Butter's long-standing dominance in color trends may be facing challenges, as designers express contrasting views but agree on potential new colors poised to surpass yellow.
In the realm of interior design, a shift in colour trends is on the horizon, as butter yellow, a popular choice in 2025, may be making way for a new set of hues. Five colours that have caught the attention of design enthusiasts and experts alike as potential successors to butter yellow include Rolling Fog Light, Mochi, Atomic Red, Bronze Red, and China Clay Dark.
These colours, with their rich, warm undertones, represent a departure from butter yellow's sunny and soft vibe. Ashley Stark predicts that deeper shades like maroon or burgundy will steal the spotlight as we head into the colder months of the year.
One colour that has been gaining momentum is light periwinkle. This soft, ethereal hue, reminiscent of the sky at dusk and dawn, offers an alternative to butter yellow's brightness. Designer Sarah Trop suggests reverting back to a timeless colour scheme: warm neutrals, as butter yellow may not have the lasting power and versatility to maintain its current fame.
Interior designer Amy Konarzycki agrees, predicting that light periwinkle will replace butter yellow. This colour pairs beautifully with shades of white and grey, as well as bleached woods, and brings a sense of softness and warmth without tipping into overly sweet. Benjamin Moore's Baby Fawn and Featherstone are warm, muted, and elegant alternatives to butter yellow.
However, not all design professionals are ready to bid farewell to butter yellow. Designer Lauren Saab asserts that butter yellow is not over and is evolving into something more mature. Cobalt blue, with its ability to infuse a space with just the right amount of sophistication and fun, has the potential to dethrone butter yellow as a key colour of the quiet luxury trend.
Despite the rise of these new colours, butter yellow remains very popular for its warm, delicate, and feel-good energy on walls and decor. Many celebrities have embraced this cheerful hue in their homes. Yet, a warmer, richer palette is gaining momentum, with colours like Rolling Fog Light, Mochi, Atomic Red, Bronze Red, and China Clay Dark leading the charge.
Additionally, some design professionals indicate a shift toward more classic, heritage-infused colours such as deep navy, forest green, oxblood, crisp ivory, soft weathered greys, dune beiges, and blues evocative of natural palettes. These colours, with their timeless appeal, offer a contrast to the brightness of butter yellow and provide a sense of warmth and character.
As we move into the future, it seems that the interior design world is embracing a richer, warmer palette, with butter yellow making way for a new set of colours to take centre stage. Whether it's the deep, red-based hues like Rolling Fog Light or the earthy tones of China Clay Dark, these colours bring warmth and character with a deeper tonal quality, offering a fresh and exciting direction for interior design trends.
- Ashley Stark anticipates that deeper shades like maroon or burgundy will become prominent in interior design, as we approach the colder months, potentially replacing butter yellow.
- Designer Sarah Trop suggests a return to a timeless color scheme in the face of butter yellow's potential decline in popularity, proposing the use of warm neutrals.
- Amy Konarzycki and Benjamin Moore's Baby Fawn and Featherstone are alternatives to butter yellow, offering a softer, more muted, and elegant look that pairs well with shades of white, grey, and bleached woods.
- In contrast to the rise of deeper, red-based hues like Rolling Fog Light and Earthy tones of China Clay Dark, some design professionals are seeing a shift towards more classic, heritage-inspired colours like deep navy, forest green, oxblood, crisp ivory, soft weathered greys, dune beiges, and blues evocative of natural palettes.
