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Interior designer Natalie Jahangiry has outlined four decorating principles she uses: the 60-30-10 colour balance, an unexpected red accent, styling objects in groups of three and paying attention to scale. In her Ideal Home article, she presents them as flexible guides rather than strict rules, with personal preference still central to decorating a home.
Interior designer Natalie Jahangiry has shared four decorating principles she finds useful, while stressing that they should guide rather than dictate choices at home. In an article for Ideal Home, she describes colour balance, an unexpected red accent, groups of three and proportion as practical ways to make rooms feel more considered.
Jahangiry says the 60-30-10 approach can help build a colour scheme: a dominant colour forms the backdrop, a secondary shade appears through items such as upholstery or rugs, and a smaller accent colour adds contrast. She says she uses the idea as a loose framework, not as a calculation, and notes that it may not suit every approach, such as a room drenched in different tones of one colour.
Her second principle is the unexpected red theory, an idea associated in her account with interior designer Taylor Migliazzo Simon, who posted about it on TikTok in early 2024. Jahangiry says a small red object, such as a lamp, vase or artwork, can add an unexpected contrast. She says the broader point is to introduce something surprising; red is one way to do that, rather than a required colour.
For styling accessories, Jahangiry often groups items in threes, varying their heights, shapes and textures. She says the principle can apply to other odd-numbered groupings, too. Her most consistent rule is proportion: a living-room rug should extend under at least the front legs of the sofa and nearby chairs, while artwork should be large enough to relate to the furniture beneath it. She offers these as design judgments, not fixed measurements.
Four Guides for More Balanced Rooms
The advice offers readers a practical starting point for common decorating decisions without presenting one look as correct for every home. Colour ratios can help organize a palette, while attention to grouping and scale can help explain why a room or display feels visually unsettled. Jahangiry’s central qualification is that the principles are flexible: the homeowner’s taste remains the deciding factor.
That distinction matters because the article is personal design guidance, not a report of tested results or a formal set of industry standards. Jahangiry describes what she uses and why she finds it helpful; she does not claim that following the four ideas guarantees a better room. Readers can use them as prompts when rearranging or furnishing a space, then adjust them to their own needs and preferences.
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Jahangiry’s Flexible Design Approach
Jahangiry is one of Ideal Home’s Open House contributors, writing about decorating for busy family life while retaining personal style. In the source article, she says she generally follows her instincts and has previously argued that a home should reflect what its occupants love rather than instructions they have been told to follow.
The four principles therefore sit alongside, rather than replace, that position. Her examples range from establishing a colour palette to choosing a rug size, and she repeatedly frames them as ideas to adapt. The article gives no measurements, research findings or claim that each approach works in every room.
No Fixed Formula for Every Home
The article presents Jahangiry’s professional opinion and personal practice; it does not establish that the four principles have been tested against alternatives or work universally. It does not specify exact colour proportions beyond the 60-30-10 framework, nor does it give a standard rug size or artwork measurement. The right choices will depend on the room, furnishings and individual preferences.
The source also does not provide a publication date, and it gives no further detail on Taylor Migliazzo Simon’s TikTok post beyond saying it appeared in early 2024. The red-accent idea is presented as a design theory, not as a measured finding.
Applying the Ideas at Home
Jahangiry’s article does not announce a formal program or a next industry milestone. For readers, the practical next step is to try one principle at a time: use the colour split as a starting point, test a small contrasting accent, rearrange accessories into an odd-numbered grouping, or check whether rugs and artwork relate in scale to nearby furniture.
She advises against following the guidance mechanically. Any assessment of whether these choices work is left to the homeowner’s eye and the needs of the space; the article does not promise a particular result.
Key Questions
What are the four design principles Jahangiry recommends?
She discusses the 60-30-10 colour approach, an unexpected red accent, arranging accessories in groups of three and paying attention to the proportions of objects in a room.
Is the 60-30-10 rule meant to be exact?
No. Jahangiry says she uses it as a loose guide to balance dominant, secondary and accent colours, rather than calculating exact percentages. She also says it may not suit every scheme.
What does the unexpected red theory mean?
It is the idea that adding a red object where red is not otherwise part of the scheme can create contrast. Jahangiry says the wider principle is to include something unexpected; it need not be red.
How should a living-room rug relate to the seating?
Jahangiry suggests choosing a rug large enough to sit under at least the front legs of the sofa and nearby chairs, helping connect the seating area. This is her guidance, not a universal measurement standard.
Does Jahangiry say everyone should follow these rules?
No. She presents them as useful guides rather than a rulebook and says people should keep what suits their home and ignore what does not.
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