This Design Trick Is the Key to Choosing the Perfect Color Scheme

Perfectly balanced palettes don’t happen by accident. They’re often the result of a special design trick, the 60-30-10 formula: Anchor 60 percent of a space with one main color, then make 30 percent a supporting shade and 10 percent an accent. See how pros used the rule to create colorful looks — no matter the design style.

Bold Maximalism

60% Green - 30% Coral - 10% Turquoise

Designer Gina Sims let the Mitchell Black wallpaper lead the way in this maximalist Brookhaven, Georgia, dining room. A sculptural chandelier plays up the coral in the print, and blue curtains add some fun friction. “The unexpected turquoise keeps the green from being too overwhelming,” Gina says. Another pro tip: "When you’re working with bright colors, try to include natural elements. The wood table and woven chairs help this room feel light."

Playful + Preppy

60% Green - 30% Lilac - 10% Pink

Designers Jeanne Hayes and Brigid O’Loughlin of Camden Grace Interiors built the color trio in this Berwyn, Pennsylvania, living room from the top down, lifting the secondary shade, lilac, from the Schumacher wallpaper on the ceiling. The bold green wall keeps the room from “looking like an Easter egg,” says Jeanne. "I always recommend incorporating at least one color that’s more saturated, like this grass green, to help ground a space. Without that contrast, the room falls flat." The pops of pink play a supporting role.

Colorful Cottagecore

60% Blue - 30% White - 10% Yellow

Designer Stephanie Hoffmeier drenched this Philadelphia half bath in blue with a combination of rich blue paint and wallpaper from Boråstapeter. The sink and mirror punctuate the white in the wallpaper, and the floor tile introduces butter yellow. “When contrast is this strong, it feels intentional,” she says. Another way to add visual interest is with texture. "Mixing finishes within a similar palette, like the wood paneling on the wall, can add depth without introducing too many colors."

Traditional + Tonal

60% Pink - 30% Salmon - 10% Blue

"Even a small accessory can be a jumping-off point for your color scheme. Here, the pillows and the vintage Moroccan rug really inspire the design," says designer Robin Henry. When your room is primarily one color, like this pink-on-pink bedroom in Larchmont, New York, “varying the intensity is key,” he says. Here, rosy walls act as a subtle backdrop for bold salmon upholstery. The pops of blue temper all those warm shades.