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Butter Yellow Isn’t Only Hot on the Runway — Here’s How Design Pros Suggest Adding the Trend to Your Home This Summer.

"It’s one of those hues that feels both nostalgic and fresh," says Anthropologie Home's Chief Merchandising Officer Katherine Finder.

By Stacia Datskovska Plus Icon

Stacia Datskovska

Senior Commerce Writer for WWD

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

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June 24, 2025, 5:13pm

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yellow couch and chair standing in a living room with a bright rug; box filled with springlike plates, napkins, dinnerware, and more

Courtesy Anthropologie, Lillian Le Pham

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Butter yellow is having moment. You most likely notice it wherever you look these days, from celebrities donning butter-yellow ensembles at fashion shows and red carpets to your favorite brands releasing versions of their bestselling products swathed in the color. On Pinterest, there are hundreds of thousands of searches for the summery hue that also made it into the Pinterest Palette trend report for 2025 — bringing up nail design inspiration visuals, emulation-worthy shots of vacationing influencers wearing butter-yellow linen dresses, and everything in between. The shade’s popularity has even reached the realm of home decor at this point… and with good reason.

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@thetableclothsfactory

Soft, golden, and totally mood-boosting: butter yellow is the color of the summer. We’re seeing it pop up in: 💛 Lemon-themed dinner parties 💛 Bridal and baby showers 💛 Romantic summer weddings 💛 Champagne-inspired tablescapes Whether it’s a napkin fold or a full floral moment, this color brings instant beauty and cheer. We’re loving the buttery brilliance from these talented creators: 🧈 @kristinschupp 🧈 @greenwichorchids 🧈 @ootd.diana 🧈 @bakedbyaneeka 🧈 @sincerelyyoursevents 🧈 @estellecoloredglass Shop yellow looks, florals, and decor at TableclothsFactory. – – – #butteryellow #butteryellowaesthetic #yellowtablescape #lemonpartydecor #yellowweddingdecor #eventtrends2025 #colortrend2025 #yellowflorals #summerpartydecor #TableclothsFactory #champagnetablescape #yellowbabyshower #brunchdecorideas #weddingcolorpalette #trendingtablescape #eventstylingtips #yellowinspo #tablesettingideas #bridalshowerdecor #howtostyleyellow

♬ original sound – TableclothsFactory – TableclothsFactory

You might’ve heard of the “dopamine dressing” trend, which entails wearing bright, true-to-you clothing that sparks joy (similar to the idea that smiling can trick your brain into happiness). Now, talks of “dopamine decor” have cropped up online, with millions of TikTok posts and many more likes confirming the concept’s traction while identifying it as a surefire way to beat the blues through how we decorate our humble abodes.

Numerous scientific studies have already demonstrated a correlation between certain colors and people’s emotional states, with yellow specifically being linked to positive and high-arousal emotions. A Journal of Physical Therapy Science study from 2017, for example, exposed a sample of 20 individuals in their 20s to blue, red, white, and yellow lights: finding that “the mood states of depression-dejection, anger-hostility, and confusion-bewilderment were higher… for blue and red lights,” while “the mood state[s] of vigor-activity were higher… for yellow and white lights.” Two German psychologists took it one step further in 2018, showcasing that a color’s saturation and brightness also matter when it comes to how humans respond to it. More specifically, “saturated and bright colors were associated with higher arousal” in their research. Putting these puzzle pieces together, it’s possible to get a clearer picture of the effects of butter yellow in the home space. Its mellowness relative to a neon yellow, say, make it a calming force, while the yellowness itself manages to uplift. We’re not claiming this is a universal cause-and-effect reaction, though. Science.org pointed out that, in an ongoing international survey created by researchers at the University of Lausanne, “people were more likely to associate yellow with joy when they lived in rainier countries that lay farther from the equator.”

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Just as responses to butter yellow are mixed (though we have no doubt the hue will shine a light into your life!), current interpretations of its actual identity also vary. Some choose to tap into the “butter” part of the name — shunning vibrancy and instead embracing the soft-spoken, pale, and creamy to evoke the look of just-churned butter. Others stray into the territory of a more lemon-adjacent yellow, or else one cut through with the goldenness of turmeric. The common denominator of all this? Today’s butter-yellow obsession — especially as it relates to the things people put in their homes — can be linked to a desire for symbols that cue a kind of warm, home-spun coziness, plus a citrusy invigoration fit for the summer season.

According to Cameron Forbes, founder of the NYC-based event-planning company Forbes Functions, butter yellow is the color on everyone’s mind right now precisely because of its zestiness. “Butter yellow brings in that Tuscan flare, which is trendy in the summer with people hosting at home. It feels timeless, but it’s also very of the moment. It’s inviting, and it’s versatile,” she tells WWD.

Forbes, whose clients span from couples getting married to leading content creators to high-end brands, is quick to admit that yellow has traditionally been a divisive color in design. But butter yellow? She thinks of it as a neutral capable of acting as an olive branch in the great debate about yellow, “allowing people to have fun” while avoiding garishness and oversaturation. Because it’s tied to indulgent foods, diffused morning sunlight, and a kind of vintage-inspired, Mediterranean je ne sais quoi, butter yellow can occasionally surprise us with a hit of nostalgia (warning: Flashbacks of baking with your grandmother may arise). This makes it ideal for home spaces that you wish to make more personal, like the kitchen of the apartment you just moved into or the outdoor table at which 10 of your closest friends are about to be seated.

While you might associate butter yellow with Easter brunch, this tablescape arrangement by Cameron Forbes proves that the shade — when used strategically — can fit any occasion which could benefit from an infusion of instant optimism. Courtesy Lillian Le Pham

One of Forbes’ specialties is, in fact, tablescaping (she has a tablescape rental service called Ours at Yours, which offers curated boxes full of everything needed for an unforgettable event). Her recent garden party–themed rental kit included a lot of butter-yellow touches, which showed up in plate rims, napkin embroidery, and other details. Ultimately, Forbes thinks every stylistic decision in homes and hosting setups needs to be “a whisper, not a scream.” She therefore urges people not to douse every last wall and pepper every last surface with butter-yellow paints or accents, instead figuring out a balanced way in which to add the life-affirming hue to a setting without overwhelming it.

Katherine Finder, Anthropologie Home‘s Chief Merchandising Officer, shares that customers have responded to butter yellow’s “magical duality,” of both optimism and calmness, “with a lot of enthusiasm, as [the brand] has intentionally woven it throughout collections from the start of the season.”

She recommends Anthropologie’s Café Violette Handpainted Stoneware Dessert Plate in butter yellow, a customer favorite, as a “subtle color-pop that doesn’t overpower the space,” aligning with Forbes’ suggestion of saying a lot with a little. “Our butter-yellow tabletop pieces are great for layering into a neutral palette of whites, woods, and other pastels or playing off more vibrant tones like tomato red and earthy ones like sage green,” adds Finder, emphasizing the fact that butter yellow is pairable with almost everything. This includes textures, too, like “velvet or matter ceramic.”

Morning avocado toast on a butter-yellow plate? Say less. Courtesy Anthropologie

Indeed, one of butter yellow’s biggest selling points is that it can work for anyone: regardless of aesthetic preferences or the kinds of decor pieces that can already be found in your home. Being a neutral that’s nevertheless brighter than beige, it will freshen up minimalist, pared-back interiors for warmer weather when utilized in the form of curtains, tablecloths, or even peel-and-stick wallpapers. For those who have said a firm “yes” to all things cottagecore (think natural wood surfaces, lamps taking the form of watering cans, and lots of gingham), butter yellow can be an extension of this home theme: alluding to sunny days spent frolicking. And, harking back to what Finder told us, even interiors that have a lot of cherry-red elements scattered throughout, or are replete with draping, velvety fabrics, can benefit from the light-hearted agreeableness of yellow vases, wall art, and the like.

On TikTok, butter-yellow design is showing up in outdoor soireés that feature literal sticks of butter as centerpieces, dinnerware drenched in the hue, relevant florals, and even candlesticks that add height to the color trend. As for the party activities that punctuate these types of feminine, sunny gatherings? Making pasta using a glossy, butter-yellow KitchenAid stand mixer with a special attachment (the brand deemed this shade its 2025 Color of the Year), mixing yellowy spritzes topped by edible flowers, and matching with your guests in all-yellow ‘fits. Content creators are also sharing their “bedscaping” endeavors of refreshing slumber sanctuaries with butter-yellow bedding, which ends up making bedrooms much lighter and airier — an effect that can remedy the lack of southern exposure in your house. Where kitchens are concerned, TikTokers are updating walls with butter-yellow paint and then bedecking them with hand-painted doodles of butter, made more visually interesting through the glassware, DIY scallop trims on cabinets, and whimsical objets d’art that also occupy the space.

@emilyrogs

spring bedding refresh 💛✨ adding butter yellow into the space !! #bedroominspo #homedecor #butteryellow #homeinspo #softgirl

♬ Feels like – ❀

Sometimes, these creative ventures get pushback (“I hate cottagecore capitalism,” one TikTok comment reads), but, for the most part, everyone is on board with butter yellow pervading not only our closets but also every nook and cranny of our dwelling places. And why not? At a time of political, economic, and climatic uncertainty, incorporating butter yellow into your home might be just the trick to brighten up everyday living.

Below, our editors share the 10 best butter-yellow home picks to start summer on the right foot, whether you’re going to be playing hostess or plan to enjoy your space solo: initiating a mood good enough to last you all through 2025.

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Anthropologie Café Violette Handpainted Stoneware Dessert Plate

$16

Buy Now at anthropologie

Price upon publish date of this article: $16

Folkulture Throw Pillow Covers, Set of 2

$24.99

Buy Now at amazon

Price upon publish date of this article: $24.99

Nata Concept Store Butter Shaped Decorative Candle

$20

Buy Now at anthropologie

Price upon publish date of this article: $20

Gustav Westman Objects Yellow Curvy Micro Mirror

$485

Buy Now at ssense

Price upon publish date of this article: $485

Casa Platino Sheet Set

$23.69 $24.99 5% off

Buy Now at amazon

Price upon publish date of this article: $23.69

Ginori 1735 Diva Dessert Plate

$105

Buy Now at bergdorf goodman

Price upon publish date of this article: $105

KitchenAid 2025 Color of the Year Butter Stand Mixer

$499.99

Buy Now at kitchenaid

Price upon publish date of this article: $499.99

West Elm Checkmate Peel & Stick Wallpaper

$59

Buy Now at west elm

Price upon publish date of this article: $59

Afloral Large Tabletop Cream Glossy Ceramic Vase

$78

Buy Now at afloral

Price upon publish date of this article: $78

AllModern Rathlin Butter Salad Server Set

$34

Buy Now at allmodern

Price upon publish date of this article: $34

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on interior trends and hot-right-now home finds.

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Butter Yellow Isn’t Only Hot on the Runway — Here’s How Design Pros Suggest Adding the Trend to Your Home This Summer.

Recent Articles by Stacia Datskovska

In this article

View More

The Top Butter-Yellow Home Finds to Add to Your Shopping List

Anthropologie Café Violette Handpainted Stoneware Dessert Plate

Folkulture Throw Pillow Covers, Set of 2

Nata Concept Store Butter Shaped Decorative Candle

Gustav Westman Objects Yellow Curvy Micro Mirror

Casa Platino Sheet Set

Ginori 1735 Diva Dessert Plate

KitchenAid 2025 Color of the Year Butter Stand Mixer

West Elm Checkmate Peel & Stick Wallpaper

Afloral Large Tabletop Cream Glossy Ceramic Vase

AllModern Rathlin Butter Salad Server Set

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Anthropologie Café Violette Handpainted Stoneware Dessert Plate

Folkulture Throw Pillow Covers, Set of 2

Nata Concept Store Butter Shaped Decorative Candle

Gustav Westman Objects Yellow Curvy Micro Mirror

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Ginori 1735 Diva Dessert Plate

KitchenAid 2025 Color of the Year Butter Stand Mixer

West Elm Checkmate Peel & Stick Wallpaper

Afloral Large Tabletop Cream Glossy Ceramic Vase

AllModern Rathlin Butter Salad Server Set

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