All In: Colour Drenching – The Ultimate Guide

 

 

Imagine grabbing a single tin of paint – let’s say a deep green – and then just… not stopping. You hit the walls. You roll right up over the skirting boards. You take it over the doors, the trim, the ceiling, the radiator. If there’s a piece of furniture sitting still long enough, that gets it too. That, my friend, is colour drenching.

Now this isn’t your average “feature wall” nonsense – this is full commitment. This is jumping in with both feet. It’s not just colour on the walls. It’s colour everywhere. And when it’s done right, it turns a room into more than just a space to sit. It becomes an experience for the home.

The idea here is simple: eliminate contrast. You blur the boundaries, erase the edges. Corners vanish, ceiling lines dissolve, and the whole room starts to feel like it was carved out of one big, beautiful crayon. That uniform wash of colour makes the eye stop searching for breaks and instead settle into the space. The result? A bold, immersive atmosphere that can swing two ways – serene or dramatic – depending on the colour you choose.

Do it in moody tones, like navy, plum, or forest green, and you get a cocoon. Something rich, grounded, and incredibly inviting. Opt for lighter shades – bone, blush, powder blue – and suddenly you’ve got something that feels bigger, airier, and full of light. It’s like magic, only it smells a little like emulsion.

And while it looks high-end – and often does show up in glossy magazines and posh homes – you don’t need a designer’s budget to pull this off. All you need is the right paint, a little courage, and a willingness to go “all in.” Because colour drenching isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about making a statement.

So, if you’ve ever looked around your living room and thought, “This could use a little something… maybe something like Olive Green”, maybe what it needs is… everything. Painted the same. Top to bottom. That’s colour drenching.

 

 

Let’s be honest – accent walls had a good run. They were the go-to trick when someone wanted to “add drama” without fully committing. But here’s the thing: drama without commitment is just noise. That single red wall might’ve turned heads once, but now it just looks like the paint ran out.

Colour drenching, though? That’s the opposite. It’s a full-send, all-in move that doesn’t just make a statement – it finishes the sentence.

See, when you remove all the contrast – those harsh cut lines where one colour ends and another begins – the room stops shouting at you from every corner. Your eye glides. The walls don’t interrupt. The ceiling doesn’t stand out like an afterthought. Everything just works together, like a choir singing in tune. That’s cohesion – and it feels good.

It’s especially useful in those “what do I do with this?” rooms. You know the ones. Odd corners, sloped ceilings, weird alcoves – maybe even a radiator plonked right in the middle of the wall. Rather than trying to hide those features with smoke and mirrors, colour drenching wraps them into the design. Suddenly that clunky pipe isn’t a flaw – it’s part of the harmony.

And let’s not ignore the mood factor. Want a room that feels like a cosy cave where you can shut out the world? Drench it in something dark and rich. Want a space that feels clean, calm, and a little dreamy? Go light and low-contrast. There’s a psychological shift when your surroundings stop arguing and start cooperating. You stop noticing the edges – and start feeling the space.

So why colour drench? Because it’s simple, it’s smart, and it works. No gimmicks. Just good paint, well placed, doing what paint was always meant to do: transform the room.

Speaking of good paints: Hanford & Green coatings are ideal for colour drenching. 5,000 colours in tough, durable paints that stand up to the test of time (and mucky hand prints) across any surface. Available at Rawlins Paints!

 

 

Before colour drenching was the darling of design blogs and paint brand campaigns, it had already earned its stripes. This technique didn’t start on Instagram – it started in stately homes, manor houses, and grand drawing rooms where design wasn’t just about looking good, it was about feeling cohesive.

In those old houses, it wasn’t uncommon to see entire rooms washed in a single tone. Panelling, crown moulding, ceiling beams – painted to match. Why? Because it unified the space. It made everything feel like part of the architecture, not just stuff stuck on the walls. And when you’re dealing with high ceilings, carved woodwork, and ornate plaster, that consistency gave the room some balance. It was practical, and it was beautiful – two words that rarely get to dance together.

Fast forward a few hundred years, and we’re borrowing the same idea – but now it comes with more freedom. We’re not limited to Regency green or Edwardian greys. Today’s colour drenching pulls from an expanded paint box. You can use dusky pink, matte black, sage, teal – whatever fits the mood you’re chasing. The principle is the same, but the palette’s been modernised.

So no, this isn’t a trend that popped up overnight. It’s a technique with roots, refined and reworked for modern spaces. Still smart. Still striking. Just with a bit more mustard yellow if you fancy it.

 

 

So, why commit to colour drenching? Why not just throw up an accent wall and call it a day? Because when you go all in, you get more than a nice paint job. You get a transformation. Here’s what happens when you stop playing it safe and let one colour take over.

Makes Small Rooms Feel Bigger (Yes, Really)

In a smaller room, corners are your enemy. Every edge, every bit of contrast, reminds you of the room’s size. Colour drenching wipes those lines clean. By using the same colour from skirting to ceiling, you trick the eye into seeing one continuous space. It’s not magic – it’s just good visual engineering.

And in bigger rooms? It works there too. Instead of the space feeling disjointed or cavernous, that single tone pulls it all together. Everything feels considered. Everything feels calm.

Sets a Clear Mood, Without Saying a Word

This technique isn’t just about visuals – it’s about how a space feels. Dark colours wrap around you like a heavy blanket. You walk into that room, and suddenly it’s quieter. The day slows down. It’s a cocoon, not a cave.

Light tones? They lift the ceiling. They open the windows, even if you haven’t got any. The room breathes. And if you pick something bold – a mustard yellow, a saturated green – it can feel confident, even cosy. Not loud. Just… grounded. It’s the difference between shouting a colour and speaking it fluently.

Disguises the Ugly Stuff (You Know the Stuff)

Let’s be honest – radiators, switches, built-in shelves, wonky cabinets – they’re rarely a room’s finest feature. But here’s the beauty of colour drenching: once everything is painted the same shade, those distractions vanish. A radiator stops looking like a radiator and starts looking like… well, part of the wall.

The same trick works on fitted wardrobes, weird alcoves, awkward trim. Suddenly, the room’s not showing its scars anymore. It’s showing its strength.

 

 

This isn’t a one-room wonder. Colour drenching works across the board – bedrooms, bathrooms, even the hallway you never think about. It’s about creating a full-body experience in each space. Here’s how to make it count, room by room.

Bedrooms: Turn Down the Noise

A bedroom’s supposed to help you switch off. One colour across the whole space – walls, woodwork, ceiling, the lot – does just that. Whether it’s a soft pastel that floats you into sleep or a deep navy that wraps around you like a weighted blanket, drenching the room in one tone makes it feel intentional. Calm. Like it’s there to help, not just to house the bed.

Bathrooms: Small Space, Big Impact

This is where the colour drenching trick really shines. Bathrooms are full of interruptions – tiles, grout lines, fixtures, mirrors. Pick one colour, and suddenly those interruptions stop shouting. Match the tile tone to the paint, even tint the grout, and what you get is cohesion. The room feels bigger, cleaner, and strangely luxurious – even if it’s no bigger than a broom cupboard.

Living Rooms: Depth, Warmth, and a Bit of Swagger

Most people slap on a feature wall and hope it brings the room together. Colour drenching doesn’t hope – it delivers. A single colour across the living room’s architecture – walls, ceiling, trim – and even across the textiles like curtains and sofas, gives the room a grounded feel. It doesn’t overwhelm. It settles in. It’s not just a lounge anymore – it’s a statement.

Kitchens: Tie It All Together

Kitchens are chaos. Cabinets, splashbacks, appliances, surfaces fighting for attention. Drenching your kitchen in one strong, steady colour simplifies the space. Paint the cabinetry, the walls, even the ceiling the same tone, and suddenly all that noise quiets down. You get unity without ripping everything out. Plus, it’s a bold look that says you planned it that way – even if you didn’t.

Hallways: First Impressions Matter

Hallways are usually overlooked. But they’re the handshake of your home. Hit them with a bold, continuous colour and watch what happens. You draw the eye forward. You soften the weird corners. You make a space that once just got you from A to B feel like part of the story. Bonus: it hides scuffs better than white.

Home Offices: Form Meets Focus

Working from home? Then you know that visual clutter is the enemy. Drench your workspace in a single colour and it all clicks. Walls, desk, shelves – when they match, the brain settles. It’s easier to focus when you’re not fighting the background. Add a colour that boosts your mood, and suddenly your office doesn’t feel like a leftover space – it feels like it means business.

 

 

Colour drenching isn’t hard – but it can go sideways if you wing it. Here’s how to do it right. These are the tricks that separate the slapdash paint jobs from the spaces that stop you in your tracks.

Go Matte or Go Home

When in doubt, reach for a matte or flat finish. Why? Because gloss bounces light around like a disco ball. Flat paint, on the other hand, absorbs it. That soft, muted surface keeps everything feeling grounded. It’s not flashy – it’s focused. If you want your colour to read as deep and velvety, matte is your go-to.

Keep the Colour, Vary the Texture

This isn’t about stripping all character from a room. You can still add texture – just don’t do it with competing colours. Try eggshell on the woodwork, or a soft sheen on cabinetry. It adds dimension without shouting over the main event. The trick is contrast in finish, not colour.

Don’t Skip the Ceiling

This is where most people chicken out. They stop at the crown moulding and leave the ceiling white. Big mistake. That white cap kills the illusion. For full immersion, the ceiling has to match. It’s the fifth wall. Paint it. Own it. It’s what takes colour drenching from “that looks nice” to “wow, this room feels different.”

Match the Details or Lose the Magic

Radiators, plug sockets, light switches – tiny things, right? But they can ruin the whole show if they’re left out. If they stick out, they break the illusion. Paint them. Spray them. Swap them for coloured ones. Do what you have to do. The magic is in the consistency.

Steer Clear of Open-Plan Minefields

Here’s the hard truth: colour drenching and open-plan layouts don’t always get along. Why? Because you need walls. Boundaries. A clear start and stop. If your kitchen flows into your dining room which flows into the hallway… it gets messy fast. Stick to closed-off rooms – powder rooms, bedrooms, offices. That’s where the magic works without question.

 

 

This is where it either clicks – or crashes. The right colour makes the room sing. The wrong one? You’re living in a mistake you paid money for. Don’t worry, though. You don’t need a colour theory degree – just a sense of the space and what you want it to feel like. Here’s how to size it up.

Hang on! Before we dive in, we must stress the importance of colour samples. These little bundles of fun can save you big money if your favourite shade on the colour chart doesn’t measure up so well in the room. Light is king, and you should test your favourite shades on different surfaces and view them at different times of the day.

Light Shades: Make Small Spaces Breathe

If you’re working with a compact room – say, a bathroom, guest bedroom, or a home office with barely enough space to swing a paintbrush – light shades are your best friend. Warm whites, soft greys, muted blushes… these colours don’t fight for attention. They blur the boundaries, soften the edges, and trick the eye into seeing more room than there is. It’s like opening a window without cutting a hole in the wall.

Deep Neutrals: Quiet Confidence, No Drama

Taupes, sage greens, dusty mauves – these are the grown-up choices. Not flashy, not dull. Just… composed. They’re great when you want to add sophistication without going full theatre. Perfect for living rooms, dining rooms, and anywhere you want to sit down with a glass of wine and exhale without being yelled at by your walls.

Dark Colours: Create a Cocoon, Not a Cave

This is where colour drenching gets moody – and powerful. Deep navy, charcoal, burgundy, even black. These colours don’t shrink a space when applied all over – they wrap it. Perfect for media rooms, bedrooms, or formal dining rooms. Anywhere you want to dim the lights and disappear for a bit. Just make sure you’re ready to commit – once you go dark, there’s no half-measures.

Vibrant Hues: Say Something Bold

Coral. Mustard. Teal. These aren’t quiet background players. These are statement colours. Best used in smaller, more defined areas – an entryway, a breakfast nook, a powder room – where you want to turn heads without overwhelming the senses. They also shine when used to highlight specific architectural details like built-ins or alcoves. A little goes a long way, but when it’s done right? It’s unforgettable.

 

 

Now, you don’t have to take my word for it. The pros are saying the same thing – colour drenching isn’t just some flash-in-the-pan design fad. It’s a smart, strategic move. People like Nicola Harding and Patrick O’Donnell – names that carry weight in the design world – see it not as a trend, but as a proper tool in the design toolbox.

Nicola Harding, known for her no-nonsense approach to layering colour and texture, uses colour drenching to tackle awkward layouts and forgettable architecture. Got a ceiling that’s too low? Paint it the same colour as the walls. Got trims, vents, radiators, or built-ins that look slapped on as an afterthought? Drench them in the same hue and watch them disappear into the scene. Suddenly, that utility cabinet isn’t an eyesore – it’s part of the plan.

Patrick O’Donnell of Farrow & Ball backs it up. He calls it a technique, not a trend – and he’s right. This approach hides the stuff you don’t want to see, and highlights the shape and feel of the room instead. It’s smoke and mirrors, sure – but it’s clever, and it works.

Bottom line? The experts aren’t just nodding politely at this idea. They’re using it. They’re recommending it. They’re building rooms around it. That’s not a gimmick. That’s good design.