Colour drenching: an interior design trend born out of self expression

This year saw a flurry of bold, colour-drenched and multi-layered interior design trends make a return to popularity. From cottagecore and grand-millennial to maximalism and neotenic design, the emerging trends fuelling aspirational aesthetes seemed to reinforce the idea that bigger may be better – but making a statement is clearly best.

Colour trend reports from Resene, Wattyl, Dulux and Haymes Paints all predicted that, while neutral palettes have become a mainstay in interior design schemes, rich hues of pinks, reds, indigo, yellows and purples would enjoy a renaissance in 2023 as we look to shake off the collective trauma acquired during the pandemic years.

Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem, director of YSG Studio, told ArchiPro that restricted travel and lockdowns stoked the desire for an outlet to express individuality. “I think after exhausting lockdowns where we were confined within household walls, we’re all craving personality, so we’re becoming more experimental – with colour especially.”

Read now: How the pandemic has reframed the role of the home

Naturally, a new trend has emerged from the cultural shift towards colour and self-expression; colour drenching. Colour drenching is when an entire room or space is painted, decorated and furnished with the same colour. Dr Jenny Underwood, associate dean of Fashion and Textiles Technology at RMIT told ArchiPro that “culture, and shifts in culture, permeate into colour and pattern and then into design. It’s this relationship that thrives in fashion, interior design and architecture.”

Even a cursory glance at mainstream media will reveal a renewed interest in establishing a sense of individuality either via fashion or interior design, and comparisons can easily be drawn between fashion trends such as colour blocking and dopamine dressing, and the rising popularity of colour drenching.

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While we’ve long been told painting a space with white or light colours is the key to creating visual spaciousness, using a single colour on every surface and textile has a similar effect while simultaneously creating a sense of drama. Although using colour in such abundance may feel like an overwhelming design choice, it’s actually one that requires little thought beyond cohesiveness. 

Simply by ensuring everything matches, your scheme will feel curated and intentional. And for furniture collectors who take pride in the shapely and unusual nature of their handpicked pieces, colour drenching has a unique effect on a space whereby, despite being filled with colour, the colour isn’t the hero feature at all. When everything is painted in the same hue, walls, ceilings, windows, doors and trims seem to fade into the background, allowing decorative objects and furniture to become the star of the show.

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Hopping on the colour drenching train involves little more than selecting a colour and splashing it across every surface and object. However, special consideration should be given to the colour you choose, as certain colours are said to influence mood and energy. Warm colours such as red, yellow and orange are thought to be associated with love, passion, happiness and anger, while cool hues such as blue, green and purple lend themselves towards calmness, sadness and indifference.

Find more trend and decorating advice on ArchiPro.