THE 60-30-10 RULE
The elements that make the perfect colour palette for your DIY painting project can sometimes be tricky to navigate but need not be with The 60-30-10 Rule.
While the basic concept behind paint palettes is pretty simple, it does require a basic understanding of how specific colours can give your interior a harmonious, stylish, and balanced look. This does not mean that you must paint your home according to a strict rule template or exclude the influences of other paint styles. The aim is to create a framework with the overall end goal in mind.
The experts at Plascon Paint Expert suggest using a three-colour palette for a room makeover to get a balanced effect. Then, without being too matchy-matchy, you can get a coherent look. This three-colour pallet is often referred to as The 60-30-10 Rule.
WHAT IS THE 60-30-10 RULE?
The 60-30-10 Rule is a tried-and-true decor rule that aids in creating a colour palette for a room. In a nutshell, you should have three main colours (60% primary, 30% secondary, and 10% accent), and the three colours should be combined to form a palette and a thematic element of the room.
Put simply:
- The dominating wall colour accounts for 60% of the total.
- The secondary wall colour accounts for 30% of the total.
- The accent colour accounts for 10% of the total.
Before we start looking at a few examples of The 60-30-10 Rule in play, let’s explore what primary colours are in contrast to secondary colours and accent colours…
PRIMARY COLOUR: 60%
The primary colour in 60-30-10 Rule is the dominant colour. The primary hue for the interior decor should account for more than half of the space. The simplest method is to paint the walls with the dominant colour. It is preferable if it is an “impartial colour” to avoid regretting your colour choice later. That doesn’t mean you can’t use bright or bold colours. If you want to utilise vibrant colours, go ahead and do so, but keep the remainder of the room in neutral tones.
SECONDARY COLOUR: 30%
The secondary colour in the 60-30-10 Rule is the colour used to enhance a room. To enliven the area and add interest, pick your favourite shade to make the primary colour palette more vivacious, or go for some neutrals and pastels to make the bright colour palette calmer. Remember that this hue should go with the colour that makes up 10% of the colour scheme.
ACCENT COLOUR: 10%
Finally, the accent colour in the 60-30-10 Rule is the colour that is added to draw extra attention and create a little welcomed drama. The brightest colour will serve as “frosting on the cake”, so to speak. You can use several shades of the same hue to add interest to the design.
THE 60-30-10 RULE IN ACTION
PLASCON’S 2022 COLOUR COMBINATION OF THE YEAR
Soft and soothing, with the lightest touch of natural green, the gentle yellow neutral Pear Fantasy (Y5-B2-1) is the hero colour and works well for our 60%. Combine this soft shade with the clear calmness of blue Desert Water (B5-B2-2) at 30%, and to complete the scheme, add a grounding anchor of smoky brown Zanzibar (70) at 10% and see how your space comes alive.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
As you gain more experience painting in line with the 60-30-10 Rule, the concept will become second nature.
You’ll even start using it when choosing accessories like throws, pillows, rugs, artwork, curtains, and even furniture in the right colours.
Because the right colours allow the eye to move comfortably from one focal point to the next, you can make your home look cleaner, better, and more appealing.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR THREE COLOURS IN LINE WITH THE 60-30-10 RULE
CHOOSE A COLOUR SCHEME FROM THE LARGEST PATTERN IN THE SPACE
A prominent piece of artwork can become your focal point. You can select colours you like from the artwork (or a rug, couch, upholstery, etc), and look to the pattern’s whites and beiges for neutral wall paint options.
USE THE PLASCON COLOUR WHEEL
The most straightforward technique for selecting the three colours for your area is to use a colour scheme based on the Plascon Colour Wheel. The colour wheel helps to identify adjacent and complementary colours, helping you feel more confident in your colour choices.
In addition to using the colour wheel, you can also:
- Swatch It: Get a colour palette by uploading a photo that inspires you.
- Get Colour Advice: See your room digitally re-coloured by a Plascon colour expert.
- Ask An Expert: Speak to an expert at your local Plascon Paint Expert store on the best Plascon colours available.
LOOK TO YOUR WARDROBE
We tend to buy clothes in colours that appeal to us and that we feel good in, so this can be a good guideline for colours that will make your space feel more personalised and welcoming.
Remember, colour choices are very personal. What we may love, you may not. The best advice we give our clients is to imagine the space where you live or work painted in that colour. Then think of how you feel. Are you bored, unsure, or do you feel a sense of belonging? Your emotions will guide you to the best colour choices.
IN CLOSING
The 60-30-10 Rule is used to add balance and depth to a room, but rather than thinking of it as a precise math formula, think of it as a guideline to have fun building off a palette of three colours.
The basic combining of colours begins from the colour wheel. By using a colour wheel, you can combine them using some established and tried systems. However, in the same breath, rules exist to be broken. This applies to life and to paint colour choices as well. If you are a rebel by nature or perceive balance in a little bit of a different way, you can always make your own rules and experiment with different proportions.
All these colours are tintable into the Plascon product of your choice. Shop at any Paint Club and Plascon Paint Expert store nationwide and get expert advice on colours and products for your next DIY project. Find the store nearest you by visiting Find a Member.
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