Go Bold This Year: Is Colour Drenching Right for Your Living Room?
There’s something incredibly powerful about colour. The right shade doesn’t just transform a space, it shifts the entire mood of a room. Colour drenching is the latest way to create that wow moment in your home. Whether you're after calm and cocooned or bold and dramatic, this technique can help you get there. And yes, it works just as beautifully in a small terraced living room as it does in a big detached house.
So, what is colour drenching?
Imagine stepping into a room where every surface, the walls, skirting, ceiling, radiators, even the doors wraps you in a single gorgeous hue or a soft mix of similar tones. That’s colour drenching.
It’s not just a paint trend, it’s a design mood. The idea is to blur the boundaries between walls and features, so your room feels seamless, soothing, and intentional. And no, it doesn’t have to mean eye-popping colours (unless you want that!). Earthy clay tones, soft sages, soothing pale blues, even gentle plaster pinks can all be drenched beautifully.
When does colour drenching work best?
Good news: colour drenching works in more room shapes, sizes, and periods than you might think.
Got a small living room? Drenching can actually make it feel bigger and more pulled together.
Live in a period property with beautiful cornicing or panelling? This technique will make those features sing and standout.
In a new build that feels a bit boxy? Colour drenching is a game-changer, it adds instant depth, charm, and sophistication.
Struggling with awkward layouts, unusual shapes, slanted rooflines or poor natural light? One cohesive colour scheme helps unite and elevate these difficult to design spaces.
If you're craving a space that feels thoughtful and emotionally rich, this is your sign that colour drenching is right for you.
Colour drenching 101 from subtle to boundary pushing
You don’t have to dive into deep teal ceilings straight away (unless you want to). There are lots of ways to embrace colour drenching, from subtle and soothing to bold and boundary-pushing. Here’s our three ways to drench, choose what feels like you:
Starting Soft
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A soft embrace of colour that feels intentional and curated. Drench the walls, ceiling, skirting and doors in a single soft colour. Think muted, chalky hues like clay, stone, dusty rose or soft sage in matt finish. Matt paint finishes keep the mood gentle and contemporary.
Confident Layers
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Combine the paint colour drench (aka walls, ceilings, skirting, doors, radiators too) with select colour-matched textiles. Think curtains, upholstery, cushions in the same hue or a similar tonal palette. Layer in wallpaper (like a tonal floral or geometric print) where the background colour blends rather than contrasts. This will create a space that feels confident, curated, and considered, not busy or disconnected.
Bold & Dramatic
Drench everything in saturated colours, think deep blue or green shades, earthy rusts, rich olives, or perhaps luxurious slate blue-grey. Go one step further and consider Double Drenching where you combine two contrasting colours in the same room. Everything gets the treatment: walls, ceilings, skirting, radiators, and even built-in furniture. Play with finishes using matte and satin. The result is a space packed full of personality, luxurious and artistic.
Styling tips to make it sing
Light it well: Add soft, layered lighting to stop the space feeling too flat.
Play with textures: Use velvet, linen or boucle to bring life to your single-colour palette.
Be clever with furniture: Either blend it in or let it stand out—both approaches can look stunning. Don’t forget to paint the inside too.
Don’t forget the finishes: Mixing matt, satin and eggshell can add subtle dimension without introducing more colour.
Feeling Inspired & Ready to Embrace Colour Drenching?
We’d love to help you bring bold, beautiful colour into your home. Book a one-to-one colour consultation with Renee Turner Interiors and explore our handpicked edit of paints, palettes and design inspiration. It’s time to drench with confidence.
Ready to go bold? Book a personal colour consultation with award-winning designer Renee Turner and find your perfect palette.
