Homestyle Highlight: Butter Yellow Paint Gaining Popularity for Exterior Home Makeovers

House Exteriors' Popular Hue: Butter Yellow Paint - A Warm Welcome for Homes

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Butter yellow has emerged as the "it" colour for homes in 2025, bringing a warm, comforting, and nostalgic touch to interiors and exteriors alike. This cheerful hue, reminiscent of sunshine and happiness, has proven to be a versatile and adaptable colour choice that complements both traditional and contemporary designs.

According to colour expert Amy Wax, butter yellow is warm, creamy, and inviting, communicating a sense of happiness. It is not just a playful or nostalgic colour anymore; it has evolved into a more sophisticated tone, lending itself to layered, elegant interiors rather than just trendy pops of colour.

Butter yellow works well as a subtle "fluor neutrals" type of colour, adding personality without dominating. It is often paired with natural textures, warm metals, and complementary deeper hues to create balance and depth. As interior designer Kathie Chrisicos of William Raveis, Back Bay, Boston, notes, butter yellow is a popular and "quiet soft shade" for New England home exteriors, particularly in seaside cities and towns.

In the kitchen, breakfast nooks, and laundry rooms, butter yellow is trending strongly, according to Forrest Webber. This colour choice adds a welcoming and uplifting ambiance without overpowering other design elements. Butter yellow complements nature without overwhelming it, making it an ideal choice for homes that want to bring the outdoors in.

The psychological benefits of yellow hues like butter yellow are significant. They are associated with positivity, energy, and happiness, which can improve mood and make spaces feel lighter and friendlier—important traits in home environments. According to Tara Lewis, Yelp's trend expert, homeowners are moving away from grays and beiges and leaning into maximalism and dopamine decor. Butter yellow's cheerful, uplifting hue is a response to years of gray dominating exterior palettes.

Butter yellow is gaining traction in various regions across the United States. In Raleigh, it is having a real impact on buyer interest and sales velocity, according to Alli Pepperling, a Compass broker. In the San Luis Obispo market, it is showing up on charming Craftsman-style homes and coastal cottages, according to Kate Hendrickson, an associate broker. Down the coast in Savannah, it is turning heads and creating a cheerful, welcoming first impression, according to Casey Ricks of Baywater Custom Builders.

Even in the Metro Atlanta and North Georgia market, butter yellow is beginning to show up, as noted by Gary Baxter, a licensed general contractor. Cindy Chen, a Compass broker in New York City, is seeing it more in interiors and believes it's a great colour choice for cottage and bungalow style homes, which are not as widespread in the city.

Mark Lumpkin, founder of STR Cribs, theorises that the sweetness, nostalgic appeal, and "happy" factor of butter yellow could be decisive. He adds that it looks good in photos taken during the 'golden hour' of natural light in rooms that are rented out for short periods of time.

However, not all yellows are equal. An overly saturated yellow can make people feel overstimulated and irritable, warns Wax. Therefore, it is essential to choose the right shade of butter yellow to ensure it creates a warm, inviting, and comfortable living space.

Zillow's Summer 2025 paint colour analysis warns that buyers would pay nearly $4,000 less for a home with a daisy yellow kitchen or living room. This suggests that while butter yellow is popular, it is essential to choose the right shade and use it appropriately to maximise the potential resale value of a home.

In conclusion, butter yellow's enduring popularity in 2025 stems from its psychological warmth and versatile aesthetic appeal, which help create homes that feel both cheerful and sophisticated. As more homeowners embrace this cheerful hue, it is set to continue its reign as a popular paint colour choice for years to come.

[1] Lewis, Tara. (2025). Yelp's Trend Tracker: August 2025. Yelp Inc. [2] Wax, Amy. (2025). The Psychological Impact of Colour in Home Design. Home Design Magazine. [3] Webber, Forrest. (2025). The Trade Table's Colour Trend Report: Summer 2025. The Trade Table. [4] Chrisicos, Kathie. (2025). Colour Trends for New England Homes. William Raveis, Back Bay, Boston.