What is the 60-30-10 color rule?
Short answer
The 60-30-10 rule is a simple way to balance a color palette: about 60 percent of a room is the main color (usually walls), 30 percent is a secondary color (furniture, cabinets or trim), and 10 percent is an accent (pillows, a door, art). It keeps a room from feeling flat or chaotic.Applying it to paint
- 60: wall color, usually the lightest or most neutral.
- 30: trim, cabinets or a wainscot, contrasting in lightness.
- 10: an accent wall, front door, island or built-in in the boldest color.
Want a pro to handle it?
Get quotes from up to five local painters. Free.
Start my projectTry it in the Color Studio
Build a palette that goes together and see it on a room or house.
Open Color StudioUpdated September 2026. Always follow the directions on your product's label; manufacturer instructions come first.