Decorating
Say Hello to Minion Yellow, Pantone’s Newest (and Happiest) Colour
This Hollywood-inspired shade is anything but despicable. Here’s how to work the cheerful and cheeky colour into your home
What do Pharrell Williams, the movie franchise Despicable Me and global colour authority Pantone have in common? Well, if you’ve seen the first two films in the series, then you probably know that the singer wrote and sang several tracks for the popular animated flicks (including the toe-tapping, Grammy Award-winning song ‘Happy’ from Despicable Me 2, which was the highest-selling single in Australia last year). But how does Pantone fit into the picture, you ask? With the launch of Pantone’s newest colour, Minion Yellow, a sunny shade inspired by and named after the loveable, kooky creatures from the series, who will return to the silver screen later this year in a Despicable Me spin-off movie, Minions.
1. Playful palette
Desire a lively, personality-packed scheme? Consider decorating your space with pops of Minion Yellow, along with splashes of other energetic tones that are of a similar intensity. This colourful and creative living zone shows how it’s done. A neutral backdrop of light grey and timber tones allows the bright, eye-popping shelves to shine, while ensuring the look doesn’t appear too overwhelming.
Muted tones such as pastel yellow and mint have also been incorporated into the scheme to add another layer of interest. Notice how these soft shades also connect the extremities of the palette together, resulting in a space that’s fun and lively but exudes visual harmony.
Custom-mixed paint: Pantone
Desire a lively, personality-packed scheme? Consider decorating your space with pops of Minion Yellow, along with splashes of other energetic tones that are of a similar intensity. This colourful and creative living zone shows how it’s done. A neutral backdrop of light grey and timber tones allows the bright, eye-popping shelves to shine, while ensuring the look doesn’t appear too overwhelming.
Muted tones such as pastel yellow and mint have also been incorporated into the scheme to add another layer of interest. Notice how these soft shades also connect the extremities of the palette together, resulting in a space that’s fun and lively but exudes visual harmony.
Custom-mixed paint: Pantone
2. Mood booster
If you need to pep up a moody scheme or an area that’s lacking in natural light, incorporating Minion Yellow into the space may be the perfect solution for you. The cheerful, sunny shade will not only breathe life into dark interior schemes and dimly lit rooms, but will make them appear brighter and more inviting, too. This cool, contemporary kitchen demonstrates how a few dashes of high-energy yellow can instantly lift and brighten up a dramatic, moody palette.
If you need to pep up a moody scheme or an area that’s lacking in natural light, incorporating Minion Yellow into the space may be the perfect solution for you. The cheerful, sunny shade will not only breathe life into dark interior schemes and dimly lit rooms, but will make them appear brighter and more inviting, too. This cool, contemporary kitchen demonstrates how a few dashes of high-energy yellow can instantly lift and brighten up a dramatic, moody palette.
This look-at-me, personality-packed hue will also work wonders when it comes to reviving an all-white or neutral scheme that looks oh-so chic but lacks character and life.
More: Yellow in the Kitchen: Make It Sing
Wall paint in ‘Gold Rush’ (P149H): Dulux
More: Yellow in the Kitchen: Make It Sing
Wall paint in ‘Gold Rush’ (P149H): Dulux
3. Street cred
Want to make your home stand out from the rest of the dwellings on your street? Why not work Minion Yellow into your exterior palette? No, we’re not suggesting that you paint the entire facade of your home this eye-popping shade (we dare say your neighbours wouldn’t be too happy with you if you did), but that’s not to say you can’t have a little fun with this happy hue when decorating the outside of your house.
We love how bold, zesty yellow has been used on this facade. The exuberant shade is used in tandem with grid-like panels to create a dramatic focal point that makes the dwelling stand out from the crowd. Notice how the rest of the exterior palette is muted and earthy in colour. This strategic colour selection helps balance the intensity of the invigorating hue, and ensures the house doesn’t look too overwhelming or detract from the rest of the streetscape.
More: Gorgeous Exterior House Colours That Break the Rules
Want to make your home stand out from the rest of the dwellings on your street? Why not work Minion Yellow into your exterior palette? No, we’re not suggesting that you paint the entire facade of your home this eye-popping shade (we dare say your neighbours wouldn’t be too happy with you if you did), but that’s not to say you can’t have a little fun with this happy hue when decorating the outside of your house.
We love how bold, zesty yellow has been used on this facade. The exuberant shade is used in tandem with grid-like panels to create a dramatic focal point that makes the dwelling stand out from the crowd. Notice how the rest of the exterior palette is muted and earthy in colour. This strategic colour selection helps balance the intensity of the invigorating hue, and ensures the house doesn’t look too overwhelming or detract from the rest of the streetscape.
More: Gorgeous Exterior House Colours That Break the Rules
You might also like to consider giving your front door a Minion Yellow makeover. As you can see here, the result is delightful.
What colour front door should you have? Take the quiz
Door painted in ‘Guilty Gold’: Valsper
What colour front door should you have? Take the quiz
Door painted in ‘Guilty Gold’: Valsper
4. Cameo appearance
Not a fan of overly colourful schemes, but keen to experiment with this happy, alluring shade? Take a leaf out of this chic walk-in closet’s style playbook and add a single pop of Minion Yellow to your room, rather than showering it in the bright, bold hue. Doing so will allow you to add a hint of excitement and playfulness to your space, while staying true to your signature design aesthetic. For example, here an injection of cheerful yellow in the form of an upholstered armchair and ottoman enhances the dramatic look of the pared-back room, without making the scheme look overly fussy.
Saarinen large Womb chair in Yellow: Knoll
Not a fan of overly colourful schemes, but keen to experiment with this happy, alluring shade? Take a leaf out of this chic walk-in closet’s style playbook and add a single pop of Minion Yellow to your room, rather than showering it in the bright, bold hue. Doing so will allow you to add a hint of excitement and playfulness to your space, while staying true to your signature design aesthetic. For example, here an injection of cheerful yellow in the form of an upholstered armchair and ottoman enhances the dramatic look of the pared-back room, without making the scheme look overly fussy.
Saarinen large Womb chair in Yellow: Knoll
5. Perfect partnership
If you’re looking for a hue to partner with Minion Yellow, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect companion colour in the blue colour family. Why? Yellow and blue sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel, which means that when paired together, they create a dynamic and visually appealling scheme that’s guaranteed to turn heads (for all the right reasons).
This nautical-themed kids’ room proves just how smashing bright yellow and blue (three different shades – navy, sky blue and turquoise – are used in this space) look when paired together.
More: Perfect Pairs: 8 Colour Palettes That Won’t Let You Down
‘Hello Yellow’ by Mr. Jason Grant: Murobound
If you’re looking for a hue to partner with Minion Yellow, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect companion colour in the blue colour family. Why? Yellow and blue sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel, which means that when paired together, they create a dynamic and visually appealling scheme that’s guaranteed to turn heads (for all the right reasons).
This nautical-themed kids’ room proves just how smashing bright yellow and blue (three different shades – navy, sky blue and turquoise – are used in this space) look when paired together.
More: Perfect Pairs: 8 Colour Palettes That Won’t Let You Down
‘Hello Yellow’ by Mr. Jason Grant: Murobound
6. Attitude adjustment
This cool, industrial-style study is a lesson in what to do if Minion Yellow is a little too, well, happy for your tastes. As you can see here, pairing the peppy, sunshine shade with raw materials (like metal, exposed brick and reclaimed timber) and edgy decor (think industrial- or rustic-inspired furnishings and accents) will lend your scheme an ultra-cool urban vibe, rather than allowing the colour to take on a cutesy and overly sweet feel.
This cool, industrial-style study is a lesson in what to do if Minion Yellow is a little too, well, happy for your tastes. As you can see here, pairing the peppy, sunshine shade with raw materials (like metal, exposed brick and reclaimed timber) and edgy decor (think industrial- or rustic-inspired furnishings and accents) will lend your scheme an ultra-cool urban vibe, rather than allowing the colour to take on a cutesy and overly sweet feel.
7. Stand-out style
A vivid, eye-catching shade like Minion Yellow is a great colour to use if you wish to highlight a unique architectural feature, like the curved window in the bold bathing zone above. Keep the rest of the scheme relatively simple so the two stand-out design elements, together, remain the hero of the space.
A vivid, eye-catching shade like Minion Yellow is a great colour to use if you wish to highlight a unique architectural feature, like the curved window in the bold bathing zone above. Keep the rest of the scheme relatively simple so the two stand-out design elements, together, remain the hero of the space.
8. Pop star
If you want to spread the joy that Minion Yellow brings, scatter several accent pieces in the happy hue around your space. As you can see here, multiple pops of dazzling yellow add a hearty dose of zing and modern flair to this elegant transitional-style living area, and help create a cohesive, harmonious look, rather than let a single feature steal the spotlight.
Also, take note of how the patterns on the sunny yellow accents – such as the chevron throw rug, striped cushion and studded breakfast tray – break up the intense colour and stop the room from looking too yellow-heavy.
If you want to spread the joy that Minion Yellow brings, scatter several accent pieces in the happy hue around your space. As you can see here, multiple pops of dazzling yellow add a hearty dose of zing and modern flair to this elegant transitional-style living area, and help create a cohesive, harmonious look, rather than let a single feature steal the spotlight.
Also, take note of how the patterns on the sunny yellow accents – such as the chevron throw rug, striped cushion and studded breakfast tray – break up the intense colour and stop the room from looking too yellow-heavy.
9. Stylish storage
Sick of your run-of-the-mill timber or all-white cabinets? Revive your space by replacing your existing doors and drawers (or a section of them) with eye-catching Minion Yellow-toned cabinet fronts. Offset the look with hearty slicks of white, which will cut through the intense hue, as well as dark colours like black or moody grey to ground the scheme. Timber will also add balance and a calming, earthy vibe to the space. Opting for finger pulls instead of bulky metal handles will prevent the scheme from looking overly busy, too.
Sick of your run-of-the-mill timber or all-white cabinets? Revive your space by replacing your existing doors and drawers (or a section of them) with eye-catching Minion Yellow-toned cabinet fronts. Offset the look with hearty slicks of white, which will cut through the intense hue, as well as dark colours like black or moody grey to ground the scheme. Timber will also add balance and a calming, earthy vibe to the space. Opting for finger pulls instead of bulky metal handles will prevent the scheme from looking overly busy, too.
If you’re not ready to commit to such a big (and bright) cosmetic change, or are worried Minion Yellow-coloured cabinet fronts will look too OTT in your home, consider revamping the inside of your cupboards with the energetic colour instead.
10. Merry motif
If you’re not a fan of block brights, introducing Minion Yellow in the form of eye-catching patterned wallpaper may be the way to go. Choose a bold graphic print design for an ultra-contemporary look that packs a visual punch, or an intricate motif (such as the one seen here) if you desire a space that exudes elegance and timeless style.
If you’re not a fan of block brights, introducing Minion Yellow in the form of eye-catching patterned wallpaper may be the way to go. Choose a bold graphic print design for an ultra-contemporary look that packs a visual punch, or an intricate motif (such as the one seen here) if you desire a space that exudes elegance and timeless style.
11. Scene stealer
I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely feel happy, energised and ready to tackle the day ahead if I had a smile-inducing Minion Yellow-painted ceiling in my home office, like the one pictured in this eclectic work zone. The room’s airy white palette and large wall-to-wall window are key to the success of this uplifting scheme, as they provide balance and ensure the feature ceiling doesn’t look or feel too overwhelming. Take note, too, of how the graphic print accent wall offers extra visual interest, while its linear pattern draws the line of sight up to the brightly toned ceiling above.
If you’d prefer to stick with a classic white ceiling, painting a Minion Yellow-coloured feature wall will achieve a similar effect.
Wall paint in ‘Golden Frog’: Taubmans
I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely feel happy, energised and ready to tackle the day ahead if I had a smile-inducing Minion Yellow-painted ceiling in my home office, like the one pictured in this eclectic work zone. The room’s airy white palette and large wall-to-wall window are key to the success of this uplifting scheme, as they provide balance and ensure the feature ceiling doesn’t look or feel too overwhelming. Take note, too, of how the graphic print accent wall offers extra visual interest, while its linear pattern draws the line of sight up to the brightly toned ceiling above.
If you’d prefer to stick with a classic white ceiling, painting a Minion Yellow-coloured feature wall will achieve a similar effect.
Wall paint in ‘Golden Frog’: Taubmans
12. In character
What’s the easiest way to work Minion Yellow into your home? By giving one or two Minions (the plush kind) a home, of course. They’re not only cute, cuddly and adorably quirky, but make great bed-time companions for your little one, too.
What’s the easiest way to work Minion Yellow into your home? By giving one or two Minions (the plush kind) a home, of course. They’re not only cute, cuddly and adorably quirky, but make great bed-time companions for your little one, too.
TELL US
Are you happy with Pantone’s newest colour, Minion Yellow? How would you work the colour into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Are you happy with Pantone’s newest colour, Minion Yellow? How would you work the colour into your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Bright Spark: 21 Ways to Welcome Yellow Into Your Home
Colour Wisdom From Nature: Yummy Yellow
Colour Forecast: Key Trends for 2015
The launch of Minion Yellow, Pantone’s first character-inspired and branded colour, couldn’t have come at a better time, with research conducted by the Pantone Color Institute highlighting the desire of consumers to introduce happier, more uplifting colours to their lives.
Are you a fan of this fun, lively shade? Read on for our tips on how to incorporate it into your home.