Give your home a touch of summer with cheery yellow accents

Winter won't be over for a few more months, but we can bring in the sun with a variety of yellow hues in paint, furnishings and accessories.

Yellow can be cheerful and uplifting, or mellow and warm. It plays well with all woods and most other colors, and complements many decor styles. Whether you're bold enough for egg yolk or prefer the softer, beachier side of the hue, yellow is worth considering.

It's a color that wakes up a kitchen, and DeLonghi's recently introduced Kmix collection of brightly colored counter appliances includes an energizing yellow that's caffeine for the eyeballs.

Rachael Ray, Kitchenaid and Le Creuset also show kitchenware in yellow.

And you'll find graphic print mugs and Marimekko sheet sets at Crate & Barrel with pops of yellow. The Zest margarita pitcher and glasses feature a zingy swirl of citron, and there are lemon-printed dishtowels here, too.

But there also are pieces in a more muted, creamy gold: the Georgie ceramic lamp base would work with a sleek leather desk or a floral sofa. Curry flavors the Baxter rug, and there's the Silhouette sofa in a similar tone.

Wildon Home's Rawlins powdercoated-wire accent table is a light and airy way to introduce the color, and could go indoors or out when the warmth returns.

CB2 has a low-slung glass and steel coffee table with yellow enameled wheels; a step stool in marigold; and a gorgeous round serving bowl coated on the inside in gold.

Rizzy Home's throw pillow collection features zippy yellow floral, starburst and circle motifs paired with white. Thomas Paul's Flock rug comes in a crisp canary and white pattern. And California's Kreme design studio has done both butterfly and bird motif wall coverings in a yellow and white combination.

Michigan-based furniture maker Eric Kuczynski has designed a cool, modern, cube coffee table that he offers in a choice of glossy or matte yellow finishes. It's a statement piece in a room with gray, navy, or black and white furniture.

A Senegalese woven basket, great for storing stuff at the front door or in the family room, comes in an unexpected yellow graphic at West Elm.

If you're interested in trying paint, remember that yellows look more intense on the wall than most other colors. Acid yellow is great in textiles or accent pieces, but on walls it can jangle the nerves.

Consider the light in a yellow room, both natural and artificial: Pale yellows in north-facing rooms can look peaked, yet soothe a sunny space. An intense, saturated yellow can overwhelm a windowless or south facing room, but make a small powder room or entry look like a jewel box.

Benjamin Moore's Vellum, Yellow Topaz and Bumble Bee are all warm, versatile shades. If you're looking for a little exuberance, take a look at Rain Slicker and Sunny Saturday from Mythic Paint. Even the names sound upbeat.

Sourcebook
www.westelm.com
www.wayfair.com
www.crateandbarrel.com