Like many colors that are variations on the 3 primary pigments, Mustard Yellow is quite bold. If you use this color against shades that contain yellow, it will step back a bit.
If you pair it with jewel tones, such as a cherry red or a royal blue, it will appear bolder. Because this shade has a high concentration of red in it, it will quickly warm up any space.
Because it has a high percentage of green, there’s enough soot or smoke in the shade to produce beautiful shadows.
For more interest, if you plan to use a Mustard Yellow fabric, consider using something with deep texture. The shadow tones of Mustard Yellow will be quite striking.
RGB: 234, 170, 0
Hex Code: #EAAA00
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1) Fervent Brass SW 6405 Sherwin Williams
Fervent Brass is a yummy combination of gold and brown that would work well with Mustard. Be aware that Mustard will always come out on top when you pair it with any brown shades; brass will lean back and let Mustard stand out.
As you plan where to use Mustard, be very careful about the wood tones currently in place in the room. Wood tones that include red, such as cherry or red oak, may create visual agitation. A deep brown, such as mahogany, may be best.
RGB: 149 / 121 / 61
Hex Code: #95793D
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Fervent Brass (6405) – Sherwin-Williams
2) Grizzly Bear Brown (2111-20) – Benjamin Moore
Grizzly Bear Brown, like Mustard, is a color that will be made even more beautiful with texture. If you’re interested in creating an accent wall with either of these colors, consider adding sand or doing a knockdown texture on the wall first.
Bear Brown has a warm glow with just enough blue to stand up against Mustard, and both colors will add to the warmth of the space.
RGB: 101, 56, 24
Hex Code: #604c3d
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Grizzly Bear Brown (2111-20) – Brown – Benjamin Moore
Paint Color Samples
Would you like to sample any of your favorite paint colors? I recommend using a peel and stick paint sample from SAMPLIZE. Peel and stick paint samples are very affordable and easy to use. They are also clean and environmentally friendly!
Advantages of using peel and stick paint samples:
- EASY TO USE: Simply move your SAMPLIZE paint sample around the room to test under a variety of lighting conditions.
- AFFORDABLE: Budget-friendly solution and no more buying inaccurate swatches, rollers, wasted paint.
- SUPER FAST DELIVERY: Depending on your location, 1 day delivery is possible.
- ORDER FROM HOME: Save a trip to the store looking for samples.
- NO MESS: SAMPLIZE uses real paint samples with zero-mess
- NO WASTE: No leftover cans or wasted paint.
Visit SAMPLIZE store here to see all of the available color options.
3) Gettysburgh Gold 1064 Benjamin Moore
Gettysburgh Gold is a less saturated shade that is a bit smokier than Bear Brown, and will not stand up as vigorously.
If your plan is to use Mustard on the walls of a family room, Gettysburgh Gold could be a wonderful choice for upholstery fabrics, rugs, or drapes.
This is an excellent choice for rooms that either don’t get a lot of natural light or those that you generally use in the evening.
RGB: 151, 110, 70
Hex Code: #976E46
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Gettysburgh Gold (1064) – Gold – Benjamin Moore
4) Olympus Green 679 Benjamin Moore
Olympus Green like Bear Brown, will be a nice balance with Mustard. When you pair 2 colors that balance each other, it’s important to consider the visual impact you’re trying to create.
For example, Olympus Green and Mustard in a space that is lowly lit, such as a library, can tolerate a lot of other colors as long as they’re tightly grouped.
Books on shelves will create interest, rather than a frenetic field of color. If you’re going to display multiple items of different colors in a room that uses a lot of Mustard, try to use a coordinating color that will back down.
RGB: 64, 90, 91
Hex Code: #405A5B
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Olympus Green (679) – Green – Benjamin Moore
5) Relentless Olive SW 6425 Sherwin Williams
Relentless Olive is a terrific example of a color that will back down in a room that features Mustard. Even better, this shade will allow Mustard Yellow to appear quite bright.
If you have a living room that gets a lot of light and you want to put Mustard Yellow on the walls, use a fabric in Relentless Olive for the window treatments or put down a woven rug in Relentless Olive and let Mustard stand out and be bright.
RGB 113 / 113 / 62
Hex Code: #71713E
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Relentless Olive (6425) – Brown – Sherwin-Williams
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6) Bordeaux (1055-7) – PPG
Pairing any shades of red and yellow in one space can create visual agitation. They can create a sense of urgency akin to stoplights.
However, Bordeaux is a shade that will balance Mustard Yellow without creating a sense of impending danger. Again, trim colors will need to come into consideration.
A white trim against Bordeaux and Mustard could be too bold. If you have a dark brown trim already in place, don’t change it.
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Bordeaux (PPG1055-7) – PPG
RGB: 87, 45, 45
Hex Code: #774041
7) Salmon Pink 1188-4 PPG
For those who want to brighten up a space that includes Mustard Yellow, consider using small pops of Salmon Pink.
Be aware that Salmon items will stand out; a cushion or two or a stripe in a fabric may be all that you need to add a bit of sunshine to Mustard.
Bringing these colors head to head in equal parts will be very energizing and may work in an office or a studio.
RGB: 241, 158, 155
Hex Code: #F19E9B
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Salmon Pink (PPG1188-4) – PPG
Do Light Bulbs Affect How Paint Colors Look?
Absolutely. Just like natural light, artificial lighting changes how paint appears. The color temperature of your light bulbs—measured in Kelvins (K)—plays a big role.
- Lower K (2700K–3000K) = warm, yellow light (soft white)
- Higher K (4000K–5000K+) = cool, white to bluish light (bright/daylight)
Choosing the right bulb can make a big difference in how your paint color looks on the wall.
I recommend using these types of light bulbs.
8) Eggplant 1379 Benjamin Moore
Yellow and purple are often colors that do not work and play well together. However, Eggplant has enough green to let Mustard Yellow be without overpowering it.
Like other colors that balance Mustard rather than being overpowered by it, do your best to keep the rest of the space simple.
Eggplant on an accent wall, Mustard Yellow on the armchairs, and everything else in shades of brown would be a terrific choice. Too many colors can turn both Eggplant and Mustard Yellow into something garish.
RGB: 93, 55, 84
Hex Code: #5D3754
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Eggplant (1379) – Black – Benjamin Moore
9) Orange Vermillion 1194-7 PPG
Orange Vermillion is the color to use when you want to pull attention away from Mustard Yellow. If your dining room walls are Mustard Yellow and you want your guests to focus on the food, put a Orange Vermillion cloth on the table.
There are few shades of red that will push Mustard into the background without screaming “STOPLIGHT!” but this shade has the presence to just ignore Mustard and serve as an eye-catching shade.
If you plan to put Orange Vermillion on a wall in a room that also features mustard, create a large sample and study the two colors together.
Orange Vermillion will be hard to cover if you change your mind, and waiting for primer to cure can be tiresome.
RGB: 185, 79, 54
Hex Code: #B94F36
Peel-and-Stick Paint Sample – Orange Vermillion (PPG1194-7) – PPG