THE BEATLES
From the yellow ochre of the first civilisations and the mineral pigments of the classical world to shades conjured through Medieval alchemy, humans have forever wanted to bottle sunshine; and we have done just that. Let the sunshine in with House of Hackney.
Yellow was used by ancient cultures to harness the power of the sun - one of the oldest and most central symbols to humanity. The sun god Helios wore yellow as he rode his golden chariot across the heavens, and in the yellow churches of Byzantium, worshippers were bathed in its divine light. Yellow’s luminous golden hue has always been an earthly representation of the optimism and sanctity of our brightest star.
Derived from the Old English ‘geolu’, meaning ‘to shine’, yellow is the perfect shade to bring the hope and warmth of the sun into the home.
The Alchemy of Yellow
For much of history, yellow has been revered as the colour of the gods - sacred, eternal and imperishable. Ancient Egyptians believed that the skin and bones of their deities were made of gold, and for the classical world, yellow was a symbol of light from above, protection and prosperity.
Ochre, a rich, earth pigment, was humanity’s first yellow, used to colour cave paintings and to decorate bodies. Used for millennia, the mineral orpiment was known in the ancient world as the closest imitation of gold. Made from deadly arsenic, Egyptians used it as a cosmetic, and legend tells of Roman emperor Caligula extracting real gold from it.
A manufactured version of orpiment became popular in the 17th century; known as King’s Yellow, the name came from Arabic alchemy, which describes the pigment and the mineral realgar as the ‘two kings’. Gamboge, another sulphide of arsenic harvested from trees, was used from the 8th century in China to paint illuminated manuscripts. Controversial Indian Yellow, made from the urine of cows fed only on mango leaves, was widely used in Europe from the 17th century but was banned in the 1800s.
This gave way to the modern mineral pigments cadmium and chrome yellow, seen in the celestial constellations of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Monet’s transcendent florals and George Seurat’s illuminating landscapes. It seems all that glitters is not always gold - sometimes it’s yellow.
This energising hue is known to uplift the spirits and enliven the mind, so is a great colour to use in offices, kitchens and bathrooms. A radiant shade, yellow reflects light around a room, making it feel lighter and brighter, opening up smaller spaces and narrow corridors.
Yellow can also add much needed warmth to cool, north-facing rooms and works beautifully in the bedroom - imagine waking up with the sun every day - even in Britain! Our yellow ochre paint GAMBOGE, warmed by an undercurrent of red, will imbue a rich yet soothing aesthetic to any room, making it the perfect bedfellow. Whether you want to coat every wall in the welcoming tones of yellow, or add spirit to an existing scheme with splashes of colour, shine on with House of Hackney.
Reach for the stars with the celestial tones of ORPIMENT - a shade rich in colour and history. For a mood-boosting touch of colour, introduce golden accessories like the Andrea Zanatelli x House of Hackney x Stop Ecocide BLUE ROSE WEEPING cushion in ‘Aurelian’, or a beautiful bespoke blind in Rainbow Rose or OPIA ‘Bronze’. You could paint woodwork and doors in a sunny shade like AURIC for a standout statement. Yellow hues add vitality to neutrals and blacks and create a luxurious statement when paired with jewel tones or layered with shades from the same colour family.
Whether you want to coat all four walls with wonder or need advice on how to introduce the harmonious hues of nature into your space, we are here for you. With a decade of experience, our in-house experts are ready to help you with everything from colour matching to creating your dream interior - no space is too small or project too big. For more information or to book your complimentary Design Consultation, simply follow the link below, and get ready to immerse yourself in the art of nature.
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By House of Hackney September 09, 2025
