Since Pinterest announced 'Butter Yellow' as one of the key color trends of 2025, we've been seeing the shade everywhere. It's appeared across the fashion and interior space, as paint, furniture, and accessories.
I have a confession: so far, it hasn't been my favorite. I've always thought of the shade as slightly dated, and difficult to decorate around. Gwyneth Paltrow's muted yellow living room, however, changed all of that. In the actress's Montecito home designed by Roman and Williams, a butter-yellow wall grounds the brown and cream space. It makes it feel both elevated and relaxed. It includes a hanging swing as a sofa, a large plant, and a cushiony cream rug.
Gwyneth's space is a masterclass in decorating with yellow. What makes it good enough that it's convinced me of the shade? First, the designers have expertly styled color around it. They chose a palette of brown, butter yellow, and cream. The brown and cream are very simple, and natural, while the butter yellow adds a subtle pop of color. It is simultaneously subtle and brightening. It contrasts the darkness of the brown in the room, and adds some interest to the whites in Gwyneth's space.
Shop The Edit
Decorating underfoot is always my first-port-of-call when using a bold color scheme. Arguably, rugs make the biggest difference to an overall scheme – and they are simple to change when fashions come and go.
Olive oil adorns almost every home, and a good olive oil bottle – in a cheery butter yellow – is a must to liven up any scheme. Made from glazed earthenware, you will feel instantly transported to the Mediterranean.
I have a confession to make. I change my pillow cases every season. It usually goes: red in winter, pink in spring, yellow in summer and olive green in fall. However, I am leaving my butter yellow cases on for a little longer – the color is just that delightful.
Another element of what makes Gwyneth's use of butter yellow so effective is how her designer uses texture in the living room. The multiple contrasts keep the color looking cozy and inviting, rather than dated. Gwyneth's woven rug adds texture to the floor, as does the fuzzy pillow and comfortable throw blanket. The towering plant in the background adds a touch of greenery that contrasts stylishly with the yellow walls. The chains that hang the swing add touch of metal that bring visual interest.
Though following color trends taps into what's current, it can also be a way to discover new timeless possibilities. A color like butter yellow is currently popular, but it will always be in style.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Linda Evangelista's former NYC penthouse just made the classic black and white palette so much cooler – it's currently on the market for $8 millionLinda Evangelista's former home in Chelsea spans 4,022 square feet, with high ceilings and modern details that epitomize luxury living
-
I tried the 50% decluttering rule, and it gave me the ruthless push to clear the clutter in my cramped kitchen cabinetsI can now find my dinnerware much more easily
-
Gwyneth Paltrow uses LED lights to bring a gallery-like feeling to her kitchen cabinets – you can achieve the same, unique look for $24Gwyneth's glass-front cabinets become more chic and accessible with their hidden lights, which create a subtle glow in the space
-
Gwyneth Paltrow's quiet luxury kitchen is so beautiful, we almost overlooked her ultra-smart cabinets – they make the use of 'every inch' of storage spaceThe Goop founder makes use of dead space in her kitchen with customized cabinetry that reaches to the ceiling, providing ample storage
-
Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen shelving is the cleverest use of a small, shallow, awkward space I've seen – it will solve all your storage problems and look gorgeous, tooGwyneth's wall shelves act as a display case for chic dishware, while making the kitchen feel even more spacious – and you can follow her example
-
Not beige, not grey – this perfect 'new neutral' is what Josh Brolin, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Martha Stewart are decorating with insteadButter yellow is a shade that shines, but it also creates rooms that are rich and enveloping – it's a hue that's like a warm embrace
-
Gwyneth Paltrow's closet is a masterclass in regimented organization – it's the inspiration you need ahead of your spring clean
Gwyneth's wardrobe features tidy rails and bag storage, showing that dividing a closet into sections is a great way to organize
-
Gwyneth Paltrow's calming wallpaper mural is a versatile statement piece – designers say the trend strikes the perfect balance between bold and relaxingThe forest scene wallpaper in Gwyneth Paltrow's dining room makes a stunning statement mural that's the perfect complement to her black and white furniture
-
Gwyneth Paltrow's dining room breaks a cardinal color rule – I thought I hated these shades together, but she makes them look so elevated
Color rules are made to be broken, the actress's dining room boldly proclaims – the stunning space completely changed my opinion on pairing these shades
-
Gwyneth Paltrow recommends these Valentine's Day gifts to upgrade your home – and they're not flowers
Give the gifts of comfort and beauty this Valentine's Day with the Goop founder's design-led gift ideas that you've probably never seen before
