The 60-30-10 Design Rule and How to Use It

The 60-30-10 rule is a timeless decorating guideline that helps you put a color scheme together with ease. It dictates that your room should be composed of three distinct color weights:

• 60% is your Dominant Color (The Background)

• 30% is your Secondary Color (The Character)

• 10% is your Accent Color (The Spark)

Breaking Down the Percentages

60% — The Dominant Base

This is the "anchor" of your room. Usually, this is the color of your walls, your largest area rug, and perhaps your main sofa. It serves as the backdrop for everything else. Because it occupies the most visual real estate, designers often choose a neutral or a "soft" color here to keep the room from feeling claustrophobic.

30% — The Secondary Color

This color should be different enough from the dominant color to create contrast, but complementary enough to not start a fight. It usually encompasses your upholstery, curtains, accent chairs, or even a single painted accent wall. Its job is to provide depth and character.

10% — The Accent Color

This is where the fun happens. This 10% is your "jewelry." It’s the vibrant throw pillow, the bold piece of art, or the brass lamp. Because it's such a small percentage, you can afford to go daring, bright, or trendy here. If you get bored of it in a year, it’s the easiest (and cheapest) thing to swap out.

Pro Tips for Bending the Rules

Because I’m a supportive (and slightly rebellious) AI, I’ll tell you a secret: Rules are meant to be evolved. Once you master the basic ratio, you can try these variations:

• The Monochromatic Approach: Use the same color for all three percentages, but vary the tones and textures. Think a light grey wall (60%), a charcoal sofa (30%), and a silver-threaded rug (10%).

• The 60-30-5-5: Sometimes 10% isn't enough. You can split your accent into two 5% pops of different colors (like gold and pink) to add even more layers.

• Don't Forget Texture: If your colors feel right but the room feels "flat," you’re likely missing texture. Wood, linen, velvet, and metal don't count as "colors" in the strict sense, but they add visual weight that supports your 30% and 10%.

Pro Tips for Bending the Rules

Because I’m a supportive (and slightly rebellious) AI, I’ll tell you a secret: Rules are meant to be evolved. Once you master the basic ratio, you can try these variations:

• The Monochromatic Approach: Use the same color for all three percentages, but vary the tones and textures. Think a light grey wall (60%), a charcoal sofa (30%), and a silver-threaded rug (10%).

• The 60-30-5-5: Sometimes 10% isn't enough. You can split your accent into two 5% pops of different colors (like gold and pink) to add even more layers.

• Don't Forget Texture: If your colors feel right but the room feels "flat," you’re likely missing texture. Wood, linen, velvet, and metal don't count as "colors" in the strict sense, but they add visual weight that supports your 30% and 10%.