Mustard Yellow Painted Furniture
As the leaves change and the cooler mornings and evenings set in, I’m inspired to embrace all things fall. One of my favorite colors for fall is a mustard yellow, like the golden yellow leaves that fall from the trees. And, there’s no better way to embrace the warmth and richness of fall than with golden yellow paint colors. This vibrant and earthy color can transform any piece of furniture into something new. In this blog post, we will explore mustard yellow painted furniture and hopefully you’ll be inspired to use this color in your home this fall.
And before we get started, if you are totally new to painting furniture check out this post for helpful tips on getting started on the right foot: Chalk Mineral Paint Basics.

Mustard Yellow Paint
Mustard yellow is a very warm, earthy, rich color. It has become a popular choice for furniture makeovers. This color is like autumn leaves. It adds warmth and brightness to any room. And It can fit in with many design styles, such as rustic, modern, or vintage.
A piece of furniture painted in mustard yellow can be the main attraction of a room or a complimentary piece. Whether it’s a small side table, a cozy armchair, or a large dresser, mustard yellow paint breathes new life into furniture, infusing your space with a touch of fall year-round.
Mustard Yellow Chalk Paint
Nearly all the most well-known chalk and chalk mineral furniture paint brands offer a color of paint that is shade of deep golden or mustard yellow.
Great Mustard Yellow Chalk Mineral Paints To Try:
- Wise Owl’s ‘Goldenrod, Dijon, and Turmeric
- Country Chic’s Fresh Mustard
- Dixie Belle’s Chalk Mineral Paint in Colonel Mustard
- Dixie Belle Silk Paint in Mojave-this one is a little more brownish yellow
- Annie Sloan’s Arles and Satin Paint in Carnaby Yellow
- Fusion’s Mineral Paint’s Mustard
- Amy Howard’s Holey Moley
Each shade of mustard yellow is a little different,. Some of these mustard yellows are a bit warmer and deeper tones than others. But the yellow we are talking about here is not a summery, bright yellow but a deep, rich warm yellow that reminds us of fall.
Mustard Yellow Chalk Painted Home Décor
Mustard yellow paint is not just for furniture. It is a great choice for painted fall home décor. It is the perfect color for painting pumpkins, a classic fall decoration.
Also picture frames, flower pots, and vases can also be painted in mustard yellow for a quick and affordable seasonal update.
With mustard yellow painted furniture or home décor, your home can feel like fall all year round.
In these posts you’ll find fall DIY painted home décor inspiration:



What Colors Does Mustard Yellow Chalk Paint Coordinate With?
Mustard yellow as we said, is a warm and vibrant hue. As such, it pairs well with a variety of other colors and finishes in the home. Pair mustard yellow furniture with cool tones like cool grays or dusty blue walls and your space will look more modern and bright. But for a bolder look, consider pairing it with other rich jewel tones like emerald green or deep magenta or navy.
Also I love to pair mustard yellow with wood finishes and stains. They complement mustard yellow beautifully. Dark woods like walnut or mahogany can provide a gorgeous contrast, while lighter woods like oak or pine can work well also. Next, we’ll talk about how to paint furniture with mustard yellow paint.
One of my favorite gel stain colors to coordinate with mustard yellow is General Finishes Java Gel or Minwax Polyshades Espresso. Read more about gel stains here – How To Apply Gel Stain


How To Prep Furniture For Mustard Yellow Chalk Paint
As with any painted furniture makeover, we start by preparing the piece. Here are some helpful posts to get you started:
So let’s talk about the basic steps in prepping furniture for painting. Remember not every step is necessary for every piece of furniture:
- Remove any hardware
- Clean it thoroughly to ensure there’s no dust, grease, or grime that could interfere with the paint’s adhesion.
- Apply wood glue or wood filler to any gouges or nicks if needed. Then sand smooth once dry.
- If the furniture has a glossy finish, give it a light sanding to create a surface the paint can stick to. You can also sand out any scratches or rough spots.
- If needed, apply a primer if necessary, especially if the existing color is dark or bold.
When To Prime Before Painting Furniture
Priming is always a good idea, but not always necessary. Some painters always prime for each and every makeover. The choice is yours.
Primer is helpful if you are painting over a dark finish or a wood finish that will bleed through, like mahogany.
If you choose to primer for mustard yellow paint, use a light gray or white primer color, or you can use clear. I tend to use light gray the most. Check out this post for more help on primers – Primer For Painted Furniture.
My favorite primers are:
Zinsser BIN Shellac Based Primer (spray and brush on)



How To Paint Furniture With Mustard Yellow Chalk Paints
Once your prep work is done, use a good quality synthetic brush or a foam roller to apply the mustard yellow paint. Begin with a thin, even layer, and let it dry completely before applying another coat. each paint brand will have different dry time, so read the label for re-coating and cure times.
For a list of good painting supplies and the best brushes check out – Best Brushes For Painting Furniture and Furniture Painting Supplies.
For a richer, deeper color, you may want to apply multiple coats. Remember to allow adequate drying time between each coat to achieve a smooth and professional-looking finish. I most often do at least two coats and sometimes three depending on the coverage.
Finally, seal your masterpiece with a clear protective finish to maintain its freshly painted look and protect it from wear and tear. This finish can be a poly sealant or a wax. Whichever you prefer and also dependent on which paint brand you chose. Read this post for more help on which topcoat to use – Protect And Seal Painted Furniture.
Mustard Yellow Painted Furniture Makeovers
Next, let’s check out some mustard and golden yellow painted furniture makeovers.
Mustard Yellow Painted Furniture
Explore mustard yellow painted furniture makeovers from various furniture artists. Musard yellow furniture paint inspires warmth with it's deep rich hue reminiscent of golden fall leaves falling from the trees.
You can bring that richness inside by painting furniture with this beautiful color. It will add a pop of color to any space and warm up any room!
Now let's check out some gorgeous furniture makeovers by isnpring furniture paitners and artists.
This nightstand was painted with a mixture of Dixie Belle Colonel Mustard and Buttercream. A stencil design with the most easy to use Stick-N-Style Stencil by Redesign with Prima was added. Additionally the top was gel stained with Java Gel for a beautiful combination of golden yellow chalk paints and dark wood stain.
This makeover featured that same combination of Dixie Belle Colonel Mustard and Buttercream to make a golden yellow. Then I accented with Best Dang Wax in Brown using the Dixie Belle French Tip Brush.
Another fun feature is the stencil design on top with the Morocco Stencil by Dixie Belle and their Colorful Tiles Decoupage Paper.
Check out this absolutely gorgeous chippy farmhouse style dresser makeover by Natalie at A Ray Of Sunlight. Get all the details on her blog post.
She used Shackteau Interior's Milk Paint in a Dusty Yellow. I haven't tried milk paint yet, but this makeover inspires me to try it!
Oh my! This one is so adorable! Natalie repurposed a sewing table into a little desk and it is just perfect. As is all of her work. Read her post to learn more.
This one is another Milk Paint makeover in a golden mustard yellow.
Bre at Brepurposed Design painted a small dresser/nightstand in a gorgeous mustard yellow color. And she added a stencil design to really make it special. You'll have to click the link to see how this one turned out!
She used the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Arles. I've got to try this color myself!
Over on Thirty Eighth Street Blog this furniture artist shows off a stunning dresser makeover using a mustard yellow chalk paint by Country Chic.
Read her blog post to see all the details and get a look at the final finished result. It will be worth your time. It's a beauty for sure!
This mustard yellow painted beauty by Reeves at The Weathered Door is just stunning. She painted it with a milk paint. Read more about this makeover and see the details on her blog.
Do at Do Dodson Design shows off her chalk painted blending and layering skills with this makeover. Using Dixie Belle Colonel Mustard and two other shades she blend the paint for a soft rich finish.
At Salvaged Inspirations, Denise painted this sweet vintage dresser with Miss Mustard See Mustard See Yellow Milk Paint. It is so sweet and lovely. Read all the details and see more photos on her blog.
Here is an end table makeover from Stacks and Flats showing off the beauty of the Miss Mustard Seek Milk Paint she used. Check out her blog for more details.
This decorative table got a beautiful new paint job with Annie Sloan Arles. You can see that the beautiful stained tabletop goes perfectly. Read more details in the blog post.
Kathy at Petticoat Junktion used Miss Mustad Seed Milk Paint on this sweet wooden table to achieve this beautiful finish. It looks just perfect painted in this mustard yellow milk paint. Read her blog post to see more details on the paint she used.
And last, but not least, is this dresser makeover by Denise at Salvaged Inspirations. She shows off amazing skills at blending paints to refinish this piece. Using various shades of Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint for this project, she revives it to such a beauty. Read her post for all the details.
Summary – Mustard Yellow Painted Furniture
A furniture piece painted in mustard yellow painted brings the warm, rich colors of fall into your home. It evokes a sense of richness and comfort. And, painting a piece of furniture mustard yellow can add a gorgeous pop of color as well as create a statement piece.
With the right preparation, paint, and tools, any furniture piece can be transformed into something new. I hope this blog post inspired you to add this beautiful warm color to your space this fall!