Paint Direct's guide to colour drenching

If you pay attention to the world of interior design or are a prolific pinterest user, you’d be familiar with images of rooms adorned ceiling to skirt in one colour. If you’re not, allow us to introduce you to colour drenching.

This interior design trend has been taking the decorating world by storm, allowing homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and interior designers alike to create spaces that not only express their personality, but are visually stunning and also emotionally evocative.

Read on to explore Paint Direct’s guide to colour drenching - offering you insights and inspiration on how to bring your living spaces to life with a whole lot of colour.

What is colour drenching?

Colour drenching is a design technique that involves saturating a room with often a single, dominant colour or multiple - but it basically means you're avoiding the traditional coloured walls and plain white ceiling. It's more than just painting the walls; it's about filling the entire space with the chosen colour through various elements, such as furniture, textiles, and accessories.

Whilst it sounds a little overwhelming, it’s not - this design approach creates a bold design statement that's captivating, inviting, and dependent on the colour, incredible and dramatic!

Choosing the right colour

The key to successful colour drenching lies in selecting the perfect colour. It's essential to consider the room's purpose and your personal preferences. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice.

Mood and purpose

Before you can even pick your colour, you need to make sure you’re planning ahead - what will you use that space for? Will it be the place you go to when you want to be creative, when you want to entertain or when you want to relax? For example, if you wanted to create a tranquil bedroom, you’d opt for calming shades, such as blue or lavender work well, whereas if you’re looking for a lively space, you’d elect for reds or yellows that can bring energy to a kitchen or dining area.

For example, if you were planning on colour drenching your kitchen, we’d recommend Dulux Easycare Kitchen. With 1437 mixed to order colours and 39 ready mixed, there’s a colour for every kitchen. To find paints that are great for kitchens, you can order a Dulux colour chart here.

Personal connection

In addition to picking a colour that’s right for the mood you’re wanting to evoke, you also want to pick a colour that resonates with you. This will help to make you feel more connected to the space and enable it to reflect your personality. Furthermore, you do not want to drench a room in a colour that you dislike, as then that room will not feel right for you.

As Crown paint and Crown Trade stockists, a paint range renowned for its exceptional and distinctive colours and finishes is the Crafted by Crown range. It's the perfect choice to strengthen your personal connection with any room.

CRAFTED™ by Crown offers 62 affordable, premium paint shades in three unique finishes: Luxurious Flat Matt, Lustrous Metallic (pictured), and Suede Textured. The different finishes are especially useful when it comes to colour drenching.

Tip: Opting for a flat matt ceiling and metallic or suede walls would be the ultimate power clash when colour drenching your home!

Lighting and complementary colours

One of the key elements to consider when you’re colour drenching your home is lighting - both artificial and natural.

Dark colours can be cosy and dramatic but will definitely need more artificial lighting. Lighter shades can make a small room feel more spacious. In addition to the lighting, you must also consider the compatibility of the colour with existing elements in the room.

A range that stands out really well with regards to working with complementary colours is Dulux Heritage.

With over 100 colours to choose from, Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt is a great option for colour drenching. It’s a luxurious, washable emulsion paint that promises a rich depth of colour. Blended with premium pigments, it delivers a beautifully soft finish that's irresistible to the touch and works really well on walls, woodwork, and ceilings. As Dulux Heritage stockists, colours that are really popular for colour drenching are:

Wild Blackberry (pictured`0, Deep Ultramarine, Florentine Red, and DH Indigo; all deep colours, all of which work really well in rooms where the complementary colours are either lighter or brighter to break the tone up.

BUT... it’s worth noting... colour drenching doesn’t have to be just one colour, and they don’t have to be dark or loud - they just have to resonate with you, your taste and your style - so please keep that in mind!

How to colour drench - the art of application

Once you've selected your colour scheme, it's time to implement it throughout the room. Here's how you can effectively drench your space:

Skimming

Before you dive into colour drenching, don't forget to give your walls and ceilings a good skim! It's an essential piece of prep work for colour drenching by applying a thin layer of plaster to the surface. This will help to make everything look super smooth and flawless, so you won't spot any pesky flaws once the paint's on which, dependent on the paint you opt for, can be very obvious and easy to see. Skimming is essentially the secret to achieving that perfect, even finish.

Primer

If your walls and ceilings are good to go, a primer is the most obvious starting point depending on the paint you’ve opted for. For example, if you opt for Farrow and Ball paints, it’s often recommended to use Farrow & Ball primers as a crucial foundation for creating a rich, even and longer lasting finish.

Paint

Once you’ve primed, if necessary, painting is the next step. With colour drenching, as you’re possibly painting everything the same colour, it can be tricky to know where to start, and that’s really up to you. We’d recommend starting at the ceiling and working your way down.

If you’re using Farrow & Ball’s multi-surface, durable Dead Flat®, it’s easier than ever to colour drench your home. Whether you want to make a room feel bigger and lighter or cosy and inviting, this paint can cover ceilings, walls, woodwork and even wooden furniture.

When it comes to colour drenching, your furniture and fabrics play a pivotal role. Opt for sofas, chairs, and tables that feature your dominant colour to fully embrace the effect, or you can take an exciting turn by introducing a complete contrast – perfect for those who appreciate dopamine design.

Adding depth to a colour-drenched room is effortless with furniture and fabrics. Even when you're using the same colour, they can act as fantastic elements to break it up.

Accessories

Don't overlook the smaller details! We know you came here for paint but it'd be remiss to not include something that's really important to a room, especially when you are going in deep with colours. We encourage you to think about incorporating décor items such as vases, artwork, and rugs. These subtle additions have the power to tie the room together and infuse a touch of sophistication and take your space to another level entirely.

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Balancing the Space

While colour drenching aims for a uniform look, balance is essential. Here's how to ensure your room isn't overwhelming:

Use neutrals

Incorporate neutral colours, such as white, grey, or beige, to provide relief from the dominant colour - this could be via your flooring options or the lighting you opt for.

Texture and patterns

Introduce various textures and patterns to break up the monotony. This can be achieved through textured paints, such as those in the Crafted by Crown range, fabrics, patterned wallpapers, or different finishes on furniture.

Declutter

Lastly, a clutter-free space ensures that your chosen colour remains the focal point without distractions and making a room look too busy and subsequently, overwhelming.

To conclude, colour drenching is a powerful interior design technique that can transform your home into more than somewhere inviting, you can turn it into a space that is totally and unappologetically YOU!

With Paint Direct’s guide to colour drenching, you can confidently embark on a journey to create a space that not only pleases the eye but also resonates with your soul.