What about walls, ceilings, and woodwork painted in the same tonal tone? This bold move is not common, but it’s becoming a popular trend to ‘colour drenching.
“Softly, gently” has been the predominant approach to paint walls over recent years. But that is changing.
Many people who lived in more places during the pandemic had a strong desire to create a sense of their own interiors. Paint colours are able to bring out your personality.
Blended: An area in the dining room that has been drenched with shades of blue. This bold move is not recommended, but interiors experts say it’s becoming a popular trend.
‘We’re seeing a more liberal use of a single colour in our recent projects,’ says Rosie Ward, creative director at Ward & Co.
This concept, also called ‘colour-drenching,’ can seem intimidating at first but when done well, it can help to give homes a sense of cohesion, character, flow, and surprisingly, a calm atmosphere.
Pick a shade
Whether you choose a soothing mid-tone or a bold, all-enveloping colour, the idea is to drench your space in one hue — or tonal variations of it — from walls and ceiling to woodwork, the inside of doorways, window frames and even radiators.
Helen Shaw of Benjamin Moore says, “Using one shade in this fashion adds a sense of grandeur while also providing a chic and minimalist base.”
‘Variable levels in saturation can transform your home’s interior from dull to bright, and it also instantly changes the room’s dimension.
If your home lacks features, colour drenching is a great way to add impact.’
Roby Baldan, interior designer
You can colour-drench with any color, but you need to think about it and take a serious approach. Deep shades of blue or green can work beautifully in kitchens; blood-red can be enlivening in studies, cloakrooms and cosy living spaces — especially those that face north.
Dusty pink drench can be used in sitting areas and corridors for a subtle touch. This color is great with old brass or golden fittings.
Roby Baldan, an interior designer says, “Using the same colour throughout helps flatten less attractive features, such as radiators. It makes them disappear into the background.”
“A single shade will make the space recede, while everything else is prominent. You can highlight architectural details in period homes with a different color to create a modern, dramatic look.
Colour drenching, if your house lacks design features, is a fantastic way to increase its impact.
It’s like working with a professional
These are just a few of the things you need to remember to make your event a success.
Choose the appropriate tone first. Justyna Korczynska, Crown, says that bold, saturated jewel colors and teals are very effective. Dark greys, near-black shades and deep navy colors are good options. Avoid bright colors that can overwhelm, such as superbrights.
Start small, such as in a cloakroom.
Roby advises that you choose three different shades of the chosen color, from light to dark. Look at how much natural light is available. You may prefer to use light colours in certain rooms, but you might need dark shades for others.
If the space gets a lot of natural light, choose the palest shade for the main wall and use darker colors to accent the features. The darker colours should be used as main colors and for trim.
How do you coordinate?
Combining colour-drenched walls and furniture with bold, fashion-forward pieces is a great way to create cohesion. This is a look that works in kitchens too — deVol’s new Heirloom range looks great in a deep burgundy finish against pale pink walls.
Sometimes picking a single colour from an artwork can be enough to jumpstart your design.
You can add visual interest to your space by using furniture, curtains, pillows, cushions, lamps and rugs as well as accessories. However, you should limit the number of colours used.
This is a statement trend that’s all about sticking to your guns — commit to the look fully and you won’t go wrong.
A festive table runner is all your home requires
Detail: The Nathalie Lete Table Runner costs £58 (anthropologie.com)
Others won’t wait until Christmas to get in on the act. Other people deck the halls as soon as possible.
You may prefer a festive middle ground but want your home to be cheery before you get out the glitter.
If you like an understated Yuletide style, the £14.95 Not On The High Street beige linen runner decorated with snowflakes should suit.
H&M Home’s £6 plain red runner would serve as a base for greenery, colourful napkins and candlesticks.
If you want more adornment, options include the £58 Nathalie Lete Table Runner. Wayfair has a £13.99 runner with a grey stag’s head.
You can also go above and beyond. At Lakeland, you can find a £14.99 gold glitter runner while Marks & Spencer can supply a £25 runner with sequins in red or white, or another, in red and grey and also costing £25, with lights operated by batteries. Ho, ho, ho.
