The 60-30-10 rule is a timeless interior design principle that helps create a balanced and visually appealing color scheme in a space. It basically consists of allocating colors in a room according to a specific ratio: 60% of the space should feature a dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color.
It’s been the “go-to” design rule for 70 years or so… and it BARELY applies to just one room here at the barndo. I say barely because there are 3 colors (mostly) that adhere to the percentages (mostly).
Think about the main room in your house… the focal point.
Does it follow the 60-30-10 rule of design?
The 60% of the rule assumes that you’re painting your walls and ceiling the same color. AND… it also assumes your floor isn’t acid dyed concrete (mostly burnt orange!). The idea is to create cohesive, visually appealing spaces without overwhelming complexity. I live in a pole barn — and you get what you get. 😉
As you consider the rule and how it applies to your spaces, I hope you have better results than I do. Green, orange, black, white, gray, cream… good grief!!
Upstairs here at the barndo is no better.
The main room upstairs is nothing but muted shades of blue, gray and cream. Where’s the color pop? There isn’t one unless you count the lone green plant that I forget to water half the time.
If I was starting from scratch with a new build — not costly changes to cover 3,000+ square feet of flooring… and painting places you can’t reach with a regular ladder — I might pay more attention to the percentages and color choices. But after all is said and done…
I DON’T CARE!
Do you focus on a balanced, dynamic look that feels both cohesive and visually engaging? Or do you focus on comfort and what you like and could care less about some stupid 70 year-old rule?
Now you know: Starbucks holds almost $2 billion in the form of money people keep in the app or gift cards; they make 100s of millions of dollars per year off of customers not buying coffee.