All good things come to an end, and it seems the reign of sage green is finally winding down. After years of decorating with sage, pistachio, and mint, designers are embracing a warmer, more uplifting palette – one that swaps familiar muted greens for rich, sun-soaked yellows.
While several shades are vying to replace sage green, one color has emerged as the clear favorite. Soft ochres, golden creams, and warmer takes on butter yellow are bringing depth, optimism, and understated sophistication to interiors, making yellow the designer-approved shade of the season.
Here's why designers are replacing pale greens with warm, sunny yellows – and how to use the trend to give your home a fresher, more elevated feel.
While we're not saying decorating with green is entirely over, it's just that designers are craving the warm glow that comes with sunny ochre yellows.
'We opted for this warm buttery yellow to brighten and bring life to an otherwise fairly dark kitchen at the back of this Georgian Rectory,' explains interior designer Emma Milne. 'Warmer tones including rusty reds alongside shades of mustard and ochre have replaced cooler grays and greens as a response to our need to feel cosseted by our home environment,' says Emma, 'but in a naturally warm and visually rich way.'
While green leans on the cooler side, yellows typically feel warmer and more inviting. 'We would advise styling this color with warm whites for a crisp, clean aesthetic that doesn’t feel too murky,' suggests Emma. 'Alongside timber and marble, these warm yellow colors act as an interesting neutral against shades of blue, rusty red or dark olive green.'
Rich yet uplifting, it makes sense that ochre is the new butter yellow in 2026; it brings a cheery feel to interiors without straying into the juvenile or overwhelming. Not to mention, it feels far more characterful and layered than muted greens.
'I've seen yellow used a lot recently; people are becoming braver about using it,' says Kay Westmaas, founder of Studio Westmaas. In this country entryway, it feels both warm and still elevated. 'The client wanted to color-drench this hallway in a sunny, happy color,' says Kay. 'It has multiple windows, so we leaned into the brightness of the space.'
'I would advise pairing it with a soft white like Wimborne White from Farrow & Ball or a more earthy colour like Chocolate Colour from Little Greene. You can then use warm metals such as bronze or antique brass to complement the warm tones.'
'This bathroom is a children's bathroom,' begins interior designer Phoebe Hollond, founder of Studio Hollond, 'and having opted for a Saul Steinberg-inspired mural on the walls with the wonderful fine lines and illustrations, we wanted to really lift the artistic seriousness of the bathroom and make the space feel more youthful and sunny. This yellow does exactly that; it's a little bit of sunshine and joy, a pop of fun.'
'Yellow is an easy color to be brave with because it is a happy color,' says Phoebe. 'I find that if you introduce it in pops, on architraves or skirtings, it really gives a good impression without dominating.'
'The great thing about pale yellow is that it is such a flattering color, unlike green, which can make one's complexion quite 'sickly'. I would avoid green in bathrooms!'
The Yellow Edit
While richer olive and heritage forest greens will always bring a moody, deeply luxurious feel to interiors, muted greens are being replaced with warmer yellows this summer.
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