design 101
The 60-30-10 Rule for Colour
Choosing colour feels like guesswork until you borrow a proportion that designers use all the time. The 60-30-10 rule splits a room's colour into three parts, and it keeps a scheme balanced without feeling flat or chaotic.
Give about 60 per cent to your main colour, usually the walls, a large rug and the biggest pieces of furniture. Give 30 per cent to a secondary colour, in things like upholstery and curtains. The last 10 per cent is your accent, in cushions, art and a lamp or two.
Pick your three colours, then hold the proportions. If a scheme feels bland, the accent is probably too small. If it feels busy, too many colours are competing for the same share. A room that follows the rule feels balanced and considered, even to people who cannot say why.
