How to use the 60-30-10 colour rule in your home

A living room with Ocean blue panelled walls, three Skinny lockers in Olive and a Navy Storyboard pinboard, styled in a 60-30-10 colour palette

In interior design, knowing where to start is often the hardest part.

Even if you don’t stick to it strictly, sometimes having a rule to follow can help to narrow down your choices, giving you direction when the possibilities seem endless. That’s exactly what the 60-30-10 colour rule offers. It’s a jumping off point: a way to help you define your colour palette so that it feels balanced and layered.

What is the 60-30-10 colour rule?

Just as photographers rely on the rule of thirds, interior designers use the 60-30-10 rule to give their colour palette proportion in a space. The rule divides colour choices in the room according to:

60% dominant colour
30% secondary colour
10% accent colour

How does the 60-30-10 colour rule apply?

Your dominant colour accounts for around 60% of the room, so it’s usually the colour you’re using for your walls, ceilings or floors – large surfaces that take up space.

The secondary colour is used for around 30% of the room, which might mean large fixtures such as a bedhead, cupboard doors, rug or feature wallpaper.

The accent colour is your 10% so reserve it for small spotlights. Accent colours are a nice choice for soft furnishings like cushions, lamps or artworks, and because these are easy to switch out, you can update your accent colour without too much trouble.

A kids’ bedroom with Blush striped walls, a Blush Shorty locker and Poppy red bedding in a 60-30-10 colour palette

How to choose the dominant colour in your space

Often, the dominant colour in the 60-30-10 rule will be a neutral. Neutral colours like cream, tan and grey won’t overpower a space, and they work back with lots of different secondary and accent colours. But colour lovers, that’s not your only option. In this space, Blush works beautifully as the dominant colour. It’s lighter than the secondary colour, Poppy, which lets the pops of red shine, and the green accent colour really stands out next to the pairing of pink and red. The overall result is harmonious, with the colour scheme kept tightly edited, but it’s still packed with personality and fun.

A white bedroom with Olive linen bedding, a Sage Shorty locker and a Blush lamp as the accent colour

How to apply the 60-30-10 rule to a white room

Whether it’s because you’re renting, or you prefer your walls a little more pared back, white walls can still work for the 60-30-10 rule. In this setup, the soft furnishings do the colour scheme’s heavy lifting. With the bed being the focal point of the room, the Olive linen acts as the dominant colour, while the Sage Shorty steps up as secondary and the pops of Blush in the lamp and artwork create the accent. This is a great way to experiment with colour as it’s low-commitment. Swapping out the bed linen or artwork choice is all it takes to try out a new colour palette.

The Collector in Navy with reeded glass doors against Mustard walls, styled with Poppy and blue accents

How to use the 60-30-10 rule in a maximalist space

Not much of a rule follower? You might be surprised to see the 60-30-10 rule applied even in more maximalist spaces. This room adds in elements of pattern and texture to create depth and layers, which gives the impression of a more eclectic colour scheme – but the 60-30-10 rule still underpins the palette. With the walls drenched in sunny Mustard as the dominant colour, the Collector in Navy stands out as secondary colour, with the chairs and rug echoing it in various shades of blue. Stripes of Poppy in the vase and lampshade act as accent colour. This room is proof that the 60-30-10 rule doesn’t have to feel like a paint-by-numbers exercise.

The Skinny locker in Slate against a Sage backdrop with electric blue floral accents in a muted scheme

How to apply the 60-30-10 rule to neutral colours

If you’re more into subtle colours and monochrome, the 60-30-10 rule can still help to create a sense of balance and proportion in your space. In this eclectic room, the large areas of Slate and Sage create a muted backdrop for the pops of electric blue to cut through. The result feels clean and effortless, without compromising on character.

It’s all about colour confidence

Like all design rules, the 60-30-10 is just a framework. If you’re looking for inspiration, it can be a great place to start, but there are also plenty of beautiful spaces that don’t apply it. The beauty of colour is that it is so personal. Our advice? Choose what speaks to you. You can’t go wrong with what you love.

If you’d like to explore more about colour, take the Mustard colour quiz to find your perfect palette.