Color can be an easy way to set the mood in your home, but the right shade can also be your secret to making your home feel current. (Don’t believe us? Just think back to the days when millennial pink and brat green ruled interiors.) Though “it” hues are often defined by generational trends or pop culture phenomena, a change of season can also kickstart a shift in shades.
Since spring has finally arrived, we can’t help but wonder which colors will be popular in the months ahead. According to designers, it’s all about “soft citrus”: Subtler takes on the yellows and greens that are dominating our fruit baskets.
For Lauren Conner, an interior designer in Birmingham, Alabama, soft citruses are the perfect antidotes to the beiges and greiges that plagued interiors for far too long. “There is a yearning for personal, creative style that incorporates texture and color, which aligns with the ‘beige is not a color’ mindset,” she says. “When endless quantities of neutral, mass-produced furnishings are available online, a treasure with an unexpected hue becomes more special.”
Not only are these shades evocative of the beautiful, blooming weather outside, but Ashley Gallion of Ashley Ayer Interiors says the shades are “an organic choice due to its blend of brightness and optimism. It stands out without being overwhelming adding a fresh balance to your space.”
Of course, there are a lot of colors in nature, so what makes yellow and green the de facto palette? According to the pros, they’re hospitable but not overwhelming. “Yellow color can be both warm and uplifting,” says Jensen Killen, co-founder of Country Design 100 firm Logan Killen Interiors. “Something everyone could use a dose of these days!” Instead of highlighter-bright yellows, though, Jensen predicts we’ll see more ochres and sunny tones in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, on the green front, Anthony D’Argenzio of Zio and Sons points to Farrow & Ball’s Beverly, a deep historic green that feels “bold and completely at home.”
Not only can these tones lock in the positive vibes—green is calming and restorative, while yellow is happy—but Lauren admits this palette is simply meant to be. “As analogous colors and neighbors on the color wheel, they share a common hue, making them naturally harmonious,” she says. “We can all appreciate the cheerfulness in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, or a yellow-striped cabana on a beach, or an image of lemons growing on the Amalfi coast.” Ashley agrees and says that because these shades look good with warm woods, they can work with virtually any style of room.
Speaking of which, how do you incorporate soft citruses into your space? While the color cognoscenti may use this trend as an excuse to paint their homes—again—Katie Logan Leblanc of Logan Killen Interiors makes a case for subtlety.
“For a low lift upgrade, look for yellow-accented accessories to layer in such as a vintage quilt or oil painting,” she says. Ashley also recommends incorporating these colors through vases, art, or even tile, and that fresh foliage is a great way to bring those moody greens to life.
Or, if you do want to use paint, Anthony encourages pairing these subtler botanicals with neutrals. “A rich green like [Farrow & Ball’s] Beverly has always had a place in traditional American interiors, and right now it feels earned rather than trendy,” he says. “Paired with softer tones like Drop Cloth and School House White, it grounds a room without overwhelming it.”
Regardless of how you choose to employ soft citruses, you have to admit they’re a perfect match for the blooming months ahead. “It’s only natural to lean into the earthy botanical energy that greens and yellows bring indoors,” Lauren says. We couldn’t agree more.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, ELLE Decor, and Country Living among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
