60-30-10 Rule for Colour Cohesion

Being the most dominant aspect of your home decor, understanding how to utilise and scale colour is helpful in creating a cohesive and inviting space that feels effortless and harmonious. A great trick to use is the 60-30-10 rule. With a rainbow's worth of colours to employ there are many opportunities to create a space that feels overwhelming or united.

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What is the 60-30-10 rule

Put simply, to use this rule, employ 60% of a dominant colour, 30% of a secondary colour and 10% of an accent colour. the rule can also be broken down further however based on utilised space. 60% of the colour can be used on the largest part of the space like the wall, 30% in textiles and furnishings and the left-over 10% found in the decor.

Using this bathroom I’ve designed as an example, the 60-30-10 rule is evident. Approximately 60% of the colours used is a soft, blush-peachy pink, 30% is emerald green with 10% being the gold hardware and light fixtures.

The guide can also be used in other areas of design such as visual communication and graphic design. In this context, the most dominant colour would be the background, the secondary colour is seen in the text while the accent colour is demonstrated through buttons. This blog is an example of the rule!

The 60-30-10 rule is a classic technique used in interior design to create a modicum of balance in a space. This does not mean its the only way to use colour. Across the industry at the moment there is a rise is maximalist, eclectic styles that use colour is a completely different way. This is a simple technique is you’re nervous about adding colour and want some guidance however the beauty and what I love about interior design is the way its representative of us as people. If yo want to splash colour on every wall and surface because it makes you happy then that’s exactly what you should do, but you’re looking for structure and clarity in the use of colour, give the 60-30-10 rule a go!