Why red and yellow is the unique color combination that deserves a spot in your home – and how interior designers get it right

Red and yellow – an iconic duo in so many ways, the pair is used frequently in various cultural, historical and commercial contexts. As far as trends go, this pairing is often considered a controversial color combination.

Both are demanding colors, after all, and it's often thought they are too competitive to be happy bedfellows. However, red and yellow have been used together as a centuries-old color scheme, and now the pairing is having something of a renaissance.

'Whenever you are using multiple colors in a space, it is important to think about proportion and ratio,' advises Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore paints. 'You want to have a more dominant or feature color, and then the remaining colors take on more of a supporting role.'

When searching for room color ideas, it is also worth thinking about the saturation of the colors. 'For example,' explains Arianna, 'if you are using a deep, rich red as the main color in the space, I would opt for a lighter, softer yellow or a neutral with a yellow undertone to bring in the yellow color family through the trim, ceiling, or painted accents. This allows for the right amount of contrast and balance in the space without overwhelming it.'

'Reds and yellows both share a warm and inviting quality as they sit near each other on the color wheel. When paired together the right way, these welcoming hues can make a space feel comforting and cozy, highlighting the beauty of warm paint colors.' explains Arianna.

It is precisely that – pairing the two colors together in the right way – that can either afford a room wonderful warmth and cohesion, or, in some cases, if used incorrectly, create something a little too rudimentary. Here, we have five beautifully appointed rooms that expertly combine red and yellow, all of which are definite design success stories.

1. Earthy Muted Red & Yellow

Earth-toned yellows and reds – think rich clay colors, deep brownish-mustards, warm and rustic siennas, honey-hued yellows – form a marriage of red and yellow pigments that creates a wonderfully warm, earthy feel.

'The earthy ochre of Farrow and Ball's India Yellow gives this sitting room a warm and uplifting feel during daylight hours, but cozy and moody in the evenings,' explains Ali Johnson, Director at Otta Design, the London-based interior design studio that designed this wonderfully inviting, enveloping sitting room. 'Our clients love bold, energizing colors, so we paired the yellow paint with a rich red. To avoid overwhelming the space with blocks of solid colors, we used a playful red and yellow striped fabric on the seat and back cushions.'

'Yellow and red are both bold and vibrant color choices, but if the colors used are tonally the same, they will feel balanced,' Ali explains. 'To make a space feel harmonious, we don't use the colors in equal measures; rather, we choose the main color – here, the yellow on the walls and woodwork – and use accent colors in smaller doses, here with the red on the sofa and the introduction of teal on the footstool.'

2. Pastel Red & Yellow

Soft, desaturated tones of red and yellow paint – like muted rose, dusty corals, pale blonde beiges, and cool buttery yellows – are distinctly milder than those primary colors that spring to mind at the words ‘red’ and ‘yellow.’ These softer tones work beautifully at creating a muted color scheme creating a comfortable, nostalgic atmosphere. They might just be the perfect pairing for a vintage-inspired aesthetic.

This kitchen-dining area in a London home is designed by Tom Cox of HÁM Interiors. 'We introduced a soft yellow in places to lift the palette and catch the light – it brings a subtle warmth and a bit of energy without disrupting the overall flow,' Tom explains.

This pale lemon hue is not at all overpowering and is beautifully balanced with the soft, subdued red woodwork, painted in Farrow & Ball Signed Red. The result is a beautifully soothing, soft atmosphere – notably achieved without the use of traditional neutral paint.

3. Bright Bold Red & Yellow

For areas in your home where you wish to welcome high energy, using vibrant, zingy shades of red and yellow together inevitably enlivens the space. If decorating with neutrals is a trend you deem energy-sapping and lifeless, there is no rulebook advocating against color in abundance.

Using a blaze of bright red and citrus yellow needn’t feel chaotic – using two invigorating, mood-boosting colors can bring a fun, effervescent energy to your home, a perfect decorating idea for a bright mid-century modern scheme.

'The combination of red and yellow creates a bold, energetic statement in interiors, bringing warmth, vibrancy, and immediate design impact,' explains Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene. 'This pairing sparks energy and passion, making it perfect for lively, high-traffic areas such as a hallway. When balanced thoughtfully, it feels inviting and dynamic without being overwhelming. Pair with a muted color such as Scree, a subtle grey paint with cool undertones, to add a sense of calm and ground the scheme beautifully.'

4. Warm Cozy Red & Yellow

Depending on the undertones found in red and yellow, the result can be distinctly wakeful or decidedly cozy. The use of deeper, dark clarets, deep moody ochres, and other warm variations of reds and yellows will not inject the cheerful brightness but instead create a snug, moody, or opulent atmosphere. These fall-inspired colors are perfect for creating a comfortable, inviting space.

'We have used our wonderfully evocative Refectory Red on these Shaker cupboards, making them feel rich and comforting,' explains Helen Parker, the Creative Director of deVOL. 'A wall of panels and heritage glass was painted and then aged to give a feeling of time and allow sunlight to stream into even the darkest corners. This shadowy sunlight against the warm mellow yellow of the walls has given this room a beautiful ambiance and cleverly turned a dark space into a peaceful and magical kitchen.'

3. Timeless Red & Yellow

A pairing of primary red with a classic yellow might feel a little too obvious and sophomoric. But done well, it can be a wonderful timeless decorating idea. The key to using these two classic, unsullied colors together in this way is in adding small pops of color here and there.

'Introduce the cheerful Yellow Pink on the walls as a vibrant base, allowing for added pops of color through furnishings, such as a chair in the vivid Atomic Red,' says Ruth Mottershead. 'This dynamic pairing brings joy and design interest, making it an ideal choice to enliven a kitchen or dining space.'

Top picks for introducing red and yellow to your interiors

Red and yellow as a combo isn't all about paint, there are more subtle, lower commitment ways to bring this pairing into your home through accessories and decor.

Whichever combination of red and yellow is more in line with your interior color scheme, it is entirely possible for red and yellow to live together in perfect harmony. Happy sunshine shades and warm, sophisticated reds were on Homes & Gardens' roster of biggest color trends for 2025 - so you can expect to see big things from this bold pairing. Rest assured though, red and yellow is a color combination that will stand the test of time, not merely a fleeting fashion.