Colour drenching: how to embrace colour the contemporary way

There’s no doubt about it - colour drenching is the interior trend to watch in 2023. In contrast to the traditional look of white woodwork and ceilings, this style is all about heroing one colour and letting it drench your space, skirting-boards and all. The resurgence of colour drenching signals a lean towards a more contemporary use of paint, one that confidently champions colour and doesn’t shy away from it. Read on to learn about why it’s a handy paint trick to have under your belt and our top tips for colour drenching at home. 

Here’s how to embrace colour, the contemporary way.

What is colour drenching?

Colour drenching is taking one colour and painting everything from your walls to your woodwork in it. Think skirting-boards, radiators, doors, window frames, picture rails and ceilings. And if you’re really committed, you can even take the colour (or various tints and shades of it) onto your furniture and upholstery to create a monochromatic, tonal interior scheme.

Why should you colour drench?

Not only is colour drenching a great way to add a contemporary feel to your home, but it is also a handy paint trick worth having under your belt if you’re decorating a small room.

As Tash, our Director of Interior Design, explains;

By painting everything one colour, there is no contrast for your eye to focus on. Corners and edges are softened, the line between the wall and the ceiling blends, which makes a space feel more expansive.

Eliminating contrast can also make a colour feel softer. Say, for example, you have a room painted in dark blue with white woodwork - the dark blue will appear stronger and more saturated by contrast. A room colour drenched in dark blue - walls, woodwork, ceiling, the lot - however, will make the blue appear softer and the walls recede. We never see colour in isolation - it is the combination of colours that determines how our eyes adjust to them.

Our top tips for colour drenching

Keep things tonal

If you want to create a soft and gentle colour scheme, go monochromatic. To do this, pull out various tints and shades of the colour of your walls and apply them to your furnishings. Below, the Pink 03 walls are referenced in the pink linen, dusty red headboard, and lighter pink tones of the bed throw. The result is a cosy and cocooning space enveloped in colour, and one that feels restful on the eye. 

Contrast furnishings to make them pop

Colour drenching isn’t solely reserved for bold colours. You can also colour drench rooms in softer tones and barely-there neutrals for an equally impactful look. Going light on the walls lends itself well to those who want their furnishings and artwork to stand out and be the focal point of the room. Whether you go bold or more muted with your colour drenched walls, however, the key is to create contrast if you want certain pieces to take centre stage. The appeal of colour drenching is it allows you to do this with ease. As Tash explains; 

Colour drenching makes your walls recede, letting everything else - from your furniture to your art - do the talking.

The walls in this living room - colour drenched in White 06 - provide the perfect backdrop for the furnishings and artwork to shine. Everything from the panelling, skirting, cornicing and ceiling is painted and therefore softened, drawing your eye to the bolder tones in the mustard sofa, as well as the warm wooden floors and accessories. The artwork takes centre stage, mounted perfectly between the walls panels, which add a textured, elevated feel to the room.

Blend in built-in storage 

In smaller bedrooms, bulky storage like free-standing wardrobes can stand out and make a room feel cluttered. Built-in storage is the best way to maximise both storage and space, but it can also run the risk of overpowering a room if it's a different colour to the walls. The solution? Colour drenching. This bedroom, colour drenched top-to-toe in our warming terracotta Red 03, is a perfect example. Matching the colour of the cupboards to the walls softens them and actually makes the room feel bigger than it is.

Don’t forget your fireplace

Fireplaces and fireplace surrounds take up a good amount of wall space, so it’s important to paint them too if you want to achieve a colour drenched look. When colour-matched to your walls, you’ll be left with a textured feature that blends seamlessly rather than demanding the attention of the room.

Give your radiator a glow-up

When it comes to colour drenching, it’s important to ensure the entire wall surface is covered, including your radiators. We all know that radiators aren’t the prettiest of household features, but they are pretty essential in the cooler months. An easy way to stop them from being an eye-sore is to simply blend them into the walls. The good news is our paint can be used on radiators! For a step-by-step tutorial, read our guide on how to paint your radiator. 

If you want to take it up a notch with your colour drenching, we’d also reccommend colour-matching your switches and plug sockets to your walls for a refined look and finish.

Colour drench from top-to-toe

Carry the colour from your ceiling all the way down to your floors for a totally immersive colour experience. With no edges to focus on, you are left with a soothing, serene scene that is gentle on the eye and will instantly relax you. 

Colour drenching will certainly make a bold statement, whilst also having a calming effect on the eye. So what are you waiting for? Paint your ceiling, paint your skirting boards, and watch as colour totally transforms your home.