Color Drenching: What Is It and Why Are We Suddenly Seeing It Everywhere?
While we still love a crisp white room in the right space, color drenching is having a major moment right now.
So what is color drenching? Well, if you’ve been paying attention to design even a little, you’ve been seeing all the designers and influencers highlighting this trend of painting full rooms (ceiling, trim and all) in rich and deep hues. From naval blues to sage greens, rusty pinks and deep tans, designers everywhere are in love with this trend.
With that being said, I use the word trend, as anytime you see a quick fluctuation in a design style and the scale is tipping fast and heavy in a certain direction, it’s a sign to take a pause and reflect and ensure this is the right step for you and your home. While paint can be a moderately “cheap” way to massively upgrade a room, there are lots of considerations to pay attention to before going “all in” on the color drenching fad.
Key Considerations Before You Start
Think about your home’s flow. Consider the room(s) you plan to paint and how color drenching will impact rooms adjacent to and around the house. You don’t want to turn your home into a rainbow, so you really want to have confidence that the color(s) you are choosing will blend well with surrounding areas and won’t look off or out of place. Especially if you have a smaller home, you want some cohesiveness from room to room. Not “matching” per se, but colors that don’t overtly clash or don’t work within the same palette – especially if the rooms are visible from one to the other.
Know where this style works. If you live in an expansive wide open floor plan (great room concept), especially if you have vaulted ceilings, this style may not be for you, at least not in the open spaces. In that case you could consider an accent wall – such as the wall the fireplace is on – but not the entire space.
Getting the Color Right
Test, test, test. Painting ALL the walls including millwork and doors in a space = a big commitment to this color! Paint large sample swatches (or apply the large peel and stick kind) on the wall or a few walls in the room and live with it for a few days and see how you like it in different lights before you commit. Paint can look one way in the store and very different in your home depending on light and time of day.
Use tonal variations. You don’t have to use the exact same hue for everything in the room. You can use a slightly lighter shade of the same paint color on the ceiling, medium tone on the wall and even deeper tone on the trim or accents. While you can use the same color for everything, you’ll have more depth and impact with slight variation to break up the monochromatic look a bit. This includes finishes – you can use matte, satin and gloss to break it up as well – matte on walls and satin on trim/doors etc.
Balance intensity with neutrals. If you’re using a darker color, make sure your textiles, furniture, artwork and accessories give visual breathing room to the space. Use natural woods or some lighter fabrics to break things up (unless you’re going for a super moody, dark room and by all means, layer in the color!).
Popular Colors for Color Drenching Right Now
If you’re ready to take the plunge, here are some of the most trending colors according to this Elle Decor article:
Rich, Moody Tones:
Sherwin Williams Clove (SW 9605) – A deep dark chocolate for some dramatic effect
Sherwin Williams Grounded (SW 6089) – A warm café au lait brown with red undertones
Sherwin Williams Naval (SW 6244) – The sophisticated navy that’s been a fan favorite for some time
Sophisticated Blue-Greens:
Sherwin Williams Rain Cloud (SW 9639) – A beautifully muted steel blue that works with everything
Sherwin Williams Quietude (SW 6212) – A soft sage with a hint of blue influence, very calming
Unexpected Choices:
Sherwin Williams Mauve Finery (SW 6282) – Yes, mauve is making a comeback from the 80s! A sophisticated rosey-purple that’s surprisingly versatile
Sherwin Williams Bosc Pear (SW 6390) – A warm golden tone that brings rich earthiness
Pro Tips for Success
Start small. Find a room in your home that is low-risk if you end up tiring of it or just plain don’t like it. Maybe a powder room or small office. Paint it, see how you like it, then decide if this is something you want to add to other rooms in complementary color palettes.
Good paint matters! Don’t go cheap. Especially if you are going dark. Good paint (think Sherwin Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint, Behr Marquee or Benjamin Moore’s Aura) will give you better coverage and truer color.
Don’t rush this process. Color drenching is a commitment and takes work. Take your time identifying the right color(s) and always, always test before committing. You don’t want a do-over on this.
My Final Thoughts
Would I do it myself? I like it. At least for right now. I think if used in the right spaces with the right tones, you can add an elegance and upgraded feel to your home with fairly minimal cost (especially if you DIY). I have done it in one powder room and I do love it. I plan to do a very muted/neutral color drench in my primary bedroom and will be bringing you along on that journey – so you can see how it turns out and if I end up loving or hating it! More on that journey soon!
In a nutshell, there are always trends in design – some stick for the long haul and some go out as fast as they came in. It’s always hard to tell, and that’s why it’s always important to go slow and take your time with these decisions, and consider doing them in a more minimalist way rather than going “all in”.
Questions about color drenching and if it’s right for you and your spaces? Let’s chat!
