Add a drop of yellow to give your home a sunny feel

One of the hottest hues right now is wonderful, sunny yellow. From edgy citron to happy marigold to whisper-soft pale yellow, designers are showing yellow in a big way this season. If you'd like to add just a drop of yellow to your decor, or let the sun shine in and flood your rooms with this happy color, here are some tips for making room for yellow.

In the mood for a complete room makeover? You can't go wrong with a palette of yellow and gray. At Nell Hill's, we've picked gray as our favorite new neutral. I added a velvety shade of deep gray to my custom paint line, Abbey Steps, and it has become one of our hottest sellers because it's dramatic yet soothing, classic yet hip. The secret to pulling off a gray-toned room without it feeling dreary is to mix together lots of shades of gray, then brighten it up with a pop of color, like yellow.

When working with a palette of yellow and gray, I'd suggest you take one of two paths. The first is to paint your walls a dark shade of gray. To contrast the darker walls, paint the trim white or light cream.

Then fill the room with furnishings that reflect lighter tones of gray, creams or whites, and shades of yellow. For instance, you might cover your sofa in a pale gray linen fabric, then pop it up with an array of yellow accent pillows. If you love traditional furnishings, pick a timeless toile pattern. If you are looking for something more contemporary, try one of today's sharp geometric prints. Or mix the toile and geometric pillows together.

I really like to use contemporary fabrics when I decorate with yellow and gray because they are so clean and simple. Try covering an ottoman or side chair in a graphic pattern in charcoal gray and yellow or light gray and white.

A second approach is to paint your walls a soft gray or buttery yellow, then go with darker yellow and gray fabrics on your furnishings. Try upholstering a sofa in a charcoal mohair gray fabric or a menswear herringbone. Pick an area rug for the grouping in a graphic pattern.

For years decorating magazines, catalogs and designers treated us to lovely light palettes of whites and creams. If your home, like mine, centers around these light neutrals, consider tossing in a few bits of yellow to brighten things up. Add an accent pillow or two in yellow. Upholster your sofa in a soft yellow stripe, floral or solid. Your room will still feel soothing and calm, but the little addition of yellow will also make it warmer and cozier.

To add even more verve, pick a smaller piece of furniture, like a coffee-table ottoman or a side chair, and have it upholstered in a bright yellow fabric.

Yellow looks smashing with so many tones, from orange and pink to blue and green, that you will have lots to choose from in your color-soaked room.

Ÿ This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity's blog at www.nellhills.com.