A trend predicted to be fleeting when it arrived into public consciousness in 2022, colour drenching has since gone from strength to strength and is certainly here to stay. Whether using lighter tones for an open and airy feel or darker hues to create a cosy and atmospheric cocooning space, colour drenching is the technique to create a thoroughly modern aesthetic.

Colour drenching allows for a departure from the traditional look of white woodwork and ceilings, instead championing just one colour, drenching all surfaces (walls, woodwork and ceiling) for an all-over envelopment of colour. It goes beyond the accent wall and rather than creating contrast, it creates a seamless swathe of colour.

So, what is colour drenching?

Colour drenching involves taking one single colour and painting everything from your walls to your woodwork in it. This includes skirting boards, radiators, doors, architraves, window sills, picture rails, coving and ceilings. And if you really want to maximise the effect, you can even take the colour or varying depths of the colour, onto your furniture and upholstery to create a monochromatic, tonal interior scheme. However, my advice to anyone unsure of this trend would be to keep the ceiling until the very end and then decide at that stage whether to incorporate that into the scheme too.

Far from overwhelming, colour drenching creates a calming effect, perfect for nurseries, offices, bedrooms snugs or anywhere else you want to create a sense of tranquillity. By using one single colour (light or dark) , you remove any harsh lines or contrasts that may detract the eye from the overall colour scheme. This is particularly important in smaller rooms as it blurs the corners of the room, making it feel much more spacious. It’s also great for hiding radiators or unsightly built-in furniture as painting them the same colour as the rest of the room will create a blending effect, camouflaging them. 

Another consideration for creating visual impact is to play around with the paint’s finish. You can use an ultra-matt finish on every surface for a seamless look or pair a glossy finish on woodwork against matt walls for subtle textured detail. So what are you waiting for? Paint your woodwork, paint your ceiling, and watch as colour totally transforms your home.