Goodbye To Butter Yellow: The Moodier Hue That's On Trend

Butter yellow had its comeback moment in 2025, but we're ready for an upgrade (after all, one can only take so much churned cream on their walls). In 2026, we meet its moodier older sister, ochre yellow. Designer powerhouse NV Gallery says, "Ochre tones are becoming increasingly popular in the world of interior design." This is thanks in part to C2 Paint naming a soft ochre yellow its color of the year for 2026, which holds particular sway with designers anticipating what colors will trend in the upcoming year. The color exudes quiet luxury, which is a perfect starting point if you're wondering how to recreate the quiet luxury trend in your own home.

But if we were all so googly-eyed over butter yellow, this begs the question, as The Black Eyed Peas so aptly asked, where is the love? Well, it turns out we all have a case of maximalist burnout. The year 2025 was full of bright jewel tones like emeralds making a standout splash across our living rooms. As the pendulum usually swings, designers are looking to balance that out with more subtle, soothing shades that ground and anchor. 

Helen Shaw, interior color specialist at Benjamin Moore, told Homes & Gardens, "Hues like ochre are resurfacing as popular colors, offering a sandy tone that is both confident and calming." The earthiness of the tone brings a sense of safety and coziness. It also has a certain versatility that allows it to be matched well with other natural elements, like wood, metal, and greens.

If you're ready to embrace the warmth of ochre yellow, we've got some great ideas for you. This color will wrap you in a big hug, infusing both coziness and energy into any space. It works especially well in bohemian or Mediterranean-style spaces but can bring that same grounding into any style of home. Since it naturally creates a friendly and welcoming vibe, ochre yellow is perfectly suited for the living room, where family and friends often gather. Paint an accent wall to add color without overwhelming the area, and hang a natural wood shelf as a complementary element.

If you don't want to go all ochre, you can choose a wallpaper with gold accents that simply hints at the trend. Use couch cushions or small rugs as ochre yellow elements throughout the room. When you're ready to say goodbye to boring curtains, hang new linen ones in the trendy hue. Create a peaceful meditation space to inspire your mindfulness practice by combining the grounding hue of ochre yellow with complementary shades, like blueberry on paneling and doors or porcelain off-white on walls and ceilings. A well-pairing color palette includes clay and stone-colored shades, natural greens, and other neutrals.