Pumpkin-spice, moss-green, and earthier versions of every summer color trend crop up like clockwork as soon as September strikes, so it’s refreshing when fall color schemes stray from tradition with something unexpected.
Meet: mustard and burgundy, the rich, characterful, and always comforting color combination that gently alludes to autumn while still looking elevated. While the red and yellow color combination has long been loved, designers are embracing the deeper, richer, more saturated version of the pairing this season.
‘Mustard yellow and burgundy work harmoniously to bring warmth into a space, making them a particularly effective color combination as the seasons turn and cooler natural light sets in,’ says Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing at Benjamin Moore. ‘The rich, warm hues create a welcoming backdrop for autumn, balancing boldness with earthy undertones that bring a cozy, seasonal glow indoors.’
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In this rustic kitchen, an earthy red island and yellow cabinetry sing beside the moody olive paint.
(Image credit: Palmer and Stone / Chris Snook)
Burgundy and yellow work perfectly alongside the olive green cabinets in the charming farmhouse kitchen. The scheme was inspired by nature, uplifting those earthy olive tones with the vibrant yellow and rich red. ‘The large window over the sink at the back of the kitchen overlooks a beautiful and lovingly tended garden, which was a great source of color inspiration,’ explains Laura Parkinson, director of design studio Palmer and Stone. ‘It had previously felt very cold, so part of our brief was to create a warm and inviting kitchen for our client who are keen cooks.’
‘Following the surge of interest in burgundy in clothing fashion, we’ve definitely seen a rise in interest in using it within the home. Our studio color palettes tend to keep to a more natural or tonal base, and then we might add a brighter, or more ‘acid’, color into the mix to cut through,’ Laura continues. ‘In this case, we’ve used a warm red-burgundy that feels very natural alongside an orange-yellow that is much sharper. The addition of a few other colors in the mix (in this case khaki green and a deep sky blue) stops the yellow and red from overwhelming the space.’
Edward Bulmer’s Trumpington sits behind a deep red sofa in this eclectic living room.
(Image credit: Interior Design: Bucknall James / Photographer: Luke Barton)
‘As this is a north-facing room, bringing in warmth was our priority,’ explains Rachel Taylor, founder of interior design studio Bucknall James and designer of this living room. ‘Despite the huge windows, the previous off-white walls left the space feeling rather flat, so we knew color would be key. Our client fell in love with the Ikat rug by Luke Irwin, and this became the starting point for the rest of the scheme.’
‘We wanted to create that cozy, enveloping feeling that draws you in on a gloomy winter’s day, the kind of room where you light the fire and settle down to watch a film,’ Rachel explains. ‘At the same time, it was equally important that it didn’t feel dark or heavy, so Edward Bulmer’s Trumpington on the walls felt like the perfect balance. Come summer, the light flooding through the windows transforms the room into a sunny, uplifting space.’
‘The combination of mustard and earthy burgundy works particularly well paired with brown antiques to ground the scheme and add depth,’ Rachel adds. ‘Adding pattern to break up any block colors softens the impact as well as connecting the colors, like the rug, artwork and cushions in this project. Warm, autumnal tones especially are being embraced, and it’s easy to see why, as they are so pleasing to live with. For us, this project was about creating a space warm and cocooning, yet still light, cheerful, and full of life.’
A combination of Farrow & Ball’s Cane, Cats Paw and Etruscan Red bring enduring warmth to this sitting room.
(Image credit: Boz Gagovski )
The ochre yellow paint and rich burgundy paint bring an effortless warmth to this cozy living room too, adding a sense of heritage and character. ‘I’ve always been drawn to those slightly muddy, earthy colors that you find in old houses,’ says Russell Loughlan, founder of The House on Dolphin Street. ‘I didn’t want the room to feel as though it had been designed around a color scheme, though,’ he adds. ‘It’s much more about layering things that I love, so old furniture, ceramics, textiles, and letting the colors build up naturally. I think rooms are much more interesting when everything isn’t perfectly matched.’
‘Burgundy and mustard have that wonderful, slightly old-fashioned quality to them, which I mean in the best possible way. They’re colors you see in old textiles, paintings and historic interiors, so even though they feel very relevant at the moment, there’s something quite timeless about them too,’ he adds.
‘I think the key is not to be too literal with them. I wouldn’t necessarily have a mustard wall and then feel I needed to find exactly the right burgundy to go with it,’ Russell advises. ‘It’s much nicer to work with variations like ochre, tobacco and warm yellow alongside rust, oxblood and deep red. That slight mismatch is what makes a room feel layered rather than decorated.’
‘I also like one color to do more of the work. In this room, the ochre is the backdrop and the burgundy comes through much more strongly in the furniture, so they’re not fighting for attention. And then I’d bring in plenty of things that aren’t really ‘colors’ at all, so old/dark wood, aged brass, natural linen, dark brown, ceramics.’
Pale mustard cabinetry and an oxblood kitchen island bring real character to this light-filled kitchen.
(Image credit: Lucinda Kellaway Photography )
While deep red and yellow aren’t a typical kitchen color combination, they’re a great way to introduce depth and character to the cooking space. Hence, interior designer Lucinda Kellaway applied a pink-tinted burgundy paint to this kitchen island and used a pale mustard shade on the kitchen cabinetry.
‘I wanted the kitchen to feel warm and welcoming, but with a bit of drama. The rich burgundy island brings depth and character, while the yellow is softer and sunnier for balance,’ Lucinda explains. ‘Yellow and burgundy certainly seem to be a combination to watch right now, but they’re also colors with heritage roots and real longevity. I think we’re all becoming braver with color again, which is lovely!’
When pairing the two together, refrain from being too literal. ‘I wouldn’t try to match the accessories too closely,’ adds Lucinda. ‘I’d bring in natural materials like wood, warm whites, and a little pattern to create contrast. The aim is for everything to feel layered and considered, rather than overly coordinated.’
When bringing two rich shades like mustard and deep red into the home, paint expert Helen says it’s crucial to let one color lead. ‘To create balance between these saturated shades, use the 60:30:10 rule – allowing one color to take the lead, the other to work as an accent, and a warm neutral to anchor the scheme.’
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