Don’t be afraid of a little trial and error.

Yellow can be difficult to picture accurately, so it may take a few attempts before you find the shade you had in mind. “Color doesn’t cost you much to experiment with,” Jayne says. “Paint is one of your least expensive media. I’m big on painting blocks of a color on walls so you can live with it and see if you like it.” After a few days, you’ll have a clearer sense of whether that daffodil hue is refreshingly jaunty or just plain overstimulating.

In this space: A lemon-yellow accent wall helps to brighten and define the recessed niche in this dining area, adding just enough color to draw the eye. Pops of yellow in the artwork pull the hue out into the room.

RESOURCES: Interiors by Joan Jacomini Herring Designs, 713/862-8146; floral design by Bergner and Johnson Design, 713/662-3769, www.bergnerandjohnson.com.

NextWhen you’re mixing different yellows in a room, as a rule, more is more.