The Power of Colour Drenching (and Its Bolder Cousin, Colour Capping)
Colour drenching is the design trend everyone’s talking about, and honestly, I can see why. It’s bold, beautiful, and surprisingly calming all at once.
At its simplest, colour drenching means painting your walls, trims, doors and ceiling in the same shade. It might sound dramatic, but it’s one of the easiest ways to create a sense of calm and cohesion in a space — especially in those tricky rooms with beams, angles, or features you can’t change structurally.
By keeping everything within one tonal family, your eye stops bouncing around from wall to ceiling to skirting. Instead, the room reads as one complete, intentional space.
Why It’s Having a Moment
Colour drenching isn’t actually new — it first appeared in early 20th-century interiors, particularly in stately homes and grand European spaces, where a single colour was used to evoke intimacy and warmth. The technique resurfaced in the 1980s, and again more recently, as designers began seeking ways to create mood-driven rooms that feel timeless rather than trend-led.
Today, colour drenching is resonating with homeowners as we crave a greater sense of calm. After years of bright whites and high contrast, we’re leaning into spaces that feel soothing and cocooning — rooms that wrap around us and encourage us to slow down and relax.
Soft, muted shades are perfect for this, creating a gentle, seamless flow. But it also works beautifully with deeper tones if you’re feeling a little braver. Think of a rich inky blue or an earthy terracotta that completely envelops the room. Dramatic, yes, but also incredibly grounding.
How to Make It Work
You can take colour drenching in two directions:
Soften it: Pair your drenched walls with lighter furnishings, natural textures, and soft fabrics to keep things relaxed and airy.
Lean in: Continue the colour story through your furnishings, bedding and artwork for a truly immersive look.
I’ve been working on a beach house makeover this past month, and we’ve colour drenched several of the rooms. The transformation has been huge! The spaces instantly feel calmer and more connected, the house feeling much more in tune with its surroundings.
The Next Chapter: Colour Capping
If colour drenching is about calm, colour capping is where we start to turn up the confidence.
This approach is similar in spirit. It still celebrates enveloping a space in colour but instead of using one continuous shade, the walls, ceiling and trims are painted in a variation of the same hue, or a complementary colour. Think of colour capping as the bolder, slightly more elegant cousin of colour drenching.
And, like colour drenching, this look isn’t new. In fact, it’s rooted in classic Italian design, where layered colour and tonal depth have long been used to add warmth and personality to interiors. But lately, it’s having a revival — or maybe just a new appreciation — as we become braver with colour in our homes.
It’s an incredibly effective way to add interest and depth while keeping the overall palette harmonious. A mid-tone wall with a deeper ceiling and trims draws the eye upward and adds contrast, without losing that sense of cohesion.
Much like colour drenching, it works beautifully across the spectrum, from soft, dusty neutrals that feel timeless and gentle, to rich, saturated hues that bring drama and energy.
It’s proof that colour doesn’t have to be loud to make an impact — it just needs intention.
Ready to Try It?
If you’ve been thinking about updating your home but aren’t sure where to start, experimenting with these colour techniques might be the perfect first step. It’s amazing what happens when you choose the right tone and just go for it — your whole space shifts.
If you’re ready to take that leap, but need a helping hand getting the colour right, my Colour Consultation service can help you find the perfect shade (or combination of shades) to bring the feeling you want into your home — whether that’s calm and cocooning, or bold and energising.
Sometimes, all it takes is one thoughtful colour decision to completely change how your home feels.
Inspiration images via Pinterest.
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