This Hola! throw pillow found its way into my home this summer and it’s probably a good example of why I’m drawn to this color: it’s bright, full of energy, and simply makes me happy.

But I know not everyone finds yellow easy to bring into their home. And it’s interesting because we seem comfortable with it everywhere else. We wear it, we buy yellow flowers and surround ourselves with it all summer, but when it comes to interiors, many of us hesitate. I’ve noticed this many times, and it makes me wonder: why are we afraid of decorating with yellow?

With summer coming to an end, I thought this was a good time to look a little differently at yellow and at how we can use it at home not only in summer.

WHY DOES YELLOW FEEL SO DIFFICULT?

I think part of the problem is that when we hear “yellow” we picture the brightest version of it. It’s a strong color, it gets noticed quickly, and that can make it feel like a risky choice. We worry that it will be too much, too difficult to combine with what we already have or that we’ll get tired of it.

There’s no denying that an intense yellow used in large amounts can be too much. Even in a room filled with different colors, yellow catches the eye quickly. But we don’t have to paint all the walls lemon yellow.

There are many versions of yellow: butter yellow, ochre, mustard, honey, gold… Some are fresh and sunny, but others are warm and easy to live with. The key is finding the right shade.

START SMALL: ACCESSORIES

If you like yellow but aren’t ready to commit to it, accessories are an easy way to start.

Throw pillows (obviously:), a throw, a lamp, a vase, a piece of art or a few books can bring just enough yellow into a room. Yellow can have a strong presence, so you really don’t need much.

I especially love using yellow in neutral rooms. Against white, cream, beige, grey or natural wood, even a small yellow accent brings life to a space. Think of it as the “unexpected red” idea, but with yellow: small touches of yellow that wake up a neutral palette.

Because accessories can easily be changed, it’s a good way to see how you feel about living with yellow before using more of it.

YELLOW ADAPTS TO WHAT’S AROUND IT

This is one of my favorite things about yellow: it can change depending on the colors and materials around it.

Paired with white, green, light blue and mixed with natural materials like rattan or linen, yellow feels fresh, relaxed and summery. But the same yellow paired with olive green, burgundy, brown or dark wood can feel perfect for fall.

The color is the same. We only change what we put around it.

YELLOW DOESN’T HAVE TO LEAVE WITH SUMMER

To me, yellow works year-round. I’ve never thought of yellow as something you only use in summer.

As we move into fall, the bright yellow can make way for ochre, mustard, honey or gold. They look beautiful with heavy fabrics, dark woods and all the earthy colors we start bringing into our homes when the weather changes.

And yellow works surprisingly well in winter too. Combine warm yellows with dark colors, wool, velvet or brass and it starts feeling warm and cozy.

IF YOU’RE READY FOR MORE YELLOW

If you love yellow, you don’t have to stop at cushions and small accessories. A yellow armchair, a headboard or an accent wall can become beautiful focal points and bring character to the room. When you use yellow on a bigger piece, it has more presence, so it helps to give it a bit of breathing room and let the rest support it rather than compete with it.

This is also where the shade you choose starts to matter more. Mustards and ochres work like neutrals when they’re surrounded by natural materials and soft colors, while brighter yellows will stand out more.

Like with any other color, yellow shouldn’t be chosen in isolation. Take into account the light in the room, the flooring, the wood tones, the existing furniture and the other colors around it. Once in a room, the right yellow can look very different from the one we chose on a little paint chip at the store. The light and everything around it can make it look warmer, brighter, duller or stronger than we expected.

LEARNING TO LOVE YELLOW

I know I’m a little biased. Yellow is one of the colors I’ve always liked having around me. it’s a color I naturally notice and come back to again and again.

Maybe that’s why I think we make yellow more difficult than it needs to be. We dismiss it too quickly because we picture the loudest version of it. We hear “yellow” and immediately think bright, loud and hard to live with, when there are so many other shades to choose from.

Find a yellow you like and see how it works in your space. Most of the time, it’s just about choosing the right shade. And a small touch can be enough.