How do I choose a room's colours? The 60-30-10 rule

Pick three colours and use them in proportion: about 60% for the main colour, 30% for a second colour and 10% for an accent. This 60-30-10 rule gives a room balance without looking flat or chaotic.

How the rule works

60%: main colour. Walls, large rugs, sometimes the floor. Usually a calm, light or neutral tone.
30%: secondary colour. Sofa, curtains, a feature wall, large furniture. It supports the main colour and adds depth.
10%: accent. Cushions, art, vases, a lamp or a chair. The touch of contrast that gives the room life.

An example

60%: warm white walls and a beige rug.
30%: an olive green sofa and linen curtains.
10%: terracotta cushions and a brass lamp.

How to choose the three colours

Start from what you keep. A floor, a sofa or a rug you won't change sets the first colour.
Look at the light. North-facing rooms get cool light, so warm colours help. South-facing rooms can take cooler tones.
Think about the mood. Blues and greens calm, warm tones welcome, dark tones feel cosy and intimate.
Use the colour wheel to find colours that work together (see related question).

Tips

Woods, metals and whites count in the palette too.
Keep the same palette across open spaces, even if the proportions change from room to room.
Test paint on large patches, on two walls, at different times of day.
Choose paint after fabrics and furniture: paint comes in more shades, so it's easier to match.

It's a guide, not a law

Some rooms work with two colours, some with more. The idea behind the rule is what matters: one dominant colour, one support, one accent.

A 3D render shows your palette in your room, with your light, before you buy a single pot of paint.