Learn all about the color drenching paint trend – and how to use it in your home – in this guide from our color consultants.
If you spend any time on Pinterest or interior design blogs, then you’ve probably seen a lot of color drenching recently. It seems as if color drenching – painting all parts of a room with one paint color – has become a very popular trend in the last year or two, but in reality, it’s not new.
In the design industry, color drenching has been around for years. But now that average homeowners are paying attention to this trend and trying it out in their homes, there’s been a huge uptick in interest.
If you’ve considered trying the color drenching trend in your home, then this guide is for you. Our team of paint color consultants will share our best color drenching dos and don’ts to help you bring this look to life in your home.
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What is Color Drenching?
Color drenching is an interior design technique that involves painting an entire room or space the same color, including walls, ceilings, trim and doors. In some cases, even furniture and other features of a room are painted with the same color. Other times, multiple shades or sheens of the same color may be used to break up the look.
Color drenching is a simple but bold technique that can really make a room or space stand out. Color drenching with whites or creams can make a space feel clean and bright, while color drenching with dark paint colors can create a rich, gorgeous accent in a home.
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Where did color drenching come from?
Although many think of color drenching as covering a room with a dark paint color, we first saw it when whites became prevalent as an interior trend with white paint colors in about 2017 or 2018.
At that time, many designers were painting rooms all one white color, but with shifting paint sheens on the walls, trim and ceilings. Since the color formulations change slightly and the light hits each sheen differently, each surface looks different despite being the same hue.
Below is an example of this white color drenching trend. In this room, we painted everything with Benjamin Moore White Dove. The base molding and door featured the shiniest satin sheen. The walls are eggshell, and the ceilings use Benjamin Moore ceiling paint, which comes in an ultra-flat sheen.
What is the benefit of color drenching?
There are many benefits of trying the color drenching trend. Color drenching is a great way to add a sense of peace and calm to a space because the color palette is so simple. Even when you go with a bold color, drenching a room in one hue makes a statement without being too busy or overwhelming.
Color drenching can also help hide less attractive features of a room, like large radiators or closet doors. Painting these items the same color as the rest of the room helps them disappear.
It’s also safe, especially with white paint colors, because when you use the same color for all surfaces, you don’t need to think about which whites go with others.
Does color drenching make a room look bigger?
Yes, it can. Because you’re using one color on the walls, trim and even the ceilings, color drenching can create the illusion of height and make a space feel larger.
Will color drenching go out of fashion?
Like any paint trend, it’s possible we won’t always see color drenching as a popular design choice. But there’s something really classic and timeless about painting a room in one single hue.
This is especially true when you’re color drenching a room in a white or neutral paint color. But even bolder choices can stand the test of time!
Color Drenching How-To
Ready to try color drenching a room in your home? Read through our best tips for choosing a paint color, using paint sheens correctly and bringing this design to life in your home.
What gets painted for color drenching?
Color drenching typically includes painting the walls, trim, ceiling, doors, window trim and other woodwork all the same color. In some spaces, you may also see furniture and built-ins painted with the same hue.
While some homeowners may decide to try color drenching without painting the ceiling (and leaving it white), a truly color-drenched room includes the painted ceiling.
What colors are best for color drenching?
The best paint colors for color drenching are the ones that work for your specific home, your lighting and your design style. But we have some favorite color drenching ideas.
For modern homes with open layouts in the common areas, we usually recommend using whites or cream colors because they are calm and peaceful for a family. In this case, if you pick a white for the area, you can color drench with shifting sheens. The white you choose for a color-drenched white common area will then become the trim and ceiling color for the rest of the house.
For common areas that are open and interconnected, such as kitchens, living rooms and hallways, you can very easily color drench with lighter whites and off-whites such as BM White Dove, BM Simply White, and SW Alabaster, and SW Greek Villa. SW Swiss Coffee is creamier, and also lovely, but I don’t recommend using darker whites than Swiss Coffee, or it will start to get dingy.
You can then use darker colors in single separated rooms such as dining rooms, bedrooms, offices, and even bathrooms.
When you color drench a colorful room, stick with saturated dark to mid-toned colors, and warm saturated beiges. I would avoid color drenching for a whole house with a greige color like Classic Gray, Agreeable Gray or Repose Gray because the result could look very dingy.
What sheen is best for color drenching?
It’s very important to pay attention to your paint sheen when color drenching a room. There are different ways of handling paint sheens for color drenching, which we’ll explore below.
Shifting Paint Sheens
The most common approach to color drenching paint sheens is to use different sheens for the different parts of a space. Walls are usually eggshell, trim is usually satin and ceilings are usually flat. The benefits of this type of sheen placement is that the architectural features become more prominent as the light bounces around the room.
This is especially beautiful for white rooms with lots of molding, all painted white for a light and lovely look. Another benefit to this sheen placement is that when you use the same white for molding, walls and ceilings, then you don’t need to worry about using the wrong color for the trim and ceiling with the wall color.
You can use this same shifting sheens technique for colorful rooms as well. We have used this method several times, and it is just beautiful.
One important thing to note is that even if you use the same color, painters consider each sheen a different color, and they need to tape each one off. The reason is that each sheen has a slightly different color formulation. So this technique can be expensive because you need to cut in each sheen separately, but very lovely and effective.
Matte or Flat Sheen
Another option that can be more budget-friendly is to use a matte or flat paint sheen on all surfaces in a color-drenched space.
Smoother surfaces will look shinier than the rougher drywall surfaces. This becomes more prevalent when using darker paints. I think it was discovered by people that really didn’t feel like doing the work to cut in all the surfaces, but it works very well for darker paint colors.
Farrow and Ball launched their Dead Flat paint last year, targeted exactly for color drenching, and it is gorgeous! With the Dead Flat paint, you paint any surface you want with the same sheen, sometimes even furniture!
I was skeptical about this approach to color drenching paint sheens until I saw this in my gym. I didn’t really care to paint all the surfaces with different sheens, so I just had the painter use the same sheen on the plywood that holds up the equipment.
Here is a photo where you can see the eggshell sheen and how it is shinier when painted on the wood (right), and less shiny on the drywall (left). This works!
Can you try color drenching without painting the ceiling?
You can, but it won’t have quite the same effect. A white ceiling will make the room lighter, but then it’s not drenching anymore.
Another prevalent color drenching method that was used in the 2000s was that high-end builders would paint the walls some dark gold or beige color, and then paint the ceilings the same color at 50%. That was stylish then, but we don’t recommend it anymore. Worst of all, builders would do this for a whole house, not just a single room.
There are so many reasons against it. First, it’s really limiting. If you decide to paint the walls in a single room a new color, you need to change the ceiling color, which always adds cost. Second, there are no formulas for xx% of anything, so it’s a risk to end up with the right ceiling color.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve done a consultation where the client asked to keep the ceilings as they are to reduce project cost, but then I had to break the news that if they wanted white walls without painting their ceilings, the ceilings would look beige in comparison to their white walls. One client decided to embrace the gold ceilings, which ended up as a gold color in their lofted living room with white walls. It looked amazing, but not a look that people necessarily are looking for.
If you want to try color drenching, you’re best off going all in and painting the ceiling the same color as the walls.
Can you color drench with dark paint?
Yes, you absolutely can! Some of our favorite client projects have involved color drenching with a dark paint color.
Dark colors make the view outside come to life. They act like a movie theater, where a screen is surrounded by darkness. If you have a beautiful landscape outside your window, color drenching can help bring a focus to the view.
Dark blues and greens can also help make wooden furniture look richer. A dark color is a great way to accentuate a piece of furniture by providing an endlessly deep and dark backdrop.
If you do pick a dark color to drench a room, just ensure you have TONS of natural light or artificial light. Otherwise, the dark color can shift to black and quickly become oppressive. Always make sure to test your paint colors in the space you plan to use them before you start painting. If the color looks black in the room’s typical lighting, then it’s too dark.
Sample Paint Colors for Color Drenching
You should always sample and test your paint colors. The easiest way to any paint color is via SAMPLIZE. Their peel-and-stick paint samples are easy to use and true to color.
There is no mess, and the cost is less expensive than purchasing a sample and a white poster board. Since you don’t need to dispose of the paint, it’s also environmentally friendly!
With Samplize you can easily see how different shades look on your unique wall.
Color Drenching Examples: How to Use Color Drenching
Whether you want to try color drenching a bedroom, bathroom or living room, there are so many ways to make your space feel unique yet classic. Explore some of our favorite client color drenching projects below.
White Color Drenching Examples
Color drenching with white paint is one of the most timeless options you can try, and although it may seem counterintuitive, it makes architectural features stand out!
Benjamin Moore Cloud White Color Drenching
This gorgeous home uses a color-drenched Cloud White throughout a variety of spaces. In this room, we painted all of the moldings with a satin sheen. The dry-walls were painted with eggshell, and the ceiling is flat, with dry-wall beams. We painted the dry-wall beams with a shinier satin sheen to mimic painted wood beams. It worked beautifully!
Benjamin Moore White Dove Color Drenching
We used White Dove as a ceiling, wall, and trim color in this beautiful bedroom. White Dove, as with many white paint colors, is a great tool to enhance architectural details.
This room has a high, vaulted ceiling and unique windows. The simple color palette lets these details stand out. You don’t need to shift colors to highlight the details; a shift in sheens is enough.
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak Color Drenching
Although I wouldn’t color drench with BM Pale Oak or other neutrals for a whole-house paint color, it can work in single rooms. In the bathroom pictured below, we painted the walls and ceilings with Pale Oak, with an eggshell sheen.
The ceiling looks lighter because of the light in the room but it’s really not. It worked because of the great big window that you see here.
Again, tread carefully when using these light neutrals to color drench. I don’t recommend it for a whole-house color. It will look dingy in parts of the house without as much light.
Color Drenching with Mid-Toned Colors
This is where it starts to get fun, and is what most people think of color drenching. You can go as bold as you want with these paint colors!
Pop by Clare Paint Color Drenching
Below we have a girl’s bedroom painted with Pop by Clare. Color drenching a bedroom is one of our favorite applications of this trend – it looks so bold and beautiful in this space!
This was our client’s project, so we can’t take credit for it, but she sent photos that we wanted you to see. Everything is painted with a matte sheen, including the headboard!
The photo below shows the headboard painted the same color as the walls!
You can see how much this homeowner loves color! In fact, through the door of the bedroom you can see another room featuring a colorful, floral House of Hackney Hollyhock wallpaper that is just gorgeous!
Samplize doesn’t carry samples of Clare paint, but you can get a similar look to this room with Sherwin-Williams Persimmon paint, which you can sample below.
Farrow & Ball De Nimes Color Drenching
Color drenching with a deep green paint color is another beautiful way to embrace this trend in your home. Farrow & Ball De Nimes is a gorgeous option.
The living room pictured below is separated from the next room with an archway. It’s not necessarily a room with a door, but has very excellent separation. This room used matte walls, satin trim and flat ceiling paint. Farrow & Ball uses different names for their sheens. Explore all the Farrow & Ball sheens.
Below, you can see how the shininess changes with the surfaces, even though the sheen stays the same.
Color Drenching with Dark Paint Colors
There are so many colors that you can use to drench a room. If you’re looking to make a bold statement, color drenching with dark paint colors can be a beautiful option.
Make sure you test your paint colors with the lighting conditions you’ll have in the room. If the lights are always on, test that way. If you test the color and it looks black, then the color is too dark or not colorful enough.
Sherwin-Williams Rock Bottom Bedroom Color Drenching
We used SW Rock Bottom with shifting sheen treatments in the client project pictured below. Rock Bottom is a beautiful, deep, and muted blue-green paint color.
In this room, we used satin sheen for the window trim, crown molding, doors, wainscoting and fireplace mantle. The walls are painted with eggshell sheen, and the ceilings are painted with a flat sheen.
Note that in the photo below the color goes black in the corners, but it’s part of the total look. If the color went black in the whole room, it would be considered too dark.
Below, we see how beautiful and big the windows are, to flood the room with light.
It is beautiful! I love how the hardwood floors contrast with the dark blue-green paint. This room has tons of natural and artificial light, which keeps the room cozy and not oppressive. With this amount of light, Rock Bottom looks like a color and not black.
The yellow settee below pops with that dark color, drenched in the room.
Benjamin Moore Slate Teal Basement Color Drenching
I used Benjamin Moore Slate Teal for my own home gym, pictured below. I haven’t painted the ceilings and trim yet, but I’m going to, all with a matte sheen. Even without the full room painted, you can still see the effects of the color drench as we painted the plywood that holds up the pull-up equipment.
I love Slate Teal color drenching because it’s dark but colorful. It’s perfect for this type of basement room because we have tons of artificial light with overhead canned lights.
Sherwin-Williams Granite Peak Color Drenching
Granite Peak is a dark and silky sophisticated blue paint color with very soft green undertones. I love using Granite Peak as an accent wall paint color, and it looks beautiful as a paint color for color drenching.
In the client’s bedroom pictured below, we used matte paint on the walls and ceilings and satin paint on the baseboards and doors.
In the photo below, all walls, ceilings, and trim are painted with Granite Peak, but the color changes naturally as the light hits it in different ways. Note how that right wall looks much lighter. It is the same color, but across from a bright open window.
Color Drenching Paired with Wallpaper
Another unique option for color drenching is to combine a single paint color with a coordinating wallpaper. We used this technique in my own powder room, pictured below. We drenched the chair rail, base molding and drywall with Benjamin Moore Bella Blue Aura Bath and Spa paint, which only comes in a matte sheen.
We also used this color for the ceiling, with wallpaper above the chair rail. I love the way the combination of the chair rail, drywall and base molding combination looks like a very upscale wainscoting. I’ve been referring to it as a poor woman’s wainscoting!
Key Learning Points
Color drenching is a popular trend that seems to be here to stay. This painting technique is incredibly versatile because you can do it with neutral paint colors or bright and bold paint colors.
- To truly color drench a room, paint the walls, trim, woodwork and ceiling the same paint color. Some color-drenched rooms may also use the same paint color on furniture and other accents as well.
- Choose paint sheens carefully when color drenching a space. You can use shifting sheens for walls, ceilings and trim in a white room or colorful room to help architectural details stand out. Another option is to paint walls and ceilings both with a matte paint sheen, which can save time and money.
- Using dark paint for color drenching can be really beautiful. Make sure to test your paint colors in your room’s typical lighting (whether natural or artificial) to ensure you can really see the color. If it looks black, then it’s too dark for your space.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
Online Color Consulting
Still need help picking the best paint colors? We can help! Discover our Online Color Consultations.
Related Posts
- Sherwin-Williams Granite Peak Color Review
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White Color Review
- Benjamin Moore White Dove Color Review
- Benjamin Moore Bella Blue Powder Room
- Benjamin Moore Pale Oak Color Review
- Sherwin-Williams Persimmon Color Review
- Benjamin Moore Slate Teal Color Review
- 6 Best Neutral Paint Colors to Sell Your Home
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
2 Responses
Comment – Thank you, this is the best description, explanation of color drenching I have read. 2 questions – both ceiling related: 1) Most of the photos you provided are of rooms that appear to have ceilings that are higher than 9′ – if my ceilings are 8′ plus – is that going to be an issue? Also, my primary bedroom has coffered ceilings – should I use the flat ceiling paint finish on everything or use a different finish “inside the boxes” to highlight the details?
This is a great question! I have seen color drenched rooms that have lower ceilings, and they do work. I’ve experimented alot with sheens, and for a dark color drenched room, I prefer a matte sheen.