Color Drenching: What Is It and When To Use It?!

By Kristen Cuthbert

There are lots of fun and inspiring design trends floating around out there today and it can be hard to know when to try one on behalf of your client or in your own space. Color drenching is a current term you may have come across: Color drenching is an interior design technique where you paint most surfaces in the room the same color. Instead of using paint on just one accent wall or even on just the walls, you paint every surface of the room, including the doors and trim, the same color.

“It’s a great option when you are trying to create a lot of impact without a lot of elements. ”

Let’s decode what it is, when to use it, and how to implement it so that you can take on a new trend with gusto! 

What is color drenching?

As mentioned, color drenching is an interior design technique where you paint most, or all of the surfaces in a room the same color. Oftentimes, the whole space is painted the same color but with varying sheens to create natural dimension in the room. 

Why would you want to consider color drenching a room?

Color drenching is a great way to create visual impact without a lot of ingredients. By using one, well-chosen color, on most of the surfaces in the space, a high amount of visual dimension is created: You do not need to bring too many other elements along for the ride to conjure lasting aesthetic appeal.

Additionally, color drenching is a unique approach to using color in a space and it brings in a lot of personality, aesthetic interest and beauty. It encompasses the whole room so you create a little escape-space that feels like a far-away land, offering a refuge for respite or deep work when in your own home.

Why would you want to consider color drenching a room?

Color drenching is a great way to create visual impact without a lot of ingredients. By using one, well-chosen color, on most of the surfaces in the space, a high amount of visual dimension is created: You do not need to bring too many other elements along for the ride to conjure lasting aesthetic appeal. 

Additionally, color drenching is a unique approach to using color in a space and it brings in a lot of personality, aesthetic interest and beauty. It encompasses the whole room so you create a little escape-space that feels like a far-away land, offering a refuge for respite or deep work when in your own home. 

When would you want to use color drenching in a room?

Great places to use color drenching are spaces that have definite starting and stopping points. Examples of this might be powder rooms, offices or dining rooms. It’s a bonus if the room is slightly visible from other points of the home. Color drenching creates such a dramatic effect that when seen from afar, one cannot help but lean into the mystery and intrigue and be drawn to explore the space and all that it holds for those so lucky to enter! 

How can you implement color drenching so that it creates a beautiful experience instead of a drab and dark room?

1.Choose the right paint sheens.

First, start by choosing your paint sheens. I suggest you go with a matte or eggshell on the walls and then use a satin or semi-gloss on the trim and doors and any wood-work or architectural elements in the space. This will automatically create natural dimensions and interest because of how the light plays differently with the different finishes.

2.Implement a variety of textures.

Next, choose furniture, window treatments and finishing decor that lean into the overall aesthetic of the room. With a monochromatic backdrop, you will need contrast in textures to create warmth and interest in the space. Have a dark paint color choice? Compliment with lots of warm textures like herringbones and boucles in the same tone as the wall color. Add in warm leathers to bring a bit of contrast that will create more depth and amplify the coziness of the space. Have a lighter wall color throughout the room? Add in brighter pops of color (think different textures of one hue or a rainbow of colors against a single color-drenched backdrop) to enhance the airiness of the space and play up its color theme. Finish with natural elements like wood and plants and your space will be a place for you and your loved ones to enjoy for years to come.

3.Add layers of lighting.

One of the most important elements you can add to a color drenched space (really any space, for that matter) is a thoughtfully designed lighting package. You will always need overhead lighting for emergencies (like if you lose a contact). Fill in with task lighting, such as desk or bedside table lamps, and then ambient lighting, such as sconces on either side of your mirrors or art lamps above your paintings.

Color drenching can be intimidating but with a few thoughtful steps in place before you pick up your paint-brush, you’ll be sure to knock it out of the park. Just remember to use a different sheen on the walls than on the trim and doors and fill the space with a variety of textures, even if they are all the same color. Add in some ambient lighting and you’ll be good to go! 

*Photography: Kristie Kimbrough

*Interior Design: Kristen Cuthbert Design

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