Famous designer and home guru, Alexandra Stoddard, claims that every room needs a touch of yellow. She explains that yellow is the colour of sunshine and that it feeds our psyche. Is she right? We can’t be sure – but yellow certainly seems to lift our spirits and that is a wonderful thing!

Here are a few suggestions to inject a little (or a lot!) of yellow into your space. Try yellow on for size. I think you’ll be amazed at how warm and welcoming your home suddenly feels.

Start outside. You can have yellow in your garden virtually year-round. Daffodils in spring, day lilies in summer, chrysanthemums in autumn – and don’t forget a bright yellow front door is spectacular!

Update your hallway. A bouquet of yellow flowers is irresistible. Whether humble carnations, joyous sunflowers (this season’s pick!) or lavish long stemmed roses, yellow flowers in your foyer say ‘this is a happy home’.

Yellow walls. Yellow walls make for a cheerful room even on a gloomy day! There are many shades of yellow – from rich gold to icy pale; evaluate your lighting to find a yellow that’s perfect for your home and sensibilities. And don’t forget one of my favourite tricks – paint your ceiling something other than white! A soft yellow ceiling with white cornices makes every day sunny!

Keep it natural. A large bowl of lemons is so simple yet gorgeous! Keep a full bowl displayed on your countertop. It’s practical too – lemons are very versatile in the kitchen.

Inside doors. How about a soft, pastel yellow for all your interior doors? Frame them in bright white trim and adorn them with gold-toned knobs and hardware to make every room entrance appealing.

Speaking of gold tone. Warm metallics like gold, brass and bronze relay the same warmth as yellow. Look for beautiful furnishings like accent tables and chairs with the glow of yellow-toned metal to bring yellow’s charm to your space.

Furnishings. Yellow is flexible and works perfectly with neutrals like grey, beige, brown and taupe. It can look bold and modern with black and industrial décor or traditional with rich woods. Consider a gorgeous yellow sofa, a yellow side chair, yellow breakfast stools or a hall table with a bright gold front.

Yellow pattern. Maybe solid yellow isn’t for you. No worries! Yellow and gold patterned upholstery is on trend. Whether you like florals, geometrics, plaids or stripes, there are lots of opportunity to work a little yellow into your palette.

Accessories. Of course, the easiest and most affordable way to add yellow is in your accessories. How about yellow bed linens, yellow and white striped draperies, a yellow vase or beige/yellow lamp shades with a gold base? You’ll find plenty of inspiration when you go shopping!

With summer coming to a close, now is a perfect time to bring the season inside with yellow. Whether mellow or vibrant, we’re confident it will make you feel good. It seems Alexandra is right after all!