The Art of Colour Drenching

The power of paint to transform a room remains unrivalled, to this day! And while white ceilings and trim, with a contrasting or neutral colour on the walls, has served us well for many decades, there’s a new way to use paint that is turning heads!

Colour Drenching is the style in which every surface is painted the same colour – ceiling, walls, window/door trims and skirtings. It can be a saturated colour, or a softer neutral. The result is the same – the walls and architectural details recede, while the contents of the room play a more dominant role.

Colour Drenching – surfaces and architectural details, such as skirtings, ceilings and trims, are painted in a single hue.

Wattyl Ballet Slippers. Image courtesy Fenton & Fenton

The overall effect is that the room appears to be larger, while furniture, textiles and artwork become the hero. Items such as carpets and rugs can be selected in similar hues to the wall colour – or in contrasting colours. Pattern and texture also play key roles

Colour Drenching – white walls, ceilings and trims are painted in the same colour, furnishings can be in a contrasting or similar hue.

Wattyl Peachtone. Image courtesy Fenton & Fenton.

Wattyl is predicting that some consumers will find the idea of exactly the same hue on all surfaces a little
confronting, with some of us opting for tonal variations on a single hue – walls would be painted in one colour, for example, while the ceiling would be in a slightly lighter tone, or the trims and door could be a deeper tone than the wall. The instore Wattyl colour cards provide ten tints and tones of a single hue, and have been designed to make it easier for consumers to create the colour drenched palette they prefer.

Colour Drenching – by using a single hue for walls and trims and a neighbouring colour on the colour wheel – such as blue and pink – for decorative elements, visual vibrancy is created while maintaining a calming ambience.

Wattyl Long Night. Image courtesy Fenton&Fenton

Wattyl is predicting that some consumers will find the idea of exactly the same hue on all surfaces a little confronting, with some of us opting for tonal variations on a single hue – walls would be painted in one colour, for example, while the ceiling would be in a slightly lighter tone, or the trims and door could be a deeper tone than the wall. The instore Wattyl colour cards provide ten tints and tones of a single hue, and have been designed to make it easier for consumers to create the colour drenched palette they prefer.

Colour Drenching delivers a whole new range of interior styling opportunities. As seen above, walls and trims can be painted in one bold colour, while furnishings and decorative elements are in an analogous (neighbouring) hue on the colour wheel. The result is a joyful, vibrant interior but one that is simultaneously relaxing.