Hi lovely,
I’ve been quietly working on something rather special behind the scenes, and although I can't share all the details just yet, I promise it’s going to be worth the wait. It’s a project that I truly believe will inspire you to embrace your creativity and bring even more joy to the way you make your house a home. All will be revealed very soon, and I’m genuinely excited to share it with you.
For now, let’s turn our attention to something beautifully simple yet powerful, a colour rule that has become a favourite of mine for helping you create spaces that feel effortlessly balanced and full of personality. The 60:30:10 rule is a timeless guide, perfect for anyone wanting a bit more colour confidence when decorating.
Think of it as a gentle invitation rather than a hard and fast rule, a way to guide your intuition and build a scheme you’ll love living in. Picture dividing your room into three harmonious buckets:
60% for your dominant colour, the calm foundation that sets the mood
30% for your secondary colour, the layer that adds texture and depth
10% for your accent colour, that unexpected pop that makes your heart flutter
Your dominant colour might be soft and muted or wonderfully rich and moody, usually found on the walls, ceiling, or floor. The secondary colour brings a little more energy, think furniture, fabrics, or cabinetry, while the accent is your chance to inject a dash of drama or joy, that special detail that turns a space from lovely to utterly memorable.
If you’d like to explore this rule even further, I dive into more details in my book (on page 134 if you have it to hand now).
The ‘Rule’ in Action
Right, let’s get into some inspiration. Below I’ve chosen some images that I’ve dissected to show how people have taken different approaches to the 60:30:10 rule. Hopefully, they will give you some inspiration for your dream home and how this rule can be a guide for your colour scheme.
This beautiful kitchen is the work of Nicola Harding, one of my favourite interior designers. I absolutely adore her use of colour. She’s famous for her clever colour combinations that feel both fresh and approachable; you can really imagine yourself living in any of the spaces she creates. If you want some amazing colour combinations, I really recommend checking out her designs and seriously, go to one of her hotels she’s designed and fully immerse yourself.
Here, the dominant warm oat/cream tone wraps the walls, tiles, ceiling, and even flows through the worktop and lampshade. The soft blue on the island and cabinetry acts as the 30%, while a bright red lamp, echoed in adjoining rooms, provides the perfect 10% punch, tying it all together beautifully.
This bedroom is a personal favourite. The 60% is a serene green tones across walls, ceiling, and curtains. The secondary colour 30% is a blue, while orange is the 10% accent that brings a touch of warmth and personality.
In this kitchen, a soft pale yellow is used on the walls, ceiling, and floor (that’s your dominant 60%). The blue cabinetry (your 30%) is balanced perfectly by a burgundy accent peeking from the pantry, adding that little something special.
This is another beautiful room, and one designed by the incredible Filippo Calvagno. His work is truly inspiring and I know so many of you want a calm colour palette in your home, and he does this so beautifully. Here, he has selected a warm pink tone as the dominant colour on the walls of the living room (it’s actually Lick’s Pink02), which is then picked up on the warm tones of the floor. This is complemented by the green sofa as the subdominant colour, and finished with the splash of red as an accent. It’s just a really lovely room that feels so welcoming.
I see so many clients craft beautifully tonal rooms only to feel something is missing when they step back and look. That element is often the 10% accent, the pièce de résistance that breathes life and personality into your home and makes it unmistakably yours.
So this Sunday, why not take a moment to explore your own space? Look for areas that feel a little quiet or flat, and invite in a splash of colour, a cushion, a lamp, or artwork that makes you smile every time.
Your home should be a place that makes your heart sing. And the wonderful thing about this 60:30:10 guide is how effortlessly it helps colour do just that.
Tash x
Images from Pinterest