The 3 color rule is a principle in visual design that suggests limiting the number of colors in a design to 3. This helps create visual harmony and simplicity. The 3 colors should consist of a dominant color, secondary color and an accent color.
What is the 3 Color Rule?
The 3 color rule states that for most designs, limiting the palette to 3 colors is the best way to create an effective, aesthetically pleasing color scheme.
The 3 colors should include:
Dominant color | 60% |
Secondary color | 30% |
Accent color | 10% |
The dominant color takes up the most visual space. This is the main color associated with your brand or design.
The secondary color plays a supporting role. It complements the dominant color and creates contrast.
The accent color is used sparingly to make key elements stand out.
When used in the right proportions, this simple 3 color combination creates visual balance and color harmony.
Why Use the 3 Color Rule?
There are several benefits to limiting your palette to 3 colors:
Simplicity – With only 3 colors, the overall look is clean, uncomplicated and easy on the eyes. Too many colors compete for attention and look cluttered.
Focus – When you have a dominant color, it naturally draws the eye where you want it to focus. The secondary and accent colors support that visual hierarchy.
Harmony – Colors have undertones that can clash or harmonize. Carefully choosing 3 colors creates a cohesive palette where the tones don’t fight each other.
Branding – 3 colors are ideal for establishing brand identity. They are easy to remember and associate with your company.
Accessibility – Simple color palettes tend to have enough contrast for text readability, which is important for accessibility.
So in summary, the 3 color rule creates designs that are aesthetically pleasing, memorable, easy to process and inclusive.
How to Choose a 3 Color Palette
Follow these steps to create an effective 3 color palette:
1. Choose your dominant color. This will be the primary color representing your brand or design. Consider meaning, psychology and personal preference.
2. Select a secondary color that complements the dominant color. Look at the color wheel for harmonious pairings. Monochromatic and analogous pairs work well.
3. Add an accent color to highlight key elements. Look for brighter or darker shades that contrast well with the first two colors.
4. Use the 60-30-10 ratio as a guide for how much of each color to use.
5. Check that all 3 colors have enough contrast between them, especially with text and backgrounds.
6. View your palette on the actual design to ensure the colors work together visually.
7. Adjust colors as needed until you achieve the desired look and accessibility.
Choosing the right 3 colors takes experimentation. The color wheel and 60-30-10 formula provide a helpful starting point.
Examples of the 3 Color Rule
Many recognizable logos use the 3 color rule to great effect. Here are some examples:
Blue | #4285F4 |
Red | #EA4335 |
Yellow | #FBBC05 |
Google’s blue is the dominant brand color, with red and yellow secondary colors.
IKEA
Blue | #0058A3 |
Yellow | #FFCC00 |
Black | #000000 |
IKEA’s recognizable blue and yellow logo uses black as an accent color.
WWF
Black | #000000 |
White | #FFFFFF |
Panda | #A0D8EF |
The WWF panda and text create visual interest in this simple yet memorable logo.
Tips for Using the 3 Color Rule
– Don’t use pure hues. Modified tones create depth. Use tints, shades and saturation adjustments.
– Add plenty of neutral white space to balance the colors.
– Use lighter and darker shades of your 3 colors for backgrounds, borders and accents.
– Be consistent with your palette across branding for recognition.
– Avoid using competing pure colors right next to each other.
– Use black and gray as neutral palettes, rather than additional colors.
– Make sure your accent color pops against the other two colors.
– Avoid colors that are so similar they vibrate against each other.
– Test your palette for accessibility first. Check color contrast ratios.
When to Break the 3 Color Rule
Like any design principle, there are times when it makes sense to break the rules.
Situations where using more than 3 colors works:
– Data visualizations – Different colors are needed to depict complex data.
– Infographics – Additional colors help illustrate concepts and categories.
– Paintings and fine art – More colors provide nuance and depth.
– Photography – Images contain a full spectrum of natural colors.
– Packaging – Flexible palettes capture consumer attention on shelves.
The key is using restraint. Start with 3 core colors, then layer in additional colors intentionally as needed.
You can also bend the rule by using different tints, shades and tones of your 3 colors. This creates the illusion of more colors without the complexity.
Conclusion
The 3 color rule is a foundational principle of strong visual design. It creates color schemes that are harmonious, memorable and accessible. While not a hard rule, it provides helpful guidance and boundaries for even beginning designers. Mastery comes from practicing restraint first, then gradually incorporating more colors with purpose and intent.