Balancing Colors in Your Home 

Ever walk into a friend or neighbor’s home and wonder how they tied it all together so well? The colors, accent pieces, and the choice of furnishings can be a huge factor in how a home looks balanced. Today, we are going to look at some techniques of how you can balance colors in your home so that, when guests visit, they will be amazed at how you created a cohesive style all your own. 

The 60-30-10 Rule 

Designers often use a timeless decorating rule called the 60-30-10 Rule. This rule looks at balancing colors so that homeowners and guests alike are not overwhelmed by too much of any one color. 

The main idea of the 60-30-10 Rule is that 60% of the color in a room should be the main color in the area such as the walls, area rugs, and large accent pieces. Then 30% of the color in a room should be the secondary color such as accent walls, accent chairs, or draperies. The final 10% of a room should include throw pillows, artwork, and decorative keepsakes. 

Using this designer hack can help you balance the amounts of color in any given room. Start by choosing three colors for your room. Easier said than done right? Sometimes finding a color scheme can come from an inspirational piece of tapestry or artwork. I once designed an entire room around the colors on a postcard that reminded me of a wonderful vacation. They included the blue of the sea, green, and yellows. 

Play Up Contrasts 

Another design trick that many homeowners find helpful to balance colors is to play upon the contrasts. Most designers suggest not matching colors but rather choosing colors that play on contrasts in one way or another. For example, balance a bright or warm accent color with a cool, textured color. Play with colors, patterns, and textures to make the contrasts have depth. Some homeowners also like to mix old styles with new pieces to make a statement. Designers also like to try to make contrasts between the cooler colors on the color wheel and the warmer ones. 

Balance Furnishings 

When trying to create a room with depth, color and color balance, you will also want to take furnishings into consideration. For example, if you have a large piece of furniture such as a sofa or buffet, you may want to balance the other side of the room with a couple of smaller pieces. 

Benjamin Moore paint dealers have wonderful showrooms and color specialists who can sit with you and help you design the room of your dreams. They will take into account design rules such as the 60-30-10 Rule, contrasting elements, and adding your personality to the mix. If you need more help with deciding on colors for your interior rooms, then check out our portfolio online or talk to one of our specialists. 

Categorised in: Color Trends, Decorating, Decorative Paint Techniques, Design, Interior painting, Jerry Enos