The 60-30-10 rule is a design principle commonly used in interior decorating to create visually balanced and harmonious spaces. It helps guide the distribution of colors in a room by dividing them into three categories based on their proportion: dominant, secondary, and accent colors. The percentages in the rule stand for 60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color.

Here are two simple examples to help you understand the 60-30-10 rule:

1. Living room color scheme: Imagine you want to design a living room. You could apply the 60-30-10 rule by selecting a dominant color for 60% of the space, such as using a neutral color like beige for the walls. Then, choose a secondary color for 30% of the room, like a darker shade of blue for the furniture. Finally, add a 10% accent color, such as a bright yellow, for decorative elements like throw pillows, artwork, or a rug.

2. Bedroom color scheme: For a bedroom, you might choose a light gray as the dominant color for 60% of the space, including walls and bed linens. As a secondary color, use a deep navy blue for 30% of the room, like curtains, an upholstered chair, or an area rug. For the remaining 10%, pick a vibrant accent color like coral for decorative items like pillows, picture frames, or lamps.

The 60-30-10 rule helps create balance and visual interest in a room, ensuring that the colors work well together and don't feel too overwhelming or disjointed.

The 60-30-10 rule is a widely used design principle in the field of interior design that helps create visually balanced and harmonious spaces by proportionally distributing color usage in a room. It involves allocating 60% to the dominant color, 30% to the secondary color, and 10% to the accent color. This rule aids in achieving a pleasing color scheme and can be applied to various design elements, such as wall color, furniture, textiles, and accessories.

The 60-30-10 rule can be related to other principles and scientific topics, including:

1. Color theory: A field of study that examines how colors interact and affect human perception and emotion (Itten, 1961). The 60-30-10 rule is grounded in color theory, as it guides the selection and combination of colors to create aesthetically pleasing and balanced designs.

2. Gestalt psychology: A psychological perspective that focuses on how humans perceive and organize visual elements into coherent wholes (Wertheimer, 1923). The 60-30-10 rule can be connected to Gestalt principles like similarity and continuation, as it promotes visual coherence and harmony through the strategic use of colors.

3. Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio: Mathematical concepts often found in nature and art that are thought to contribute to aesthetic appeal (Livio, 2002). The 60-30-10 rule bears some resemblance to these concepts, as it seeks to create visually pleasing proportions in design.

4. Visual hierarchy: A design principle that involves organizing elements according to their importance or emphasis (Lidwell, Holden, & Butler, 2003). The 60-30-10 rule supports visual hierarchy by clearly delineating dominant, secondary, and accent colors, which can help guide the viewer's attention and create a sense of order.

Understanding the 60-30-10 rule and its connections to other principles and scientific topics can provide valuable insights for interior designers, architects, and individuals seeking to create visually balanced and harmonious spaces.

References

• Itten, J. (1961). The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color. John Wiley & Sons.
• Lidwell, W., Holden, K., & Butler, J. (2003). Universal Principles of Design: 100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design. Rockport Publishers.
• Livio, M. (2002). The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number. Broadway Books.
• Wertheimer, M. (1923). Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt. II. Psychologische Forschung, 4, 301-350.