Ghid 11Design Rules

The 60-30-10 color rule

Most rooms that look “like they’re from a magazine” follow the same ratio, consciously or not: one dominant color, one that supports it, and a small but noticeable accent.

5 min de citit

Composition

A blue accent in a warm bathroom

Walls and floor in beige (60%), wood and warm gray (30%), blue at the bathtub and sink (10%). The accent is repeated twice, so it looks intentional.

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60 · 30 · 10dominant, secondary, accent

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În compoziție

60%

Dominant color
Walls, floors, large panels. Usually a neutral shade.
30%

Secondary color
Furniture, large textiles, doors. Supports dominance.
10%

The accent
Lights, accessories, plants, art. The color that catches the eye.

The distribution of colors in a room.

Sketch

Proportion, on a strip

Think of the room as a total surface area divided into three. The walls and floor are the largest surface, so they get the dominant color. The furniture gets the secondary color. The accent remains for the small objects.

How the rule works

The rule divides the colors of a room into three groups, based on the surface area they occupy:

60% dominant color: walls, floor, ceiling, large panels. Usually a neutral shade: warm white, beige, gray, greige.
30% secondary color: large furniture, sofa, curtains, doors, bathroom furniture.
10% accent: pillows, lighting, accessories, plants, paintings, a colorful bathtub.

Room examples

Room	60%	30%	10%
Warm living room	beige and warm white	walnut wood, gray sofa	gold chandelier and wall lights
Calm bedroom	greige	light wood, textiles in	sage green, plants
Contemporary bathroom	light gray tiles	anthracite furniture	black faucets, wood
Warm bathroom	beige marble	wood and stone	brushed gold

How to choose the accent

The accent is the color that gives the room its personality. Because it only occupies 10%, it can be bold: an intense blue, a dark green, a burgundy red, gold. To make it look intentional, repeat it at least two or three times in the room: the chandelier and the picture frame, the bathtub and the sink, the pillows and the vase.

Metals and lighting count as an accent

The metal finish of the light fixtures, faucets, and handles is part of the 10%. A gold chandelier in a neutral living room is already the room's accent; it doesn't need three more strong colors around it.

Designer's tip: before you buy, place samples of the three colors on the table, in their real proportions: one large, one medium, and one small. You will immediately see if they match.