60/30/10 Rule: The One Design Principle You Need to Know

Have you ever stepped into a room and instantly felt a sudden mood shift? Maybe it’s a sense of calmness, coziness, or perhaps a little discomfort? Sometimes a place just seems right, and other times, something feels a bit off, even if we can’t quite put our finger on why.

It is said that the environments we spend time in significantly impact our feelings and behavior, often in ways we don’t even realize. Even something as simple as the balance of colors in a room can affect our mood. This relates to the world of color psychology. It studies how colors, saturations, and values influence human perception, behavior, and emotional responses.

In interior design, striking the right color balance is essential for creating a harmonious and visually appealing space while setting the desired mood and atmosphere. One of the most effective techniques for achieving this is the 60/30/10 rule, a design principle that ensures a well-balanced color scheme.

As Emily Henderson, stylist and New York Times bestselling author of STYLED, puts it, “The 60-30-10 rule is like a recipe for color. It provides a simple framework for creating balanced and visually pleasing spaces.”

With that in mind, balance plays a crucial role in designing our spaces. By paying attention to color choices, you can create a space that not only looks good but also feels good.

Understanding the 60/30/10 Rule in Interior Design

Choosing the right colors for your space can feel overwhelming. With endless options and ideas, it’s hard to know where to begin. Instead of feeling confident in your choices, you might find yourself second-guessing everything. So, is there a simple way to make your room look effortlessly stylish and well put together?

The 60/30/10 rule is a game-changer in interior design, making it easy to craft beautifully balanced spaces with the perfect color distribution. This timeless guideline keeps things simple and cohesive, ensuring your design feels effortless rather than overwhelming.

Here’s how it works:

The 60% Rule – Dominant Color The dominant color covers about 60% of the space, setting the foundation and overall mood. It typically includes large areas like walls, floors, sofas, and major furniture pieces. Even though this color takes center stage, this shouldn’t overpower the space. It should create a balanced canvas for the other hues to shine.

The 30% Rule – Secondary Color This supporting color is the key for adding depth and contrast. Used in half the amount of the dominant color, it keeps the space dynamic yet well-blended. You can apply this in upholstery, curtains, bed linens, painted furniture, or even an accent wall. Choose a color that complements the dominant hue while adding visual interest.

The 10% Rule – Accent Color The final 10% of your color scheme is dedicated to those small but impactful details that bring your space to life. This can be your throw pillows, blankets, vases, picture frames, lamps, candles, and artwork. These pops of color inject personality and style, making the room thoughtfully designed.

Applying the 60/30/10 Rule with Multiple Colors

Many of us enjoy incorporating multiple colors, whether in fashion, design, branding, social media aesthetics, or even our personal spaces.

In the 60/30/10 rule, multiple colors can also be integrated by making slight adjustments. The 10% accent color can be split into two 5% accent colors, adding variety while still maintaining balance.

For instance, if your primary color is navy blue and your secondary color is beige, you can introduce vibrancy by using burnt orange and gold as your accent colors. Similarly, for a balanced yet lively atmosphere, you could opt for sage green as the dominant color, warm white as the supporting color, and mustard yellow and deep terracotta as the two accent colors.

You can explore diverse colors when designing your spaces, but it is also important to ensure they complement one another, which you can achieve by applying the rule.

As the 60/30/10 guideline provides an organized approach to color distribution, it is also an easy way to ensure everything feels cohesive without looking too matchy-matchy. This timeless interior design guideline ensures harmony in any space, whether you prefer modern, traditional, or eclectic styles.

The Role of Neutral Colors

The 60/30/10 rule primarily applies to pure hues, but to prevent a color palette from feeling overwhelming, neutrals like white, gray, and black can be great options. These tones, tints, and shades help balance a space and soften bold colors, bringing a more eye-pleasing environment.

Imagine a room with 60% navy blue, 30% warm beige, and 10% mustard yellow. Adding crisp white can lighten the space, creating a fresh and airy feel, while adding black deepens the colors, resulting in a more dramatic and intimate ambiance. Soft gray, meanwhile, tones down the hues, making them appear more muted and balanced. These neutral elements don’t just complement the palette, they shape the mood, making the space feel effortlessly inviting and well-coordinated.

By thoughtfully applying the 60/30/10 rule and considering the usage of neutral colors, you can create visually appealing and harmonious interior spaces.

The 60/30/10 rule is a great way to bring balance in your interiors, but choosing the right colors for your space can still be challenging. That’s where Extra Home Design comes in!

With our space planning service, we’ll guide you in choosing colors, materials, and layouts that align with your vision. Whether you’re refreshing a single room or reimagining your entire space, we’ll curate a design that reflects your style and needs.