Use of yellow on the rise again in home decor

Step aside, orange. It's yellow's turn to shine.

The last few years have seen greens and oranges in the home decor spotlight, but that's about to change, as the primary colors blue and yellow muscle back into the forefront.

"Orange has started to run its course," said Jack Bredenfoerder, president of Color Marketing Group, an international association of color design professionals.

As in the fashion world, with its punch of yellow in bangles, bags and high heels, the color often described as "sunny" and "energetic" is returning as a primary accent color in home design.

Clothing fashion often determines how decorating tastes. "It's in fashion now, then in our homes," Bredenfoerder said.

The yellow he sees stepping off the runways is the shade's calmer tones, and combined with neutral colors. Yellow is especially attractive with whites, grays and black, although Bredenfoerder warns that too much black with yellow can make a jarring contrast.

As an accent color, yellow brightens a room, but a little goes a long way. The safest yellows are the creamy, calmer ones. Too much of a cheerful yellow can prove annoying.