Design Inspiration: What Colors Go Best With Yellow?

The color yellow is one of the most vibrant and eye-catching colors in the spectrum. Whether you’re aiming for subtle elegance or vibrant excitement, yellow can be the cornerstone of your color scheme. It can be paired beautifully with other colors depending on the mood or look you want to convey to your audience.

Colors That Go Well With Yellow

• Green (natural, serene, and rejuvenating):
  Green and yellow exist abundantly in nature. Using these colors together creates an organic, calming, and refreshing feeling.
• Gray (modern, sophisticated, and balanced):
  Gray tones down the brightness of yellow. This creates a stylish and professional feel in designs.
• White (fresh, clean, and uplifting):
  White enhances yellow’s cheerful vibe. Using both will result in a refreshing and airy atmosphere. This combination is ideal for minimalist designs.
• Black (bold, dramatic, and energetic):
  Pairing black and yellow creates a high contrast. This can command attention and strike an impact on any design.  This pair is often used to create a strong, authoritative presence.
• Blue (refreshing, calm, and trustworthy):
  Blue and yellow are complementary colors that create a vibrant yet harmonious contrast. This combination evokes feelings of trust and dependability.<
• Purple (luxurious, creative, and regal):
  Purple and yellow are often used to convey creativity, luxury, and a sense of royalty. This combination can also evoke feelings of optimism (from yellow) and introspection or spirituality (from purple). Therefore used to create an emotional and engaging atmosphere.
• Brown (earthy, warm, and stable):
  Brown and yellow together evoke a natural and earthy feel. This combination is warm, and inviting, and can bring a sense of stability and reliability.
• Pink (playful, romantic, and energetic):
  Pink and yellow create a bright and cheerful palette. They are often used to convey playfulness and romance, adding energy and vibrancy to designs.
• Red (bold, passionate, and lively):
  Red and yellow are both strong colors that, when combined, create a dynamic and energetic feel. This combination is eye-catching and conveys passion and liveliness.
• Orange (vibrant, warm, and enthusiastic):
  Orange and yellow together create a warm and energetic palette. This combination is often associated with enthusiasm, warmth, and a sense of adventure.
• Turquoise (cool, fresh, and invigorating):
  Turquoise and yellow create a lively and fresh combination. This pairing is invigorating and can evoke feelings of tropical freshness and creativity.

Design Inspiration: Example of Palettes Using the Color Yellow

1. Yellow, Red, & Orange

2. Yellow, Orange & Green

3. Yellow + Ivory, Goldenrod, Brown, and Dark Brown 

4. Yellow + Violet

5. Yellow + Blue Violet & Red Violet

6. Yellow + Red & Blue

7. Yellow + Green, Red & Violet

8. Yellow + Orange, Blue & Violet

Application: How to Use Yellow Color Combinations Effectively?

Now that you have an idea of what colors go best with yellow, here are some examples of how to apply them in your work. 

1. In Graphic Design & Branding

Evoke the desired emotions

• Release happy hormones. The yellow color is associated with warmth, sunshine, fun, and happiness. It is very welcoming and could influence better interaction with the audience. If the youth and the young at heart are your target market, you can start building your brand in this color.
• Stimulate appetite. If you are a company that sells food, you should consider using the yellow color because it can stimulate people’s appetite. This is very well-proven by food brands like McDonald’s, Fanta, and Burger King.
• Invite optimism and playfulness. Because the color yellow is a vibrant color, it stimulates  It can give a sense of warmth and engage your audience. With its vibrancy, it creates a lasting impression on your audience. It makes you and your site memorable.

Consider your target audience

Since the color yellow is a vibrant and friendly color, it should appeal to younger demographics, family-oriented markets, and industries focused on entertainment, food, and lifestyle.

Be culturally and contextually sensitive in using it

Be aware of the cultural implications of yellow. While generally positive in many Western cultures, yellow can have different connotations in other regions. For example, in some cultures, it may be associated with caution or jealousy.

Avoid using very vibrant shades of yellow

If using yellow as a primary color, it can dominate the website’s background or major sections, creating a bright and cheerful atmosphere. However, be cautious with large expanses of yellow, as it can be overwhelming or strain the eyes if too bright. And if you want to use it as an accent color for buttons, icons, and highlights, you can draw attention to important elements like call-to-action buttons, links, or notifications without overpowering the design.

Thomas Hériché | Behance

Using yellow as your background will make your other elements, like images and pictures, pop. A collage of pictures with a yellow background is quite engaging. Also, the background enhances your typography which makes it easier to read and understand.

Try to remove bg from your images and create collages for your website banners:

Just make sure that the color of your elements contrasts with that of your background. 

2. Interior Design

Consider the best areas at home to use it

• Kitchen and Dining Areas: Yellow can stimulate appetite and create a lively atmosphere, making it a popular choice for kitchens and dining areas.
• Workspaces: In offices or study areas, yellow can encourage creativity and mental activity. However, use it sparingly to avoid overstimulation.

Choose the right shades

• Soft Yellows: Lighter, pastel yellows can create a gentle and soothing environment. These shades work well in bedrooms or bathrooms where a calm and relaxing atmosphere is desired.
• Bright Yellows: Brighter yellows can add a vibrant and sunny feel to a space, but should be used thoughtfully to avoid overwhelming the senses. They are great for accent walls or focal points.
• Deep Yellows: Rich, mustard yellows can add a touch of sophistication and warmth, making them suitable for more formal spaces like dining rooms or offices.

Lighting Considerations

• Natural Light: Yellow can enhance the warmth and brightness of a room, especially when paired with natural light. It’s a great choice for rooms that receive a lot of sunlight, as it can amplify the light and create a cheerful atmosphere.
• Artificial Lighting: Be mindful of how artificial lighting interacts with yellow. Warm lighting can complement yellow tones, while cooler lighting may create a stark contrast.

3. Photography, Branding, & Packaging

Subject Emphasis and Composition

• Focus and Highlight: Use yellow to draw attention to the subject or specific elements within the frame. This can be achieved through the subject’s clothing, accessories, or background elements.
• Contrast and Balance: Yellow can be effectively paired with contrasting colors like blue or purple to create a visually striking image. This contrast can help to isolate the subject and add depth to the photograph.

Lighting and Color Temperature

• Golden Hour: The natural yellow and golden hues during the “golden hour” (just after sunrise or before sunset) can enhance the warmth and mood of outdoor photographs. This lighting is often sought after for its flattering and warm effect.
• Artificial Lighting: In controlled settings, use yellow lighting to add warmth or highlight specific areas. This can be particularly effective in product photography to evoke a sense of freshness or warmth.

Editing and Post-Processing

• Enhancing or Toning Down Yellow: In post-processing, adjust the saturation and hue of yellow to either enhance its presence or tone it down, depending on the desired effect. This can help to achieve a cohesive look and feel in the photograph.
• Color Grading: Use color grading techniques to manipulate the yellow tones in an image, enhancing warmth or creating a specific mood or style.

The yellow color along with other colors enhances versatility in packaging design. For example, combining yellow with black creates a high-contrast look that’s both striking and legible, while yellow and green can evoke natural and eco-friendly connotations. So if you want to impress these emotions with your customers, create custom packaging designs and boxes with this color and bring them the best unboxing experience.

Your Turn

As a designer, you should not be limited by what colors go best with yellow. Take the time to go out beyond your comfort zone and try colors that you haven’t used before. You’ll be surprised at what you may come up with.

Yellow is a fun color. Its sense of enthusiasm is amazing. It may have started to be not the best but the color is now associated with positivity and optimism. Use it to your advantage. 

Though the color is enjoying a revival of sorts, it may change as the years go by. As is with all others, perception does change with time. And, time is a cruel mistress.

But, the color is having its moment right now, let’s enjoy it.