If you’ve ever found choosing a colour scheme overwhelming then this formula could be the answer to all your decorating problems. Let me introduce you to the 60/30/10 rule, or golden ratio as it’s also known. It’s a fool-proof way of getting the proportions of your colour scheme just right. Using three colours in the proportions of 60/30/10 will create a beautifully balanced scheme that will make your room look perfect. Yes!
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
60% of your room should be in your dominant or primary colour
30% of your room should be in a secondary colour.
And finally, 10% of your room should be an accent colour.
Nailing these proportions will make your room feel effortlessly put together.
MAIN COLOUR 60%
This will be the larger elements of the room like the walls, flooring, larger pieces of furniture or a lovely big rug.
Using one main colour across 60% of the room will make the room feel anchored and grounded, think of it like a backdrop. In most room designs this is often white or neutral like taupes, greys and creams. But it can be any colour you want it to be!
SECONDARY COLOUR 30%
Use your secondary colour across 30% of the room. This could be smaller pieces of furniture, curtains, rugs, or painted cabinetry. This colour will complement your main colour but also build on your scheme to add more visual interest.
ACCENT COLOUR 10%
This third colour should take up 10% of the room. Use it on smaller accessories like artwork, cushions or a lampshade. This is where you can have some fun and introduce a very bright or zingy colour, but you can also keep it pared back and muted. It’s totally up to you what colours you choose, what’s important is to stick to the ratios of 60/30/10.
BUT HOW DO I PICK THE THREE COLOURS?
Well, that’s the million-dollar question, right?
Some people can just do it. They can immediately see what colours work and which don’t. And they can easily and quickly pull a colour scheme together. But we’re not all that lucky.
If you struggle to put colours together don’t worry. There’s some maths for that too. Yep, as well as there is a mathematical formula for the proportions of colour (60/30/10 in case you missed it), there is also some math to help you with picking colours. It’s called ‘The Colour Wheel’ have you met? If not, pop across and read about it here.
Getting to grips with the colour wheel will have you putting together colours like a pro.
So you see, you don’t actually need to be a true creative to put together a great-looking colour scheme, you just need to do a bit of maths!
I hope you enjoyed that quick lesson. If you have any questions then just drop a comment below.
And if you want my help with any of your decorating projects then you can hire me. I offer my paint colour consultancy across Hampshire, Bournemouth and parts of Surrey. I can help with choosing paint colours for individual rooms or for your whole home, check out my interior design services here. And book your free discovery meeting for an informal chat 🙂
Happy decorating,
Sarah x
