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Yellow is this season's fashion darling. And already the sunshine hue is spilling off catwalks into London homes.

We are seeing chirpy yellow prints and shiny paintwork, ochre silks and golden damask, marigold china and picnic plastics - and even buttercup for kitchen appliances.

However, just as all fashion editors seem agreed that yellow is not an easy colour to wear, in decorating, too, proceed with caution.

Red, yellow and blue are the three primary colours from which all the others are made. And of these three, yellow is the brightest.

Herein lies the secret of its impact and magic. On the artist's "colour wheel", yellow is opposite purple. Colour theory dictates that opposites contrast/enhance; thus ecclesiastical purple and gold are perfect partners.

Or, more practically, a soft lemon yellow will "lift" a scheme of lavender and bring it to life.

Yellow comes in infinite gradations, from the softest sherbet to the deepest gold. Lighter shades are soft and easy to live with. Clear, bright yellows are provocative and challenging, while deeper tones are more mellow and assured.

Helen Green is an interior designer with a successful London practice. She says: "Yellow is an uplifting, warm and welcoming colour - especially valuable to combat the English weather. Yellow is often best used with fresh white; taupe; linen and other textured fabrics, adding perhaps a touch of green for a light, spring-like feel."

Yellow is not always warm, she warns. "Think of the acid yellow of Pop Art, used in a room with the sharp, clean lines of contemporary furniture, perhaps with a dash of Perspex. This is vibrant and modern with a distinctly sharp edge."

Citric yellow, she says, could be a brilliant pick-me-up for a basic black-and-white scheme that has begun to pall. But softer whites and greys are better teamed with more subtle primrose shades.

Also preaching caution is Judy Smith, colour consultant for Crown Paints. She explains that a "fully saturated" yellow ("that's one without the addition of black or white") is the most vivid colour we have for our homes.

Her verdict: "Use this colour with care." She adds: "Yellow is a colour that changes tremendously depending on the tone you choose - from creamy muted tones to bright citrus, from sand to deep gold."

Historically, yellow, like so many other colours, has its own special meaning. Buddhists see the saffron of monks' robes as a holy colour. And most cultures associate yellow with the power of the sun, and the fertility of the ripening grain.

In decoration, earth pigments have been used for thousands of years. These are the muddy ochres and siennas derived from clay, rock and sand. Traditionally, earth yellows make excellent wall colours, softening the light and providing a glowing background for a room.

Gold is yellow's alter ego. Unthreatening and gracious, golds translate perfectly into damask, brocade, velvet and silk, and can be enhanced with shades of cream.

You could add metallic glimmers and a touch of vitalising pink, lime and/or turquoise.

Yellow came of age at the beginning of the 19th century, when chrome yellow was discovered. It flooded interiors with an intense brilliance, and was taken up by neo classical architects, such as Sir John Soane. You can use this yellow effectively with black and white.

Decorator Tricia Guild is much loved for her fabric and paint selections. She says that yellow is traditionally a kitchen colour - "its natural vivacity promotes a feeling of hospitality".

She also recommends yellow for bedrooms, "particularly in rooms with earlymorning sun". She says rooms that look out on city grey can "benefit enormously" from a yellow-based scheme to counteract the lack of light. Guild also recommends yellow for enlivening narrow halls and landings.

The easiest way to add yellow to an interior is with accessories, such as china or bed linen. Less expensive are vases of spring flowers, or a simple bowl of lemons.

Try pale, creamy yellow with naturals such as mushroom and bark.

Use plenty of texture.

Gold and cream achieve an effortless elegance.

Yellow-and-blue is the classic summer combo of mood enhancing sky and sun; more subtle is pale slate with soft lemon.

Team bright fluorescent yellow with crisp brilliant white - add a little black and silver for drama.

Primrose and sherbet go with faded florals for that country-cottage touch.

Combine warm yellows with cream, crimson, rose and green for instant chintz.

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