Decorating Rules: 60-30-10, 3-5-7 and the 2/3 Rule
Four simple rules cover most decorating decisions: 60-30-10 for colour, 3-5-7 for grouping, the 2/3 rule for art size, and 145 to 150 cm for hanging height. They are starting points rather than laws, but they explain why some rooms feel finished and others never quite do.
Below: each rule explained in plain English, with examples of how to use it with wall art.
Prints for this look
The 60-30-10 rule: balancing colour
Split the colour in a room into three parts. About 60 per cent is the dominant colour, usually the walls and large surfaces. About 30 per cent is a secondary colour, in furniture, curtains or bedding. The last 10 per cent is an accent, in cushions, a throw, a vase and, very often, the art.
For example: sage green walls (60), warm white and natural oak (30), and terracotta in a print and a cushion (10). The accent is what makes the room feel lively, so it is the best place for a bold print. Our terracotta and sage green collections are an easy way to carry an accent colour onto the wall.
The numbers are approximate. The point is to have one clear lead colour and to use the strongest colour sparingly.
The 3-5-7 rule: grouping in odd numbers
The 3-5-7 rule says that things grouped in odd numbers, three, five or seven, look more natural than even groups. With an even number, the eye pairs items off and stops. With an odd number, it keeps moving around the group. It is closely related to the rule of three used in design and photography.
- On the wall: a set of three prints is the easiest way to use it. A gallery wall of five or seven pieces works well too.
- On a shelf or mantel: group three objects of different heights in a loose triangle, for example a leaning print, a vase and a candle.
Pairs still have their place. In a symmetrical room, two matching prints either side of a window or bed look calm and deliberate.
The 2/3 rule: sizing art to furniture
Art hung above furniture should be about two thirds the width of the piece below it. On a 200 cm sofa that means roughly 130 cm of art, either one large print or a group measured from outer edge to outer edge. The same works above beds, sideboards and fireplaces.
Art that is too small is one of the most common decorating mistakes. If you are torn between two sizes, the larger one is usually right.
The 145 to 150 cm rule: hanging height
Hang art so its centre sits 145 to 150 cm from the floor, roughly average eye level. You may see it called the 57 inch rule. Above furniture, leave 15 to 25 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame instead.
Keeping every piece at the same centre height lines your art up across the whole home. Not sure where to start with colour or style? The Art Match quiz suggests prints for your room in about a minute.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
