This is not an exaggeration — I’ve spent a year and a half trying to find the perfect shade of yellow to paint my house.

If you’ve ever deliberated over shades of paint, you know its a special kind of tired. You second-guess yourself, your eyes start to play tricks on you and your perspective constantly shifts as the day's light transforms.

But finally, 18 months in, I have completed this quest for the perfect butter yellow paint. Here's a little insight as to why it took so long. 

I thought it would be EASY. “Butter yellow,” I said confidently. Turns out butter yellow means something different to everyone. Too lemon and it feels a bit Amalfi coast tourist shop. Too cream, it's anemic. Too beige, too boring.

I started collecting paint cards. Lots of them. Most of my time was spent standing in the Bunnings paint aisle, holding tiny rectangles up to the light, squinting, walking outside, then back in again. I’m sure I looked a little unwell...or had started getting funny looks for lingering too long (a.k.a. Put on shop-lifter watch. Those baggy pants can carry things).

Yellow is surprisingly emotional. It can feel warm and generous. As Vincent Van Gogh once said,"how wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun". It’s a defining feature of his works, prevalent across so many iconic pieces: Sunflowers, The Bedroom, The Yellow House.

But it can also be completely wrong, depending on the time of day. Morning yellow is very different to afternoon yellow. Winter yellow is another thing entirely. It possibly is the most confusing colour on the wheel.

It’s also an incredibly divisive colour often cited as one of the most disliked, alongside brown. Depending on its shade, it can be warm, energising, joyful and optimistic. At its worst, it can be abrasive, angering and agitating.

But as an artist, I love yellow. It’s Food For Everyone’s primary colour. My wedding dress was yellow, and I carried a single giant teddy bear sunflower with me down the aisle. It’s joyfulness and optimism prevails for me.

And so the quest for the perfect shade continued. I’d been living with half-painted door frames for about nine months now. My husband very kindly does not ask questions. He is, truly, a living angel. Especially when you consider that the light can change a shade of yellow into about a thousand different personalities in one single day, which only made my decision harder.

There was one point, where I thought “I’ve cracked this” and bought a 4 litre tin. But on a grand scale, it wasn’t what i thought … it was so bad. I got it so wrong. Anyway, I have a tin of not-quite-right yellow in my shed if anyone is interested in taking it off my hands.

Anyway, you’ll be happy to hear that I’ve finally found it. The perfect yellow. Think old Italian villa. Absolutely splendid! I can confirm these tones are slightly more dusty and rich - they got some vibe to them.

Drumroll please, the perfect shade of yellow: Gentle Sands by Dulux

And as my runner up, Camel Cord by Dulux a little more toned down, but just as joyful.

Also this is not an ad, just a public service announcement to save you time and your sanity.