How to Color Drench a Room—and Pick the Perfect Hue Every Time

There's something extremely satisfying about color drenching, from the daring use of paint to the satisfying before-and-after videos. The main idea? Take a room and coat all four walls—along with the ceiling, trim, and molding—in a single hue.

Color drenching first made waves a few years ago, and it seems to have stuck. However, it’s one thing to see it in pictures on Instagram, and another to try it yourself. So, how can you make color drenching look good? We asked interior designers the ins and outs of how to properly drench a room—from choosing the right hue to selecting the décor.

Why It's Popular

Experts agree that color drenching is a response to years of minimalist, white spaces. "We've seen clients starting to crave rooms that feel more cozy and more experiential, and color drenching creates the perfect foundation," says interior designer Ellie Mroz.

Mroz notes that the trend has timeless appeal, which is why it hasn't faded from the spotlight. "We've seen this in fashion as well—monochromatic dressing reads chic and pulled together, never flashy," she says. "It hides visual clutter, lets the architecture shine, and creates an instant mood."

Plus, if you're looking for a complete transformation, color drenching gets the job done. "It’s a high-impact, relatively attainable way to shift a room’s personality," says Linda Hayslett, principal designer and founder of LH Designs. "It creates an immersive, cocoon-like environment."

Color drenching even offers a sort of visual magic. "When the walls, trim, and ceiling share one color, the eye moves more fluidly around the room, making the space feel larger and more unified," says Caryn Paradis, interior designer and founder of Studio Paradis.

How to Choose the Right Color

While color drenching is beloved among designers, it's important to choose the right color so that your space really sings. "Cooler, muted tones are great for calming spaces like bedrooms or reading nooks," Hayslett says. "Warm tones or rich jewel shades are perfect in rooms where you want visual presence, like dining rooms or studies."

If you're still not sure, take inspiration from your environment. "Look [at] what you already love—your wardrobe, a favorite bag, a piece of art—and pull from that palette so it feels like you, not just Pinterest," says Mroz.

Also, keep lighting in mind. "The less natural light a room gets, the deeper and richer you can go," Hayslett says. "Light barely affects saturated colors, but it will wash out pale tones and make them feel flat."

From there, it's key to test out your options. "Sample the shade on multiple surfaces—including the ceiling—to see how it behaves in both natural and artificial light," Paradis says. "It also helps to account for finishes that cannot be changed easily, such as floors or stonework."

How to Drench a Room

There are several key steps when color drenching a room:

1. Prime first: If you're applying a rich hue, this will ensure that the color reads.
2. Sample widely: "Test the color on walls, trim, and the ceiling to see how it evolves in different lighting conditions," Hayslett says.
3. Choose your finishes: Choose one sheen for every surface; for more dimension, diversify. "Matte walls [and ceilings] paired with slightly glossier trim or accents introduce subtle depth, without disrupting the color story," says Mroz.
4. Drench the details: You'll want to paint almost everything. "Don’t forget doors, baseboards, window casings, built-ins, and sometimes even radiators or vent covers," says Mroz.
5. Wallpaper what you can't paint: If you can't coat something directly, Hayslett suggests wrapping it in a color-matched wallpaper or lacquer.
6. Account for the architecture: For particularly striking features, like woodwork, you can skip the paint. "Keeping those natural can add balance and character," Paradis says.
7. Think about transitions: Keep the room cohesive with adjacent spaces. "The color drenched room should feel like a deliberate moment, not a random interjection," says Mroz.

How to Decorate

Texture plays a star role in a color drenched space. "Layering materials such as linen, velvet, wood, stone, and metal creates dimension and keeps the room from feeling flat," says Paradis. "The monochromatic background allows these textures to take center stage."

Let the paint's undertone inspire which textures to decorate with. "Is it warm or cool?" asks Mroz. "That undertone should dictate other selections—fabrics, metals, and stone."

As for palettes, Mroz likes to maintain a tightly edited color scheme. "In a deep brown room, for example, I might layer creams, caramels, charcoal, and a touch of black," she says. "In a softer, stony room, I’ll lean into taupes, warm whites, aged brass, and natural woods."

The scale of your furnishings can also round out a drenched space. "Larger pieces and simplified silhouettes tend to make a stronger statement against a unified backdrop," says Mroz.

Last but not least, be sure to prioritize the jewelry of your room. "Thoughtful lighting adds even more dimension, with matte walls absorbing light softly—metallic or glossy accents reflect it and create gentle contrast," says Mroz.