Curious about colour drenching? Here are 7 of the best examples
It’s a decorating technique that has proved to be more than a viral trend and is cemented in the modern interior decorators’ playbook. So, what exactly is colour drenching? It involves using a single shade across the walls, ceiling and even fixtures of a room. Impactful and statement making, it’s a design choice that takes commitment but, as seen in these spaces from the ELLE Decoration archive, the results are worth taking the leap.
A blushing bedroom in Copenhagen
This vibrant family home outside of Copenhagen is an ode to the late great designer Verner Panton. Owner and designer Karsten K Lülloff and his wife Katja were meticulous when it came to nailing the exact shades, with Karsten revealing ‘We had to mix some of the colours 11 times before we got the right tone.’ In the bedroom, the colour drenching extends right down the legs of the bed – the vintage bedside locker and lamp were also painted to match.
A verdant living room by Atelier Zürich
Formerly an unloved office, this family home is now an opulent affair rich with patterned wallpapers and plenty of daring colour choices. Atelier Zürich designed these sofas, which were made by Girsberger, in a deep green velvet by Osborne & Little to complement the custom paint colour on the walls, produced by Keim.
A cosy cigar room by Banda design
Colour drenching can create a cocooning atmosphere. In this cigar room in a London home, design studio Banda chose Bauwerk’s ‘Hazelnut’ which adds extra depth to both the tones of the oak-burl sideboard and honeyed hue of the sheepskin upholstery on the vintage ‘Laila’ armchairs by Ilmari Lappalainen for Asko.
Emily Johnson’s vibrant london home
Emily Johnson, the founder of ceramics brand 1882 Ltd, took a totally fearless approach to colour when designing her London home. It’s an explosion of rich jewel tones with each room revealing a joyful new hue. The living room is given over to a lush verdant scheme, with Designers Guild’s ‘Emerald No 92’ on the walls and ceiling, while the cornicing is Valspar’s ‘Amalfi Coast’.
Masquespacio's perfect pastel kitchen
‘We like to combine and contrast. You can see it in our use of colour; we usually choose one or two for a room and play with the different shades.’ Husband and wife team Christophe Penasse and Ana Hernández of design studio Masquespacio have built a reputation for bold design choices, particularly when it comes to colour. The couple’s home in Valencia, which also encompasses the brand’s studio, encompasses this all-or-nothing attitude.
A warming bathroom by Leeton Pointon Architects + Interiors
This bathroom in a Melbourne home by Leeton Pointon Architects + Interiors is a warming space thanks to the use of rich terracotta palette. The limewash walls add texture, and the thematic colour palette is continued with fixtures and furnishings like the vintage rug, ‘New Volumes’ side table by Artedomus and Rosso Alicante counter from Corsi & Nicolai.
