60/30/10 Color Balance Rule

When planning your color for your space there is a basic rule for balancing the color. It involves this division of making the walls and most of the large furniture the dominant color in your space and that is 60% of one color.

The secondary 30% of one color complements or supports this color and adds visual interest on things like drapery or other window treatments, accents chairs or bedding.

The last 10% is an accent color which is a pop of color that goes on things like artwork, pillows, décor and other accessories.

Here are some examples of this 60/30/10 Color Balance Rule.

In this mid-century minimalist bedroom space, you can see how the wall color is a pale gray and it is the dominant color being 60% of the space. The secondary colors, the brown, darker gray and ivory, support this on the furniture, bedding and window treatments. This is 30% of the color. And the accent color, which is 10%, is the orange in the artwork and pillows.

Our next example is in this mountain vacation rental mood board that we created for a client. It shows how the 60% on the walls is this warm neutral beige from Sherwin Williams. The 30% secondary colors are the tans and browns on the furniture and the 10% accent color is the blue that shows up in the artwork, pillows, and a little bit in the area rug.  

Our last example is of this kitchen, where the walls are white representing the 60% dominant color. The cabinets are the soft sage green, the beige floors and the gray veining in the quartz countertop and all represent the secondary colors which are the 30%. And the black is the 10% accent color on the sink faucet, light fixtures and cabinet hardware. They add that pop of color.

This color balance rule is a starting point for designing your space, but Décor Revolution offers a full Color Consultation if you need more help with selecting colors for your home or a particular space in your house. We bring paint swatches to your home to help you select the perfect colors. Then we come back with larger swatches of those colors so you can see them on different walls and in different lighting situations and help you to confirm if they are the right colors for you.

Schedule a Discovery Call with us to discuss your color consultation.