All About Color Drenching: How To Incorporate This Cheerful Design Trend Into Your Interiors

Tired of bland walls and neutral spaces? Consider adding bold swaths of color into your home with color drenching. Experts say that this interior design technique, which involves using a single color for an entire room, will continue to be a huge trend in 2026 as it simplifies decor and creates a warm and cozy atmosphere. It also helps to create the ideal mood for any room, which can enhance mental and emotional well-being. 

In an interview with Architectural Digest, interior designer Danielle Chiprut says that color drenching can be an effective way to liven up spaces when it’s cold and dreary outside. “Color blocking and color drenching are especially strong for the winter months, bringing depth and coziness to interiors,” she explains. If you want to create spaces that pack a punch, here’s how to incorporate the color drenching trend into your interiors.

Choose a Color

Picking a color is the first step to transform your space. Since you’ll be using the same shade on the walls, ceiling, molding, and baseboards, you’ll need to make sure that you can live with it and that it doesn’t trigger any negative feelings or emotions. For instance, you may love cherry or poppy red, but overly bright colors like these can evoke feelings of anxiety or aggression. These colors may also have an impact on your heart rate and stress levels, so instead of a fiery red, consider going for a subdued, moody shade, like burgundy or wine. A deep red paint with plum undertones can give any room a jewel box feel, and it’s perfect for bedrooms since it gives spaces an intimate and romantic vibe. If you’re considering another color, avoid picking one with a yellow or red undertone since these can make the color appear too bright. 

Test the color by painting a patch on the wall, then observe it at different times of the day. Certain colors may look bad in the morning but better in the evening, so take your time so you can get a better sense of how the color changes the look of the space. Once you’re satisfied with it, start painting, taking care to extend the color all the way up to the ceiling and into all the corners of the room. 

Pick the Right Decorations and Accessories

If you choose a dark or moody color to color drench your room, balance the look by picking decorative items and accessories in lighter or contrasting shades to prevent the space from feeling boring or gloomy. For instance, to enhance a forest green living room, furnish it with a leather caramel colored couch, a glass coffee table with thin gold legs and golden trim, and some wooden custom frames to display artwork or personal photos. Add lamps, recessed lights, and a chandelier to illuminate the area, then incorporate texture with rugs, drapes, cushions, throw pillows, and throw blankets. Don’t forget to have botanical accents, or two to three medium sized plants to freshen your space. 

Go Subtle for High-Traffic and High-Focus Rooms

Soft colors will also work if you want to try color drenching other areas of your home. Pale, subtle shades are perfect for high-traffic rooms since it’s easier to repaint with these colors, and they’re not as high maintenance as jewel tones or moody colors. They also work for high-focus rooms, such as a home library or office since they promote calm and improve attention span. A soft, pale yellow or sage green will work for the kitchen, while color drenching a study or home office in greige or mushroom will give it a subtle lift.

Color drenching will continue to be trendy, so why not give this interior design technique a try? Remember to test the color to see if it’s right for your room, and don’t be afraid to go for unconventional shades to give your space a lush and elevated look.