10 Butter-Yellow Kitchens You'll Want To Copy Immediately

Some shades of yellow send shivers down spines — you know, that bold, in-your-face, blinding brightness that sparks flashbacks to the 1980s. Yet, enter 2025, and with it welcome the concept of butter-yellow. This creamy, dreamy alternative is giving the color a chance to clear its name — and it's proving a hit for kitchen designs.

The muted effect is more approachable than overpowering shades. With that softer tone, there is a mellow warmth and nostalgia to butter-yellow kitchens, as this color harks back to some 1950's kitchens. And, while this unlikely color is primarily making its way onto kitchen cabinets for a trendy look, there's no singular way to incorporate it into your space. Fabrics, shelves, islands, and backsplashes: There's a long list of strategies for breathing butter-yellow color into a dull kitchen. If you're tempted to take the plunge, scope out the success stories first. Here are 10 butter-yellow kitchens you'll want to copy immediately.

Shelving is an underrated feature that can easily make a statement. There are many reasons to choose open shelving (besides it being one of the British-inspired kitchen design trends you should follow). It creates a display space, keeps items accessible, and adds a sense of openness and depth. Choose butter-yellow for your shelves to dip your toes in without going as far as color-drenching. Think of it as a feature wall.

For that whimsical, old-worldly feel, paneling is a smart way to incorporate color and soften texture in one fell swoop. In this kitchen, the designer has opted to contrast the butter-yellow cabinets with off-white tongue-and-groove walls. For a bolder look, you could also color-drench the space, keeping butter-yellow throughout.

We all know that color-drenching your kitchen is a bold decision that can have an amazing impact. In this kitchen, the designer has chosen a butter-yellow palette that extends (almost) from floor to ceiling. Done wrong, this could feel overpowering. However, the vintage-style fabrics add a softening contrast — note the ruffled cupboard curtains, country-style cloths, and paneling. It's a prime example of texture complementing color.

Islands are a big deal; this feature is one of the kitchen trends we're following in 2025. A kitchen island adds elegance to cooking spaces, and another opportunity to incorporate a trending color. This pale butter-yellow island has fluted sides for added play on texture, and perfectly complements the slightly more richly colored butter-yellow cabinets. 

Are you a silver or gold person? Metals bring out different undertones — and when introducing butter-yellow to your kitchen, metal features can tip the balance. Here, the designer has chosen brass fixtures and displayed copper pans. These metals have a rustic warmth that complements the butter-yellow cabinets. The Property Brothers say that choosing a single-metal is an outdated kitchen design rule worth breaking, so don't be scared of picking a warm metallic palette.

Biophilic designs are having a moment, and arches are the perfect feature to tap into the curves of nature. This kitchen uses arched cabinets to lean into the lightness of butter-yellow, creating a peaceful aesthetic and distinctive design. It's a match made in heaven. Adding creamy yellow arches just became one of our favorite ways to fill the awkward space above your kitchen cabinets.

Backsplashes have been on quite the journey. Have you heard that bold colors like Tuscan yellows and lipstick reds are among the kitchen backsplash trends that are out in 2025? This kitchen is aligned with current trends of color-drenching in calming butter-yellow tones with an elegantly subtle backsplash. There's a definite cohesiveness to this feature, and the yellow adds a softer element than you'd get from bolder palettes and designs. 

Not everyone cares about the latest trends. If hopping in a time machine is your idea of heaven, embrace butter-yellow in retro form. Choosing glossy cabinets with rounded edges is one of the best ways to design the retro kitchen of your dreams. Texture and shape are the biggest giveaways of which era a kitchen is channeling.

Backsplashes cover the wall behind risky features like hobs and sinks, protecting them from mess or damp. However, if you're careful (or committed to cleaning and redecorating more regularly), it's possible to design kitchens without them. This kitchen is a perfect compromise: The countertop extends slightly up the wall to provide some protection, but the rest is painted butter-yellow for a cozy effect.

Have you heard of bistros? Picture Parisian cafes with spindly stools and cramped tables; these intimate restaurants are focused on coziness and community. This kitchen nods to a bistro design with its centrally placed table and stools, while also incorporating trending butter-yellow through its cabinets. It injects warmth and a lived-in feeling to this cooking space — could this be a European edge for your kitchen?