Butter yellow is having a comeback in fashion and interiors, with many describing it as ‘the new neutral.’ If bright white feels too stark for your space, the creamy warmth of butter yellow is a great way of bringing light into a room. Or if you’re a bit ‘over’ plaster or dusty pink – both of which have become exceedingly popular in the last few years – then yellow is a fun alternative.

Chef Molly Baz’s deliciously buttery kitchen in her Los Angeles home is a great example of yellow’s potential for both fun and sophistication.

You might consider going full sunflower in a bedroom for a warm and nostalgic aesthetic. On the gentler side, a muted milky tone in your kitchen or hallway also provides a wonderful backdrop for vibrant art or curtains.

“Yellow is a great colour for a bedroom; sunny and bright it has a spirit of optimism and summer to wake up to,” says artist Christabel MacGreevy, “and on cold grey days it still bounces the low light and feels warm and encompassing.” Butter yellow is “lighthearted and playful,” she explains, whilst darker shades are more mature, “with the sophistication of a life well lived.” The only shade of yellow she would never paint her walls? Neon yellow. Cold and abrasive, we also recommend warmer shades over fluorescent counterparts.

Some of our favourite butter yellows include:

However you use it, butter yellow is a comforting and characterful way to add levity to a space. We take a look through our archives for the brightest moments of butter-yellow inspiration: