What is the 60/30/10 decorating rule?

The 60-30-10 color rule has to do with proportions. These proportions prevent the chosen colors from looking too overwhelming or, alternatively, from being too minimalist to notice them.

What is the 60/30/10 decorating rule?

The 60-30-10 color rule has to do with proportions. These proportions prevent the chosen colors from looking too overwhelming or, alternatively, from being too minimalist to notice them. In a nutshell, the 60-30-10 rule is a decorating trick that allows you to create a balanced color combination more easily. To achieve a balanced, well-designed look, 60 percent of the room should be one color (the dominant color), 30 percent a complementary color (the secondary color), and 10 percent a color of accent.

Study the images of professional-style rooms in home decor magazines or on HGTV, and you'll see that this rule works for most of them. Before running to the paint or household goods store, think about the space you want to decorate according to the 60-30-10 rule. And 10% can be made up of pillows, bedside lamps and any decorative element you may have on your dresser. Design expertise in your inbox: from inspirational decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening tips and shopping summaries.

And as you decorate, you may have come across the 60-30-10 rule and wondered what it is and how you can apply it in your own home. If you are a decoration rebel and prefer to follow your design and color combination rules or want more than three options to express your color ideas, there are ways to do this while still creating a chromatic balance in your home. Your room has completely white walls and a white sectional sofa (60%), neutral floors, upholstered side tables and side chairs (30%), and single-color details in the room with decorative pillows, artwork, and other small items (10%). The 60-30-10 rule is essential because it can make it easier to choose a color and help you achieve balance in the decor.

Experts explain this decorating rule, how to achieve the look and when you should ignore it. The 10 is your accent color, which will be represented on approximately 10% of your furniture, perhaps in cushions, decorative objects, lamps or works of art. If you're looking at a lot of inspiring decoration images, but you're not sure where to start with your own color or design project, we're here to help. Decorating your home should be exciting and inspiring, but the number of different color options, trends, and design ideas can make it quite confusing and overwhelming.

Teresa Bitler has been covering moving, real estate, home improvement and home decor for more than 15 years. You can add it with works of art, cushions, lamps, small furniture such as an ottoman, candles and small decorative pieces.