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The Golden Hour: Why It's Yellow's Time To Shine

The Golden Hour: Why It's Yellow's Time To Shine

This week Dulux announced their Colour of the Year...and it wasn't yellow. It was Spiced Honey, a kind of warm, taupey, mushroomy brown. Put it this way, I don't hate it. But it doesn't set my heart on fire. So call me a rebel but I've decided to focus this blogpost on another big colour story that definitely warms my cockles. I called it yellow in the title, but that's a bit too simplistic. It's definitely not the primary yellow colour of a Joules raincoat, for example. This yellow could be described as mustard, ochre, gold or turmeric. It's yellow's sophisticated big sister, as seen on these fabulous yellow velvet chairs which live on the terrace at The Hoxton Hotel in Paris (above). I'm still kicking myself that I forgot to take advantage of a Secret Escapes deal which meant you could stay here for Β£60 a night recently. I am a fool. And it's not just interiors that are turning to the brighter side of life, the high street is full of the same shades (If you read on to the bottom, I've added a few of my must-have ochre pieces at the bottom)

I know what you're thinking....where the diddly do I begin with yellow? Well let's have a look shall we. Funnily enough here's a yellow velvet sofa, paired with a brown Spiced Honey-esque shade on the walls with touches of saffron thrown in...it's a combo which should be all kinds of wrong, but here, it's so, so right. You will see a lot of this shade on velvet chairs and sofas because the warm texture of velvet sets off the warm yellow so beautifully. It's also somehow, a lot easier to come round to the idea of a yellow accent chair or sofa, than it is to the idea of painting the walls ochre. 

Image credit - Nicole Cota Studio

Image credit - Nicole Cota Studio

This bedroom designed by Studio Ashby (read Sophie Ashby's Interior Design Masterclass here) pairs masculine black accents with a mustard velvet headboard and white walls to create a look which is light and fresh, but full of warmth.

Image Credit - Studio Ashby

Image Credit - Studio Ashby

The colour works equally well in dark and moody rooms, as it does in bright and light ones. Try pairing with rich petrolly greens, deep teals and navy blue with brass accents.

26-spaces-that-will-make-you-embrace-ochre-ochre-color-decor-moody-walls-with-pair-of-ocher-chairs-57c98dd481c866970ee846e0-w620_h800.jpg

Mad About The House blogger, journalist, interior stylist and all round girl boss Kate Watson-Smyth went for sleek half light, half dark in one of her recent styling projects but the mustard velvet Earl Grey Chesterfield sofa is the real show-off in here.

Image credit - Mad About The House 

Image credit - Mad About The House 

The stunning image below is from the home of Quentin Leroux, which features in Rockett St George's Extraordinary Interiors book. This time, golden drapes fall against white walls and it's all tied together by this beautiful portrait.

Image credit: Debi Treloar (via Rockett St George book Extraordinary Interiors)

Image credit: Debi Treloar (via Rockett St George book Extraordinary Interiors)

Now for something completely different...and bold. This room at Soho House Berlin blends teal, green and mustard in a heavy nod to mid-century decor. It's a colour clash too far for me personally, but the key to combining all these colours is the lack of pattern.

Image credit - Soho House Berlin

Image credit - Soho House Berlin

Here we see mustard velvet armchairs and an accent cushion combined with pink and set off against white walls for a mid-century modern, boho eclectic mash-up which is very inviting.

Image Credit - Gina Fabish

Image Credit - Gina Fabish

And finally, an ochre yellow sideboard makes a strong statement when paired with grey walls and turquoise accessories. 

Image credit - West Elm

Image credit - West Elm

So now you've seen it in action, I bet you're wondering where and how you can work it into your own house. Look no further than my selection of the best pieces available now in yellow, gold, ochre, mustard...whatever you want to call it. If this doesn't convert you to the sunny side of life, nothing will!

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1. French Ochre paint, Rockett St George | 2. Cushion, H&M Home | 3. Footstool, Soho Home | 4. Sideboard, West Elm | 5. Dining chair, Maisons Du Monde | 6. Cushion, H&M Home |        7. Rug, Made.com | 8. Linen bedding, La Redoute | 9. Cushion, One Nine Eight Five | 10. Velvet sofa, Swoon Editions | 11. Lamp, Rockett St George | 12. Wallpaper, House of Hackney | 13. Blanket, H&M Home

And as a parting gift, here are a few ochre fashion items that are currently in my shopping bag.

1. Adidas trainers, Office | Fringe Midi, H&M | Blouse, H&M (Currently sold out online but check in store and for restock as it was new this week)

If you enjoyed this post and the rest of the blog in general I would be so grateful if you could vote for me in the Best Written Blog Category at the Amara Interior Blogging Awards. Just click HERE and it's super, super quick! Thank you so much xxx

Our Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Makeover Reveal

Our Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Makeover Reveal

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