The 60-30-10 rule - how to use it to create a balanced color palette?

Often underestimated, the different types of mirror are real allies when it comes to interior design. Capable of transforming the atmosphere of a room, visually enlarging a space or adding a touch of sparkle, they are the secret ingredient to enhancing your decor. Let's embark together into the fascinating world of mirrors to discover how they can brighten up your home.

What is the 60-30-10 rule?

The 60-30-10 rule is a simple interior decorating technique for perfectly balancing color combinations. It's a bit of an unusual technique, so if you're thinking of creating a new room and you're feeling a little unsure about your color choices, let us introduce you to the 60-30-10 rule - use it in interior design and you can't go wrong.

Simply put, the 60-30-10 rule is a decorating trick that makes it easier for you to establish a balanced color scheme. It's based on three percentages to distribute hues throughout a room.

The main color (60%)

The 60% represents the room's dominant color, the one that serves as a backdrop and occupies the most space. It's usually found on walls, large carpets and the most imposing pieces of furniture, such as a sofa. This color will set the tone and overall mood of the room, whether soothing, vibrant or neutral. It's the foundation on which everything else is built.

Secondary color (30%)

The 30% is the secondary color, which complements the main color. It adds contrast and depth without overloading the space. This hue is generally used on medium-sized elements: an accent wall, curtains, occasional chairs or a chest of drawers. It is essential for creating a harmonious rhythm and highlighting the dominant color.

Accent color (10%)

The 10% is your accent color, the final touch that brings life and personality to your decor. It is used sparingly on small objects and accessories such as cushions, vases, lighting fixtures, artwork or wall decorations. These small touches balance everything out and energize your interior.

How to use the 60-30-10 rule in color composition?

The first element to consider in applying the 60-30-10 rule and in any design project is to address the walls - there are more walls than other elements in any project, so it's essential to add interest to them. The contrast between interior elements such as plain painted walls and patterned wallpaper or bright hues produces diversity and harmonious rhythm in a room. The choice of a dominant color forms the basis of your room, so it's essential to choose it well.

The secondary color (30%) adds contrast to the room. Take one piece - whether it's your favorite cushion or a singular splash of color in a painting on your wall - and play with materials and colors, exploring the possibilities of contrast and coordination to let the room tell its story.

This color can be used for furniture, curtains, rugs, bedding or an accent wall. Choose accessories that complement the room's dominant color palette. This will help unify the room and create a sense of cohesion."

Finally, the 10% accent color is used to contrast and complement your decorating scheme. The rooms Typical accent pieces, such as lampshades and artwork, are perfect for that finishing touch that brings a room together.

How many colors should be used in a room?

According to the 60-30-10 rule, you should only use three colors in a room - although you can successfully incorporate many different shades of these three colors. This three-color rule will enable you to create a balanced, restful color scheme that's hard to go wrong with, especially if you're creating color schemes for the kitchen and dining room in an open space that's likely to be busy and perhaps more cluttered than other rooms in your home.

How do you break the 60-30-10 rule?

Breaking the 60-30-10 rule is a matter of experimentation and, of course, once you've decorated many rooms, you'll feel more comfortable introducing other accent colors and certainly tried-and-true colors. Our advice? In the meantime, adopt the 60-30-10 rule to create a balanced scheme, then introduce one additional "10" element at a time. So, perhaps you have a living room with neutral walls, a dark brown sofa and a yellow armchair - introducing a cushion or two with complementary colors, such as a burnt orange, will add more color, without upsetting the overall balance.