The 60/30/10 Rule Made Our Website Designs Infinitely Better

Hello, WordPress developers and marketers. Are you looking for a design idea to transform your website into an aesthetically stunning masterpiece?

While working on a web redesign, I discovered the powerful 60/30/10 Rule. Creating well-balanced and harmonious color schemes is a simple yet highly efficient technique.

Join me as I discuss the 60/30/10 Rule’s benefits and ways to use it to improve the design of your website. I’ll also provide some real-world examples of websites that have successfully followed this Rule and offer WordPress plugins and tools to aid you in implementing the 60/30/10 principle with ease.

Let’s explore the world of harmony in color and balance.

What is the 60/30/10 Rule?

The 60/30/10 Rule is a tried and tested design principle which suggests splitting color usage by three different proportions.

60 60% of the primary color and 30% for the secondary color, with 10% as the highlight color.

The Rule encourages visually pleasing balance within your design, forming an orderly structure that directs the eye of the user through the contents.

It was initially developed in the interior design industry. However, it has been incorporated into web design with great success.

The image alt=”The 60/30/10 rule of design.” src=”https://wpmayor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/60-30-10-rule.png”/>

Source: The 60/30/10 Rule from iniyavanappu iniyavanappu Dribbble.

Benefits of Applying the 60/30/10 Rule

Making a website that users will remember can be challenging. The internet is flooded with many websites we’re all vying for some of their focus.

How often have you been able to identify an organization or brand only on the color scheme?

This is why it’s crucial to choose the right color for your design just right.

Let’s take a look at our Hipcamp site for an illustration.

Enhancing Visual Appeal

A well-balanced color scheme enhances the aesthetic appeal of your site, makes it more appealing to your visitors, and creates an impression that lasts.

Hipcamp achieves this by using a lighter grey backdrop and green accents, representing nature. Some images fit the overall theme.

Improving User Experience

An organized hierarchy and an appealing layout make it easy for visitors to navigate and find details on your site, reducing frustration and improving the overall experience.

Take note of how your eyes begin to focus on that “Find yourself outside” text that tells you what you’re looking for and stands out due to the bold and green color of the text. Then, you scroll down to the smaller reader and the search box, which is the next step they would like you to take.

Reinforcing Brand Identity

Consistent use of colors strengthens your image as a brand and allows users to identify your company and website, which increases confidence and trust.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, the color green in their logo is incorporated into the text, creating an association with their nature-focused brand identity.

Increasing User Engagement

A well-designed, visually appealing website encourages users to continue exploring and interacting with your content, increasing revenues and conversions.

Based on the previous user experience, The site gently leads you into the search field and invites you to interact with it.

Simplifying Design Decisions

The 60/30/10 Rule offers an unambiguous framework for making design decisions, easing the process and decreasing the possibility of design inconsistent designs.

The Hipcamp website’s designers could have used various colors to make it appear more distinctive, but the site was simple, neat, and uniform.

How to Apply the 60/30/10 Rule in Your Website Design

Implementing the Rule in three steps made it easier for me to manage the process, from selecting colors to creating the entire website’s design.

1. Choose the Color Palette and Apply Proportions

The 60%

Start by choosing a dominant accent color that represents your company’s image. This is typically used in large areas, such as backgrounds, and is usually black, white, or a combination of both.

The 30%

The secondary color must complement the dominant color but not stand out. It can be utilized in sidebars and headers.

The 10%

The highlight color will be the one that draws the visitor’s focus to where we would like it to be on the page. Consider elements that call to action or other important text.

Be sure to keep accessibility to websites in your mind while making these choices. Make sure the colors you select have sufficient contrast to be read.

Color theories and tools such as Coolors or Adobe Color assist you in making your decisions.

1. Test and Adjust

Re-read your design and alter the proportions of the color if needed.

Collect feedback from colleagues and users to ensure that your site is appealing visually and easy to navigate.

Another helpful tip I learned from a designer many years back was to stand up, move around two meters from your computer, and then take a second look at your work.

Do the appropriate zones and hues make an impact?

1. Stay Consistent

Use the 60/30/10 Rule regularly throughout your website to build your brand’s image and create an overall user experience.

In addition to your site, implementing the same principle in other marketing materials will be even more effective.