The rule says that the main color of the room (usually the color of the walls) occupies 60% of the color area. The secondary color (e.g. furniture or carpet) should make up 30%, while the accent color (e.g. cushions or artwork) is only 10%. This distribution balances colors and prevents one color from becoming overwhelming.

What does this rule mean?

The 60-30-10 rule is a color scheme system in which 60% of the room's area is the main color, 30% is a secondary color, and 10% is an accent color. It serves as a guide when designing living spaces and helps to create a balanced color concept. The main color is usually applied on the walls while the second color is used on smaller items like furniture or curtains. Finally, the accent color is used on accessories and smaller items.

Using the 60-30-10 rule

The 60-30-10 rule is an important guide in interior design and should be considered in any design project. The walls form the main surface of a room and should therefore be chosen carefully to create a harmonious base. Choosing a dominant color forms the basis of the space and can be complemented by a secondary color (30%) and an accent color (10%). The secondary color should provide a contrast to the dominant color through accessories or pieces of furniture, while the accent color adds the finishing touch to the room through typical accessories such as lampshades or artwork.

How many colors should you use?

To apply the 60-30-10 rule, you first determine the main color that occupies 60% of the space. This color should be used on the walls and serves as a background for the other colors. The next color, occupying 30% of the space, is the secondary color. This color can be used on furniture, curtains, carpet , or as an accent wall, providing contrast to the main color. The last color, which only takes up 10% of the space, is the accent color. This color should be used in accessories, artwork and lampshades to complete and contrast the decorating scheme.

How to break this 60-30-10 rule?

It can also be useful to deliberately break the 60-30-10 rule to achieve certain effects or to have greater creative freedom. This can happen, for example, by overemphasizing one color or using more than three colors. However, it's important to note that deviating too much from this scheme can leave a room looking chaotic or unbalanced. It is therefore advisable to exercise some caution and ensure that the overall design is well thought out.