top of page

How to Use the 70-20-10 Design Rule to Spruce Up Your Home


Using the 70-20-10 Design Rule to decorate your home

The 70-20-10 rule (or 60-30-10, depending on preference) simplifies interior design by allocating colors in specific proportions. This not only enhances visual appeal but also aids in creating focal points, arranging furniture, and achieving a balanced, personalized environment. Beyond color, these principles apply to scale, texture, style, lighting, and arrangement, ensuring harmony throughout your home.


This approach leverages the power of threes, a pattern easily recognized and remembered by humans for its effectiveness. It acknowledges the physical, social, and psychological aspects of a living space, aiming for comfort, social interaction, and personal expression. By applying these rules, your home becomes a sanctuary that reflects your personality while fostering a sense of well-being.


To implement these ideas, start by filtering decisions through your feelings, determining which items to keep, donate, or discard to reduce clutter and focus on your vision. Top designers use mood boards to visualize color palettes, textures, and materials, offering clients a preview of their redesigned spaces through tools like CAD and digital apps.


Understanding color theory is crucial for achieving desired moods and effects. A color wheel helps in selecting hues based on their saturation (from bold to neutral), warmth, and coolness. Mixing warm and cool tones or incorporating neutrals with vibrant accents can create a balanced color scheme that complements your home’s ambiance.


In addition to color, the 70-20-10 principle extends to texture and lighting. Textural contrasts add visual interest, whether in a kitchen (wood, stone, stainless steel) or a living room (smooth, plush, rough fabrics). Lighting, categorized into ambient, accent, and task, further enhances atmosphere and functionality within each space.


Ultimately, your home should evoke desired emotions and reflect your personal style. By applying design principles like the 70-20-10 rule across colors, textures, and lighting, you can create a cohesive, inviting environment that supports both relaxation and energizing activities tailored to how you want to feel when you are at home.


Comments


bottom of page