What Colours Go With Mustard? Palettes for Every Room
Mustard is a warm, earthy yellow that adds sunshine without the glare of brighter yellows. The colours that go best with it are navy, teal, cream, charcoal and olive. Deep blues give the strongest contrast, while greens and rust keep things warm and relaxed. Mustard works best as an accent, so a little goes a long way.
Below: eight colours that go with mustard and where to use them, the combinations to avoid, and how to bring mustard into your wall art.
Prints for this look
The colour palette
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Colours that go with mustard yellow
- Navy. The strongest partner. Deep blue sits across the colour wheel from yellow, so navy and mustard balance each other. Try a mustard cushion on a navy sofa, or the other way round.
- Teal. Bold and a little retro. Teal and mustard together feel cheerful and confident, especially with wood furniture.
- Cream and warm white. The calm base for a mustard colour palette. They let mustard glow without competing. Avoid cold, blue-whites.
- Charcoal and grey. A modern, grown-up mix. Grey cools mustard down, and charcoal gives it definition.
- Olive and sage. An analogous palette: yellow and green sit side by side on the wheel, so the pairing feels natural and earthy.
- Burnt orange and rust. Another neighbour on the wheel. Mustard with rust is the heart of a 70s-inspired room.
- Blush and dusty pink. A softer, more playful combination. Blush keeps mustard light and works well in bedrooms.
- Walnut and tan leather. Warm woods and leather ground mustard and make a room feel settled.
Colours that don't go with mustard
- Bright lemon and acid yellow. Two yellows at different strengths fight, and the mustard ends up looking dirty.
- Primary red and bright blue together. Mustard with both can tip into a nursery look. Choose deeper, earthier versions such as rust and navy.
- Brown on brown. Mustard with brown walls, brown sofa and brown rug looks dated and heavy. Break it up with cream and one cool colour.
- Icy pastels. Pale lilac and baby blue look washed out next to mustard's warmth. Dusty, muted versions are better.
How to use mustard in wall art
Mustard is a natural accent colour, which makes it perfect for wall art. Use the 60-30-10 split from our decorating rules: about 60 per cent neutral on the walls, 30 per cent in a secondary colour such as navy or grey, and 10 per cent mustard. A print with a touch of mustard, repeated in one cushion or throw, ties the room together.
On neutral walls, mustard prints bring warmth and energy. On navy, teal or charcoal walls, a print with mustard in it looks rich and glowing. Mid-century shapes, Bauhaus-style graphics and vintage travel posters all lean naturally on mustard.
Check the undertone. Greener mustards suit olive and sage; redder mustards suit rust, terracotta and walnut. Above a sofa, aim for art about two thirds the width of the sofa.
Browse our yellow and mustard wall art and mid-century prints. For more ideas, see 70s decor ideas and yellow bedroom ideas.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
