colors, try to avoid pairing them together. The colors are both strong and attention-grabbing, which means that together, they muddle the focus of a design, space, or outfit.^{[13]
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Because magenta is saturated and almost fluorescent, it clashes with dark yellow, which is more subdued.^{[14]
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They’re both food-inspired colors, but mint green and mustard yellow aren’t an ideal combination. Mint green’s cool hue adds too much contrast to the warmth of mustard yellow. Mint green is better paired with white, while mustard yellow may work with a muted sage green.^{[15]
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Always keep temperature in mind when pairing two colors. Gray is cool, while yellow-orange is warm, making this pairing feel mismatched. If you’d like to create a contrast using yellow, consider a bold opposite like red or black.^{[16]
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Section 3 of 4:

Using Yellow in Decor

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No matter what shade of yellow you’re using, the lighting of the room will affect its appearance. In a dark space, yellow appears closer to orange, while in a bright space, the light brings out white undertones and brightness. You may want bright and energizing shades in a kitchen or living room, but prefer calm, earthy tones in your bedroom.^{[17]
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Pick the right shade of yellow. Bright yellow might be the first color to come to mind, but there are hundreds of other shades of yellow out there. Some, like tan, are calm and subdued. Others, like sandcastle, are muddy and earthy. Certain shades border on brown or orange. Consider all the options before you settle on one shade.^{[18]
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- If you’re looking for a yellow paint, get swatches you can put on the wall to live with the color before committing to it.
A monochrome look is always on trend. If you’re struggling to find just the right color to go with yellow, look to softer and darker shades of yellow. Whether you’re decorating a room or getting dressed, find kinds of yellow that flatter each other. Prevent monotony with different textures or materials.
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Think of the psychology of the shade of yellow you’re using. Each shade of yellow evokes a different feeling and has different symbolism or historic associations. For example, bright yellow is associated with happiness and energy, while mustard yellow is more cozy. Mustard yellow features in fine art, while bright yellow reminds people of school buses.^{[19]
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- Before deciding which shade of yellow to use, think about what you want to make people feel in your space.
- Also consider the season when it comes to using yellow in fashion—bright yellow is more summery, while mustard yellow is a fall staple.
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Experiment with unexpected color combinations. While there are popular pairings of yellow and other colors, not every combination has been tried in every possible way. Don’t be afraid to experiment with yellow and colors you haven’t seen paired with it before. Vary the intensity of either shade and the amount present in a combination until you find the perfect duo.
- Study how to coordinate colors without making them clash. If you’re lost, consider consulting an interior designer or ask for advice at your local hardware store.

Section 4 of 4:

How to Wear Yellow

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Choose a shade of yellow that complements your skin’s undertones. If you don’t already know it, determine your skin’s tone (aka your undertone) to best style yourself. Undertones are different from your complexion—you can have a pale complexion and warm undertones, or a dark complexion and cool undertones.
- If you have cool undertones, you can be washed out by bright yellow. Go for pastel or pale yellow instead.
- If you have warm undertones, bring out the warmth with gold or mustard shades.
- If your undertones are neutral, you can pull off practically any shade of yellow.
Wear neutral colors like white, beige, or black with yellow garments to balance the saturation and brightness of the color. In the fall, complement mustard yellow with earth tones like sage green or burnt orange. Denim is another easy option—simply throw on jeans with a yellow blouse or tee.^{[20]
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If you’re not ready to commit to a head-to-toe yellow outfit, opt for accent pieces and accessories that give a small pop of color to your ensemble. For example, carry a canary-yellow clutch with a black dress or don pale yellow sneakers with a neutral jeans-and-white-top outfit. In the fall and winter, throw a deep yellow scarf over a black jacket.^{[21]
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Bright shades of yellow are refreshing in summer, while dark or warmer hues match the palettes of fall and winter. Pale or dark yellow are more appropriate for formal events. Reserve bright yellow outfits for casual events.
Whether you don a bright hue or a subdued one, yellow is an attention-grabbing color. Rock the cheery shade with a confident attitude, owning the brightness and vibrance of your ensemble.