What Colors Make Mustard Yellow?

Are you curious what colors make mustard yellow? We will share the answer along with some info about using this color in design.

A reminder of warmth, coziness, and even hope, mustard yellow evokes a sense of positivity in just about anyone. A tad darker and ‘duller’ compared to the effervescent and bright yellows you may be used to, mustard yellow is perhaps the more mature version of the color you originally loved.

Apart from being a perennial favorite in pop culture films, fashion design, and even interiors, mustard yellow calls to mind perhaps one of the world’s most popular condiments.

Compared to other shades in the spectrum, this brownish, orangey-yellow is universally flattering – on walls or on figures, leading journalists and even industries embrace this millennial color.

If you are one of the many people who have been lusting over this hue, knowing how to achieve this color is essential.

Below is a nifty guide on the ideal mixing strategies to achieve this hue and how you can incorporate this lovely color from your wardrobe to your artistic pursuits.

Read on to learn more…

Color Theory and the Color Wheel in Review

Before we dive headfirst into discussing the ins and outs of color mixing, it’s important that we first discuss the fundamentals. This means shining the limelight onto color theory and the color wheel.

As a child, you may have been introduced to the color wheel. In many ways, the color wheel is used as the basis of color theory, primarily because it illustrates the relationship between hues.

Color theory, on the other hand, determines which colors work together.

There are two kinds of color wheels, namely the RYB, or the red, yellow, and blue color wheel, and the RGB, or the red, green, and blue color wheel.

For this purpose, we will be discussing the former as it sheds light on how to manually combine pigments together, while the latter is geared towards manipulating light and hues for a computer or screen.

Fundamental Hues

At the core of color theory are the different types of colors found within the wheel. These are the primary, secondary, and tertiary hues.

The primary colors are made up of red, yellow, and blue.

To achieve a secondary pigment, two primary hues must be combined. This category consists of orange, violet, and green.

Lastly, tertiary hues are achieved by mixing one primary color with one secondary. Their end results are yellow-orange, red-orange, blue-green, yellow-green, red-violet, and blue-violet.

What Colors Make Mustard Yellow

Now that you know how colors are combined together, you likely have an idea as to what colors make mustard yellow.

Since mustard yellow belongs in the yellow spectrum, with darker and deeper hues, you might have realized what making this entails.

To answer this burning question, creating mustard yellow requires yellow as a base color, then adding in hints of red gradually.

A touch of orange and brown should also be added to the equation.

In the event you don’t have orange on hand, you can simply combine red and yellow together.

For brown, you can easily mix all of three primary hues in equal parts.

To help you achieve your desired outcome, make sure to add a small amount at a time. This will allow you to gauge how much more of each pigment you’ll need.

Mustard Yellow in Design and Pop Culture

Once dubbed as a Gen Z hue, mustard yellow seems to be everywhere you look – even after its ‘prime.’ Because of its versatility and its ability to complement a lot of skin tones, this shade is actually preferred by people of all ages.

Its flattering shade pairs well with numerous other pieces in just about any wardrobe.

Case in point: mustard yellow’s presence in the 2019 Paris fashion week.

Notable designers have used this hue to unveil their newest designs. Margiela paired this color with maroon, Dries Van Noten with red, and Lanvin with an oxblood accent.

Although it’s not neutral, it pairs – and offsets – other tones. We imagine this would pair beautifully with your neutrals, but would also work well with teal, blue, and emerald tones for a luxe feel.

In art, you might notice that the color is also present in Girl with a Pearl Earring, created in 1665 by Johannes Vermeer. Regal and classic, this hue represents the royals whose beauty transcends time.

Set against a stark black background, the sheen of the mustard yellow robe or kimono perfectly captures the light which shines upon it, that is, together with the pearl earring.

In film and pop culture references, one use of mustard yellow is in Wes Anderson’s creations.

From Foxy’s mustard yellow suit in Fantastic Mr. Fox to Natalie Portman’s iconic bathrobe in Hotel Chevalier, Anderson masterfully creates a world that is magnified by colors such as this.

The Bottom Line

Mustard yellow continues to be one of the well-loved hues of the day. Signifying hope, positivity, maturity, and even the past, you would do well not only to incorporate this tone in your everyday life but also in knowing how to create it.

We hope that this article helped you understand more about this color and what colors make mustard yellow. Thanks for tuning in!