Some colors are known to just go together. Think black and white (add red if you’re daring), blue and white, pink and brown (Neapolitan, anyone?). These classic combinations are easy to pull together and practically guaranteed on the coordinating front. Another classic that’s been enjoying the spotlight in recent years: gray and yellow.

Gray is still a top contender for the neutral du jour, and for good reason: just about every color complements it, and it’s not white or beige. The downside to gray is that too much of it (or too dark a shade, especially without adequate lighting) can go dreary very quickly.

The perfect color to add some sunshine cheer to a gray-skied room is, naturally, yellow. The combination is simultaneously bright and serious, happy and solemn, bright yet toned down. For a more muted option, try shades of mustard or pale yellow for a similar (though less dramatic) effect than sunny yellow.

Check out these examples of gray and yellow perfection.

Start out your day with a brightening bang – but not too squint-inducing – in a gray and yellow bathroom:

Gray in the bedroom is restful for nighttime; add some yellow to help get you going when your alarm rings:

Gray and yellow is the ideal gender-neutral combination for kids’ rooms, an excellent choice for shared rooms and unisex nurseries:

(And that extra pop of teal is just swoon-worthy!)

With a kitchen like this, who needs coffee?

Use it throughout the house to spread the joy in any room:

What’s your favorite classic color combo?