Butter Yellow - friend or foe?

So, let's talk about butter yellow. First things first, full disclosure—I’m not a huge fan of yellow. Honestly, red and yellow are my least favourite colours, hands down.

But, as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve started to come around to the idea of incorporating red into my wardrobe, even if (at the moment) I’m yet to add it to my home décor. Yellow, though… well, that’s a whole other challenge.

Butter yellow, in particular, is a shade I find really tough to love. It’s this soft, pale yellow that somehow feels a bit indecisive, like it’s stuck between wanting to be a bold colour but just not quite getting there. And unless I have a full face of makeup, I feel like it can really wash me out. So how do I start to embrace butter yellow?

Well, if I’m going to try, I figure I need to do it strategically. Here’s where the colour wheel comes in handy.

Yellow’s opposite on the colour wheel is purple, which means they naturally complement each other. But here’s the thing—if you pair butter yellow with a vibrant purple, it’s going to completely overwhelm it. Instead, I think the key is to lean into softer hues like lavender which can create a soothing, almost vintage vibe.

Now, if you want something more harmonious and less contrasting, analogous colours are the way to go. These are the colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel. For butter yellow, we’re looking at shades of green and orange.

But let’s be clear—this isn’t about going full-on neon. We’re talking about softer, more muted versions that will complement butter yellow without making you feel like you’ve stepped into a 1970s kitchen!

Think soft, muted greens or light peachy oranges. These colours have a natural warmth that plays nicely with butter yellow, creating a cohesive look that’s gentle on the eyes.

When in doubt, you can always tone down butter yellow with some neutrals. White, beige or even a light grey can help balance out the yellow and make it feel more sophisticated BUT imagine a butter yellow slouchy jumper with wide leg burgundy trousers. Or a buttery silk trouser suit with a dark tan loafer. Using it as more of a neutral itself can really elevate your look!

In the end, I think the secret to loving butter yellow is all about finding the right colours to pair with it. I'm finding that I actually love it when used as a neutral. Well look at that - I've converted myself to a butter yellow fan!

Products as seen above:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/723994829/3-seater... Chesterfield Sofa https://uk.bedthreads.com/products/limoncello-turm... Scalloped yellow edged cushions https://www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/small-velvet-and-... Velvet ruffle edged cushions https://www.secretlinenstore.com/products/buttercu... Linen bedding