Those who follow interior design or DIY accounts on Instagram or TikTok can’t miss the latest fad: color drenching. The trend started in 2023 but has spiked in popularity, with DIYers and designers steering away from contrast in their paint schemes.
What is Color Drenching?
Color drenching is the practice of painting a room from top to bottom in one color only. Rather than the typical white ceiling and white or wood trim, this method encourages the use of a single color. The ceiling, walls, trim, doors, and sometimes furniture take on a single, shared paint color.
According to designers, color drenching can create an immersive and cozy experience. Many also claim that painting everything the same shade adds a ‘wow’ factor.
Beginner Tips for Color Drenching
Like all interior design trends, color drenching isn’t for everyone. It creates a cozier feeling room that, in most cases, is the opposite of open and airy. If you want to try color drenching, here are some beginner tips for getting started.
Start with a Small Area
Before you go crazy painting your kitchen or living in one head-to-toe color, give color trenching a test drive. Consider painting a small room, like a bathroom or reading nook. If you don’t like the feeling of everything being one color, it will be much easier to repaint a small space versus a larger main room.
Consider the Flooring and Furniture in the Room
The room’s paint color needs to coordinate with your flooring and furniture. You can create high contrast by pairing a room with light flooring with a dark color and vice versa.
Also, consider complementary and secondary colors. For example, if your hardwood floors have an orange tone, blue will make them look more orange, while red paint can minimize the orange. Many possible color combinations work well together, but you need to carefully consider the features in the room that you’d like to highlight or hide.
Use the Right Paint Finishes
Mix up the paint sheens if you don’t want your room to fall flat. We recommend a flat or eggshell paint sheen on the walls and semi-gloss for doors and trim.
Try Varying Shades of the Same Color
Take some of the intimidation out of a saturated room by varying the shades. You can pick a dominant color for the wall and then go one shade lighter on the ceiling and one shade darker on the trim and doors. You still get the color-drenched effect, only with more contrast.
Go for Lighter Colors to Make a Room Feel Larger
Choosing a dark, moody color like navy blue, maroon, or emerald green can make your room feel elegant and upscale. However, it can also make it feel smaller. If you’re painting a small space and want it to feel bigger, go for lighter shades. The lighter shades will make the room feel taller and more open.
