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First came Beyoncé leading the charge, swinging a baseball bat in a canary-yellow dress and singing, “Hold up, they don’t love you like I love you.” Then Rihanna took up the yellow mantle, followed by countless social media influencers—the ones born in the ’90s who breathe life into of-the-moment trends.
Suddenly, we were bombarded with photos of pop culture darlings donning all-yellow everything: Kylie Jenner in a pale golden crop top, Zendaya in a vibrant lemon bikini. After a long period underground (anyone remember Harvest Gold?), yellow has gone mainstream.
Gen Z Yellow has become a thing—and its predecessor, Millennial Pink, has been unceremoniously given the boot.
Like the previous generation’s signature hue, Gen Z Yellow can be interpreted as a range of shades from buttercream to gold. Whatever it is, interior designers predict Gen Z Yellow will be the year’s “it” color in home decor, no matter your generation.
“Gen Z Yellow signifies hope, optimism, and what’s to come,” says Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager for paint company PPG. “The hue represents vitality and ambition, traits that characterize Gen Zers.”
“It can brighten up a room or home on the dreariest of days,” adds San Francisco Bay Area interior designer Carolyn Rebuffel.
Before you incorporate the shade into your design scheme, though, take heed: “You don’t want to overdo it,” says Dallas designer Nikki James, studio manager at design firm Ashton Woods. “The key to decorating with this color is to make sure you are using just the right amount.”
(Read: It can get really garish really, really quickly.)
Fortunately, we’ve got your back. With these easy-to-rock tips from our cadre of design experts, you can give into this bold new trend, however long it’s here. Here’s how to go yellow without draining your wallet of green.
1. In the living room
Photo by Austin Design Associates
“This color is so fresh, vibrant, and unexpected,” says Washington, DC–based designer Christina Harmon, who’s designing an entire collection around canary yellow. “It’s luxurious and has a modernity to it that I just love.”
Try an accent wall in a color such as Glidden’s Vintage Yellow or Olympic Paint’s Spiced Butternut, Schlotter recommends. Then anchor the hue with furniture and accessories in dark, rich colors.
James prefers Sherwin-Williams’ Butter Up SW6681, calling it “a delightful shade that resembles the soft morning light.” It complements gray furniture (which is seemingly always on-trend).
Don’t want your walls slathered in yellow? Harmon—who admits she likes to go big—advocates using the color in a large statement piece of furniture.
“If you use it on a medium like velvet, you can bring a classic, timeless feel to a piece,” she says.
And if splurging for new stuff isn’t in the budget, get creative: “Think reupholstering Grandma’s hand-me-down furniture,” Harmon suggests. “Get a few yards of a luxurious velvet, and recover it yourself if you’re handy, or pay a couple hundred for a pro to do the job.”
If you’re not ready to commit to a yellow chesterfield, there are plenty of ways to accessorize with yellow on a smaller scale: Accent chairs, throw pillows, or area rugs can brighten your room in a flash.
2. In the bedroom
Photo by Marc Rutenberg Homes
In the boudoir, you’ll want to use Gen Z Yellow sparingly. Try a daffodil-colored headboard, for instance.
“It’s a bright, energetic way to start your day,” Harmon says.
Pair it with a few throw pillows in a complementary shade, but don’t go full monty with yellow bedding, too.
“It’s just too much,” Harmon cautions. “Use a color like this in a really high-impact way—resist the urge to go overboard.”
Other easy, low-commitment options? Golden curtains, a piece of art (make your own!), or lamps with yellow bases, James suggests.
3. In the bathroom
Photo by Von Fitz Design
Sure, you can deck out your entire bathroom in yellow—a sunny claw-foot tub or a gold toilet (no, not that kind) can make your bathroom a permanent place of happiness. But in general, designers recommend keeping it simple.
“Keep your white sinks and chrome faucets, but give these rooms a bold pop of color with accessories,” advises Jeremy Smith, showroom director for Central Arizona Supply, a high-end plumbing fixture company in Phoenix.
Swap out bath towels, snag a funky soap dispenser in a sunshine-yellow hue, or pick up a bold patterned bath rug to breathe cheery life into your space.
4. In the kitchen
Photo by Hannah Brown
Yellow in the kitchen is hardly a new concept. But today’s designers have taken yellow and infused it with new life, using it in fresh ways that make our kitchens look modern, not meh.
Try using Gen Z Yellow in unexpected places, like on your ceiling. Or make your appliances pop with a KitchenAid stand mixer, Dualit NextGen toaster, or Le Creuset Dutch oven.
Finally, swap out kitchen bar stools or chairs for a yellow punch.
“No matter your style—whether urban, farmhouse, or mod—there is a yellow chair out there for you,” James says.
5. On the front door
Photo by Art of Design, Jennifer Copeland
Most designers recommend using yellow in small doses—an accessory here, a piece of statement furniture there. But, of course, you can go all-in with a sunny shade on your home’s most visible spot: the front door.
“Yellow lacquer paint is one of my favorite ways to take a very boring item and turn it into something special—staircases, front doors, vintage chair frames, and desk chairs,” Rebuffel says.
Give your front door a fresh coat of gold (we like PPG Paints’ Forsynthia Blossom) to really welcome guests.
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