What is colour drenching?
Colour drenching is a bold and unconventional way to paint the interiors of your house. In fact, according to our 2023 Trends Report, colour drenching is one of this year’s biggest interior trends, having risen in popularity by 172% in the run up to 2023.
In order to achieve this modern, inviting look, one colour (or several shades of the same colour) is used to paint all the surfaces of a room, including your ceiling, skirting boards, radiators, window frames and woodwork. You can then pair your furniture and other decor to match with the room as well.
Benefits of colour drenching
There are plenty of benefits to choosing to colour drench a room in your home:
- Colour drenching has size-enhancing qualities. By painting a ceiling in the same colour as your walls, you can make the room seem larger by creating the illusion of higher ceilings. When paired with lighter shades of paint, it can truly open up a room. With darker colours, colour drenching creates an opulent feel, injecting personality and style into your home.
- Colour drenching is also useful if you want to create a focal point inside a room. By minimising backdrops, key objects like chandeliers are able to take centre stage, helping you to put the spotlight on your most loved pieces.
- Colour drenched interiors are also great for layering artwork and patterned interior designs, allowing you to decorate rooms more cohesively. Many homeowners choose to use this interior trend on their living room or dining room, but colour drenching can also work well in other spaces, including bathrooms
Where does colour drenching work best?
Colour drenching can be difficult to style, especially when it comes to lighting. Rather than contrasting colours, you will be relying on the reflections created by light to accentuate details in your room.
If your room is north-facing, keep in mind that natural light can make your room feel colder. This means that warmer tones could help to balance out this effect. On the other hand, south-facing rooms make colours appear more intensely warm and soft. This means they are better equipped for darker, bolder shades.
We recommend you pick out a few samples, and consult with an expert painter and decorator before you begin.
Tips on colour drenching
To prevent your colour drenched surfaces from jarring with their surroundings, make sure you choose a shade that will harmonise well with your furniture and other interior design.
Before you get started…
- Decide how far you want to go – with colour drenching, you can pick one bold colour and paint all your surfaces with it, or you can pick out a range of shades of the same colour to create a softer version of the same effect. A great way to ease into colour drenching more slowly is by pairing your furniture and radiators with your walls to see if you like the look. You can always pair the rest of yours surfaces with your walls later on.
- Do you want to paint your ceiling too? In the wrong room (with the wrong type of lighting) painting your ceiling in the same shade as your walls can actually have a negative effect, by making the space seem dark and oppressive. This is particularly common in very large rooms. A skilled painter and decorator will be able to advise you on whether colour drenching would work well on your ceiling.
- You don’t need to go bold – colour drenching is often associated with very bold, dramatic colours, but it doesn’t have to be. Colour drenching can work with any paint colour, particularly muted pastels or neutrals. In fact, it’s very effective with semi-strong tones, so keep this in mind when you choose the shades for your new colour drenched room!
- Use contrast to your favour – to bring balance to your room, make sure you choose shades that will contrast well with your furniture. A nice, bold rug, especially in a patterned fabric, will help you prevent your room from appearing flat, as will bold artwork on your newly painted walls.
- Lighting is key – light and shade are what will make or break your colour drenched room. Make sure you specifically light your artwork and any corners where you have featured objects or reading nooks. Avoid spotlights on your ceiling and light the room from your walls and other surfaces to keep that bold, interesting effect.
Colour drenching can transform a small room, giving it a vibrant and contemporary look. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s set to be the monochromatic interior design trend to watch out for this year. Though daring, more and more homeowners are embracing it as one of the biggest decor trends for 2023, bringing style and breathing new life into their homes.
Are you considering colour drenching? Speak to a skilled painter and decorator today to find out more.
