There are a few options when it comes to darkening the color yellow. The most common way is to add a small amount of another color to create a shade or tint of yellow. The color that is added depends on how much you want to darken the yellow and what hue you are going for.
Adding Black
One of the simplest ways to darken yellow is by adding black. When you add black to pure yellow, it reduces the brightness and saturates the color. This creates a shade of yellow that is often referred to as golden yellow or gold. The more black you add, the darker the yellow becomes until eventually it may start to look more like an olive green color at very dark shades.
Adding just a small amount of black, between 5-20%, will create nice golden yellow tones. This can give a mature, sophisticated look to yellow. It works well for accent colors in designs. Combining black and yellow also has high visibility. This makes shades of golden yellow ideal for things like caution signs and safety warnings.
Adding Brown
Mixing yellow with brown is another way to darken the color. Brown has red and blue pigments, so when added to yellow it neutralizes the brightness and creates an earthy, dirtier shade of yellow. This is useful for creating natural or vintage looking yellow colors.
The amount of brown you add will determine how dark the yellow becomes. A light amount, around 10-25%, makes the yellow a bit duller but still distinctly yellow. As you go past 50% brown, the yellow starts becoming more of a mustard or brown olive color. These darker yellow-brown shades pair well with other fall colors.
Adding Red
Red can also be combined with yellow to create lush darker shades. This brings in a warm, fiery tone to the yellow. Using just a small amount of red, between 5-15%, will make a bold golden or amber yellow. Going up to 25% red brings out more orangey tones for colors like saffron or mustard.
With higher amounts of red nearing 50%, the yellow becomes a more spicy, reddish-brown shade. At very high amounts of red, the yellow will eventually shift to become more of an orange or ochre color. So red is a good option for darkening yellow while keeping it warm and lively.
Adding Purple
On the cooler side of the color wheel, purple can be mixed with yellow to create some sophisticated darker shades. The complementary colors balance each other out. Just a small touch of purple grayscales the brightness of yellow. This can produce soft goldenrod type hues.
As you increase the purple closer to 25-50% of the mix, olive and mossy greenish-yellows will start to form. These muted shades work well for recreation, military, or camouflage color palettes. Keep adding purple and eventually the yellow becomes overpowered and turns more violet.
Adding Blue
Blue is the complement to yellow’s warm tone. By adding small amounts of blue, around 5-15%, it quickly cools down bright yellow. This creates pleasant lemony pastel tones of yellow. Adding up to 25% blue starts to grey out the yellow, forming more greenish-yellows with earthy olive characteristics.
Once you go past 50% blue, the yellow fades into green and then blue overpowers it completely. So blue is a good choice for subtly muting strong yellows into cooler, softer shades.
Creating Tints of Yellow
Another way to gently darken yellow is by making it into a tint using gray or black. Take the original yellow and mix it with either gray or black in a ratio of 3 or 4 parts yellow to 1 part gray/black. The gray or black will act to mute and flatten the yellow without shifting the hue.
This technique works well for softening bright primary yellows into more subtle, professional tones. For example, a pale tint made with 25% black would transform a bold lemon yellow into a calm pale gold. Tints allow you to darken yellow in a very controlled way.
Dark Yellow Color Mixing Ratios
Here is a quick reference table summarizing the approximate mixing ratios needed to darken standard primary yellow using various colors:
| Color Added | Parts of Color Needed | Resulting Yellow Hue |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 5-20% | Golden yellow |
| Brown | 10-25% | Mustard |
| Red | 5-15% | Amber |
| Purple | 10-25% | Olive |
| Blue | 5-15% | Lemon |
Recommended Color Mixes
Here are some recommended color mixes for darkening yellow to achieve appealing shades:
- Saffron – 15 parts yellow, 1 part red
- Gold – 20 parts yellow, 1 part black
- Amber – 10 parts yellow, 1 part orange, 1 part red
- Mustard – 10 parts yellow, 3 parts red, 2 parts black
- Olive – 12 parts yellow, 3 parts green, 1 part black
The specific mixing ratios can be adjusted based on how light or dark you want the end result to be. Adding more black, brown, or blue will make the shade darker, while more yellow keeps it lighter. Play around with the mixes to find your perfect rich, darkened yellow.
Dark Yellow Color Uses
Here are some common uses and applications for shades of darkened yellow:
- Gold accents – Darkened yellow works well for an elegant gold highlight color.
- Warning signs – Safety yellow mixed with black grabs attention.
- Autumn themes – Earthy mustard and olive yellows fit fall color schemes.
- Vintage looks – Dirty, muted yellows give an aged, retro look.
- Warm neutrals – Soften black and grays by warming them with dirty yellow.
- Spice colors – Yellow mixed with red or brown evokes spices like turmeric.
- Natural materials – Dull, darkened yellows emulate wood, leather, straw.
The darker, richer shades of yellow pair well with other earth tones like greens, browns, oranges, and reds. They act as pleasant neutral backgrounds that aren’t too overpowering. Use shades of yellow for a splash of warmth and sunlight even when you want to tone down the brightness.
Choosing Dark Yellow Paint Colors
When selecting darkened yellow paint colors, you can reference paint brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams for recommended shades. Here are some top dark yellow paint color options:
- Aura – Benjamin Moore 139
- Cascade – Sherwin Williams SW9184
- Roycroft Suede – Benjamin Moore 1795
- Beeswax – Benjamin Moore 1011
- Corn Silk – Sherwin Williams SW9114
Benjamin Moore’s Aura is a beautiful soft muted yellow, almost like a pale mustard. Sherwin Williams’ Cascade is more of an earthy, greenish yellow. Roycroft Suede by Benjamin Moore is a nice light golden yellow beige. For a more intense golden tone, Beeswax is a popular choice. To go lighter, Corn Silk by Sherwin Williams is an airy, approachable pale yellow.
Test samples of any paint colors you are considering to see them in your actual space. Lighting conditions can alter how dark a color looks. Confidently choose the perfect warm, welcoming muted yellow paint for your walls.
Conclusion
Darkening yellow is simple by adding a secondary color like purple, blue, red, or brown. Black will also deepen yellow into elegant golden tones. For the most control, make yellow into a tint by mixing it with gray or black. Dark yellow works well for accent colors or for a cozy, earthy color palette. Muted shades of yellow create a comfortable welcoming background for any room.