Butter Yellow Interiors: How To Use the Happy Colour of 2025 in Your Home Design

Let’s talk about butter yellow.

The colour that’s quietly sneaking into home design and making us all feel a little… lighter.

I spotted butter yellow this week while helping a member inside the Home Design Vault, and once I spotted it, I started seeing it everywhere.

Prints, paint, cushions, hallway walls (yes, really, another Vault member just painted hers this shade), and that soft, creamy yellow that whispers: sunshine, but make it sophisticated.

So after a bit of a deep dive into the 1990’s staple of your nans kitchen, here’s what we’re covering….

• Why is everything butter yellow right now?
• Where I’m seeing Butter Yellow right now
• Is butter yellow still in style?
• Butter Yellow Paint Colours
• How to use Butter Yellow in your home

Why is butter yellow having a moment?

We’ve done beige. We’ve rinsed sage green… well all the greens. And while I will forever have a place in my heart for navy, butter yellow is the palette cleanser we didn’t know we needed.

It’s soft. It’s warm. It doesn’t shout.

Design psychology tells us that yellow evokes hope, creativity, and confidence. Lighter yellows in particular are tied to feelings of positivity and clarity, like a subtle serotonin boost every time you walk into the room.

Where I’m Seeing Butter Yellow…

This butter yellow moment didn’t come from nowhere, it actually started when I was helping a Home Design Vault member source some artwork… and down the yellow rabbit hole I went after spotting the collections at Desenio.

They’ve got a full collection right now that’s giving Côte d’Azur in September vibes… think warm skies, sun-drenched archways, and soft pastel architecture. Not full-on banana, just that soft, sun-bleached yellow that whispers slow mornings and fresh croissants.

As with most design trends, it usually starts on the catwalk before it hits our cushions… and butter yellow is no exception. It was everywhere in fashion last year (hello, spring/summer runways), and now it’s filtered straight into homeware, paint palettes, and high street faves.

It’s not just the designers and paint brands getting involved, the high street’s gone buttery too. Well first up, If IKEA’s calling it, it’s probably a new neutral.

And if you’re anything like me and secretly obsessed with Pickle Cottage life, Stacey Solomon’s collection for George at Asda is packed with soft pastel, butter yellow is the main feature. And honestly? It just makes you smile.

You’ll also find sprinklings of this sunny hue across homeware retailers nationwide… Butter yellow is going to get bigger!

Butter Yellow Paints You Need to Bookmark

If you’re ready to dip your brush into the butter yellow trend, here are some of my favourite finds… These aren’t in-your-face primaries, they’re all about warmth, light, and livability. Each one hits that perfect middle ground between creamy neutral and cheerful sunshine.

Understated yet calculated, warm butter yellow has a timeless appeal. Sitting between a classic neutral and brighter yellows, it brings a quiet joy to any space and works especially well in flood-lit rooms.

Pair it with crisp whites for a clean, airy look… or go bold with navy, forest green, or even black for a deeper, more dramatic contrast.

Not sure if designer paint is worth the price tag? I break it all down… finish, coverage, durability, and whether those heritage brands really deliver… in this post Is Farrow & Ball Paint Worth the Money (I’m talking all ‘designer’ brands here, not singling F&B out)

How to use Butter Yellow in your home (without feeling like a 90’s rerun)

1. Use It Like a Neutral

Forget everything you thought you knew about yellow. This version is more cream-with-confidence than Big Bird.

Butter yellow works just like white or off-white… but with a bit more warmth and personality. It’s the perfect base for layering without sucking all the light out of the room.

2. Go All In (Even the Ceiling)

If you’ve got a north-facing room or anywhere that feels a bit…meh? Take the plunge and go all over. Walls, ceiling, and even skirting boards in one buttery tone can completely transform a dull space into a warm hug. (Trust me… it’s not overkill, it’s called commitment.)

3. Play With Pairings

Wondering what colours go with butter yellow? Start with other warm tones like mustard or ochre for depth, or go fresh with soft lilac, pale blue, or blush. If you want to keep it grown-up, try olive, greige or even a warm charcoal for contrast.

4. Room-by-Room Realness

• Bedrooms – It’s calming, soft, and feels like waking up to sunshine.

• Living rooms – Instantly welcoming. Helps small spaces feel bigger, without defaulting to grey (again).

• Kitchens – Pairs beautifully with wooden cabinetry, white tiles, or sage accents. Basically, it’s the Pinterest kitchen that actually feels lived in.

So, is butter yellow the new neutral?

I’m calling it… yes.

It’s calm, it’s warm, it plays well with others… and if you’re craving something happy without going full on rainbow, this might be your colour of the year.

And honestly? That’s what I love about design. Sometimes it’s not about a total transformation or tearing down walls. Sometimes it’s as simple as the right shade of yellow… in the right place… at the right time.

Want help making it work in your home?

That’s literally what we do inside The Home Design Vault … real schemes, real paint picks, trade discounts, and support from a design team that doesn’t do judgement (only joyful results).

Or if you’re just getting started, grab The Colour Palette Collection and get instant access to pre-designed, foolproof palettes (yes, butter yellow’s in there too).

Over to you – would you ever try this shade?

Drop me a message or tag me in your design plans over on Instagram – I love seeing what you’re working on.

Natalie x