Yellow is the color of spring and summer. Daffodils, jonquils and forsythia kick off the season, and later black-eyed Susan and yellow marigolds carry us through the warm months. What better way to enjoy the pleasant days than to bring yellow indoors as part of your home decorating scheme? But how’s the best way to do that? How much yellow is enough, and how much is too much?

Fortunately, yellow is versatile. There are pale yellows, soft yellows, lemony yellows and bright yellows. Each has its own variation in mood, but yellow in general invokes happiness, energy, warmth and positive feelings. Put a lift in your spring and summer months with some of the following suggestions.

What colors go well with yellow?

A lot more colors than you might at first think. While there’s the obvious choices of browns and greens, as in brown wood furniture and green houseplants, yellow also plays well with about any shade of gray. Dark and rich colors such as royal or navy blue provide a bold statement of contrast. Purple, either light or full, is a surprising and interesting choice. The combo works best with just one shade of purple and just one shade of yellow.

Pastels can work too, as in violet, light blue, pale green or even pink. Pairing yellow with soft colors produces a calm and tranquil feel, while contrasting it with darker colors is confident and bold.

What shade of yellow should I choose?

It depends on what your other colors are and what mood you want to achieve. Pale, soft and muted yellows blend with other soft colors for an easygoing atmosphere. A muted yellow can work as a neutral, as in a single light shade of yellow with multiple hues of gray. Soft yellow complemented with whites and creams is a feel that’s classic and speaks of stylish country living. Mustard yellow works in a contemporary room. Bright and happy shades of yellow enliven the ambiance toward an even greater slice of cheer and sunshine.

How many different yellows can one room handle? It depends. Multiple hues are fine in a room with several yellow accents, but a single yellow could be preferable if it is a dominant color in the space.

How should I use yellow in a room?

A good way to start is with yellow and brown living room decorating ideas. Throw pillows with yellow and other yellow home decor bring a cheerful spark to woodwork and to the classic brown sofa. But there are other great ways to introduce the color.

• In a bedroom, use yellow on a bedspread, some throw pillows and a lamp or some yellow wall art.
• Place yellow seat cushions on kitchen chairs.
• Build a yellow backsplash, either solid yellow or yellow mixed other colors.
• Include yellow as a curtain color.
• Think high and low. Paint the ceiling pale yellow and include yellow in carpeting, tile and rugs.
• Bring in a yellow accent chair, or a yellow ottoman or hassock. Match it with yellow throw pillows against a gray sofa.
• In a den or child’s room, paint shelving and bookcases yellow.
• Arrange highlights throughout the room with yellow decor: clocks, candles, place settings, pendant lights, vases. Use yellow flowers in vases that are a white, green or clear. Yellow wall art is especially striking on dark walls.

Is yellow a good wall color?

Yes, and there are a couple ways to use it. Paint an entire living room or bedroom in a conservative yellow, or do up a single wall as an accent wall in a more assertive shade. In a kid’s room or rec room, use that brighter tone on all four walls. A yellow wall makes an excellent backdrop for a collage of pictures with dark brown frames. Yellow art on the wall adjacent to the accent wall will catch everyone’s eyes. With yellow wallpaper, there is the additional choice of employing a patterned yellow.

When you decorate your yellow room, remember to use soft yellow with neutrals and pastels for a relaxed feel, or bold yellow with contrasting colors for a modern or a playful look.

How should I use yellow on my patio?

On your deck or patio there’s even more opportunity to express your sunshiny side. Use yellow patio chairs, or really reach for the bright light by mixing yellow with red, a combination you’d be reluctant to try indoors. Have a matching yellow Adirondack chair, Adirondack side table and Adirondack footrest. Replace your umbrella with a yellow one. When you entertain, bring out yellow place settings. Scatter yellow blooms in pots or plant a row of flowers alongside your patio.

Indoors or out, there are more than enough ways to bring yellow into your warm weather life. Here’s a fun guideline: if you see a place where a little yellow will make you happy, go for it. Enjoy a season of sunshine and flowers with the cheerful color.