It’s not just a trend: Color drenching—or painting every surface of a room in one single hue—is a classic decorating technique that pays big dividends in all kinds of spaces, making them feel calm, cohesive, and enveloping. Here’s how to get it right.
Turn Down the Volume
In a 400-year-old English country house, Carlos Garcia doused a tiny closet-turned-powder-room in Nicaragua, a smoky pink by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. “Color drenching is particularly suitable for rooms with too many—and sometimes contradictory—architectural features,” says Garcia.
Create a Soothing Envelope
“Eliminating high contrasts, like white trim and ceilings, is calming”—and feels more modern—says designer Christiane Lemieux, who used Farrow & Ball’s Naperon in this living room layered in pink from sofa to ceiling.
Add Subtle Variation
For a twist on the technique, use different shades within the same family, also known as double drenching. “It creates more energy and tension,” says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene paint, who suggests selecting similar colors with different undertones. Here, walls are painted in the brand’s Royal Navy; the ceiling is in Dock Blue, a slightly warmer hue; the window frames stand out in vivid Smalt.
Mix Your Finishes
Combining multiple sheens can also add nuance to a monochromatic scheme. In this bathroom, Little Greene’s Etruria in matte on the walls, gloss on the backsplash area, and eggshell on the vanity and French doors creates subtly luminous layers, as well as added durability in a wet area.
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 17 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
