According to the interior design world, color drenching is back. Color drenching means that surfaces in a room—walls, ceilings, doors, trims, baseboards—are coated with the same color. It can go as far as having accessories, furniture, and fabrics in the same color. What’s more, most avant garde designers use bold and vibrant hues.
Now that would make even me hesitate, despite being sometimes too rash for my own good. I am sure that if I would pause just thinking about painting surfaces with one intense color, this may strike fear in the heart of #Teamputi. In a way, some #teamputi fans already practice color drenching when the colors in a room— including furniture, accessories, fabrics, and floors—are all white.
However, veering away from whites or neutrals and painting the space one vibrant color is another ballgame. This may be a step too far for the average person, who is not so confident about interior design or choosing colors. This may be the equivalent of an exploration into the unknown. I can understand that there could be a strong hesitation. We keep saying in this blog that color is a personal choice. So if you are a lover of white or light neutrals, color drenching may be way out of your comfort zone. And if you feel strongly about this, then don’t bother reading this post.
However, if you are mad about one particular paint color that is not the usual light neutral, read on to find out how you can make it work for you in your home.
The Impact of Color Drenching
Take note that Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador for the British paint and wallpaper manufacturer Farrow & Ball sees color drenching not so much as a trend but more of a technique.
Here are some advantages of color drenching—
- It gives a seamless look to a space, which is an advantage if there are some architectural features you want to “hide”, like moldings you don’t like.
- A monochromatic color scheme will make the space look neat and tidy. Using a light color (not dark hues) may even give a small space the illusion that it is spacious.
- Dark colors, like forest green, claret, lapis lazuli, or slate, can shroud the room with a sophisticated ambience. If nothing else, the drama could be captivating. For lovers of maximalism, this is the way to go without having to add so many accessories.
- Having most of the surfaces and things in a space in one color creates cohesion. With color drenching, you can create a space that is visually relaxing.
- This technique makes it easy for you to express the mood you want to capture in a space. For example, go for green to have that natural feel or yellow if you want something vibrant. It goes without saying then that you have to know what kind of mood you want a room to have.
Guide to Color Drenching
Making a room pack a one-color punch can be exciting instead of scary when you follow these tips.
1. Select a favorite color
Experiment with color drenching using your favorite color. So don’t experiment with this technique AND a color that’s not a favorite but which you think is trendy.
Click on this link to find the exact shade or tint you like. Then, get (small) 200 mL pots of Boysen paint in three close shades or tints, and try them out in the room you are thinking of painting. Check out the color swatches on the wall from day to night before you decide. Find out here where you can buy 200 mL paint pots.
2. Start small
You can try this technique with a small space, like a powder room or a hallway. Or you can do it in a private space like a she shed or a man cave.
3. Play with textures
To keep the room interesting despite it having one color, you can play with tones and textures in the different materials of your fixtures and accessories.
4. Go monochromatic
You don’t have to have the exact color with everything. You can also play with colors that are lighter or darker than your primary color. But do keep it as close to the main hue as much as you can.
5. Break the rule
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You don’t have to follow the one-color rule. You can also choose other materials that not only have a different texture but could also be patterned. Just follow your heart. You’d know best how to make your home look pretty.
Here’s something you need to do when you want to experiment with color drenching: Commit to it! Paint your ceiling, walls, trims, baseboards, moldings with the color you chose. Don’t change your mind halfway because you won’t see and feel the full effect until you’ve painted the surfaces.
Follow this blog for more color inspiration and paint tips.
