A Simple Design Trick to Help You Choose the Perfect Color Scheme
Many people get hung up when it comes to choosing a color scheme for a room they want to redesign. If you’re one of those people, you won’t be for long. In this blog ’ll share a very special trick to help you cruise when you need to choose. On the basis of that last sentence you’re probably thinking, “Michele, are you a wizard? Or a poet? Or both?” True wizard poets never reveal themselves. Let’s leave it at that.
Revealing the Secret!
There’s a simple rule decorators and designers use often when it comes to adding color to a room. It’s the 60-30-10 rule and it will make you feel as if you have magic powers. The rule states that 60% of the room’s color should be the base color, 30% a secondary color, and the final 10% an accent color. Let’s walk through an example.
Steps to Use the Rule:
1. Choose your base color: This color will be the anchor of your room as it covers the largest amount of space. For instance, you might desire a contemporary relaxing vibe so you choose a lovely warm gray as your 60%. Painting your walls this color will likely get you close to your 60%.
2. Choose your secondary color: If you love a particular beautiful deep blue and want it as your secondary color, you might use this blue for your drapes as well as for the upholstery on a lovely side chair. 30% achieved.
3. Choose your accent color: 10% remains and you’re intrigued for the moment by a lighter blue for your accent. You execute this through a beautiful vase and several nicely textured throw pillows along with maybe a couple of beautiful candles.
The image below created with my professional design software brings the vision to life.
One of the added benefits of the 60-30-10 rule is that the “pop” of color you hear so many people mention is the 10% accent color. It’s obviously the easiest and most affordable change you can make, therefore it provides the option for a nearly endless variety in your space with minimal cost and effort.
It’s a wrap!
If you follow these three simple steps, before you know it, you’ll have the perfect color palette for your room. 60-30-10 is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Of course, rules are made to be broken. For instance, if you want more than a single accent color, you might divide your 10 into 5 and 5. Or go wild and select five 2s. It’s your home. Your world. Your choice. Make sure to make you happy. If you “listen” to the space, it will “speak” to you and help you decide what feels best. Of course the rule is just a guideline, but it’s a highly valuable one and makes a great jumping off point for putting color in your home.
I hope this tip helps make you feel more color confident.
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