Considering Color Drenching? Our Expert Tells Us What You Need To Know First.

Color drenching has become a popular topic in home trends and interior design, though it certainly is not a new concept. While it's hard to say who exactly started using this technique to style rooms and houses, it's been a big part of European culture for a long time, and it seems to be making a big comeback in the design world at large. The concept of filling a room with monochromatic elements, painting every surface — including the doors, molding, and fixtures — in a single color, and then adding furniture and decor in similar shades to provide depth and dimension is an interesting one. It can open up a room and make it seem more stylized and intentional, which gives a curated finish that many covet. If you've been considering color drenching your home (or parts of it), it's good to know all the pros, cons, and tips to really ensure this decor is done properly. During an exclusive interview with Erika Dale, an Interior Designer and Founder of Erika Dale Interior Design, House Digest got the scoop on everything you need to know to execute color drenching.

According to Dale, "Color drenching is an enveloping effect created when you paint the walls, trim, doors, moldings, and sometimes ceiling in the same hue." This brings the space together nicely and makes it seem more purposefully designed than combining a variety of random elements. Dale also adds that color drenching has an emotional effect. "[Color drenching] blurs the lines of the room in a surround of consistent color that feels tranquil, cozy, and dramatic."

Color drenching is more than just splashing one shade of paint across every surface in a room, though. The decorations, furniture, and even the walls, doors, ceiling, and molding have to benefit from the monochromatic scheme, and there's an order to how your plan and project should go. Erika Dale told House Digest during her exclusive interview of a method that ensures you get the most out of your design. "To pull off the look, it is essential to start with paint, as it does the heavy lifting to give the space the drenched look." Dale explained that once the paint had been added and "that color wash foundation established, you can go as heavy or light in matching the furnishings as well."

This gives you room to play with your decisions and additions. Dale noted, "Larger pieces like sofas and rugs will pack a larger punch to support the effect, while smaller items will play a smaller role." However, you can play around with the pieces you intend to incorporate, and some items may even need a reupholster or upgrade to help bring the monochromatic effect to fruition. Tips for nailing the monochromatic theme in any room revolve around including texture, sister shades, and contrast, all of which still apply to color drenching as well.

You might wonder if color drenching is considered a passing trend (or even a cyclical one) or a timeless design. According to Erika Dale in her exclusive with House Digest, "Color drenching, without the official name, has been used in Europe for a long time, so it can certainly be timeless when done in the right way." She goes on to explain that "By creating enough contrast and balance with the furnishings and not matching every element, it helps give the eclectic, curated look more staying power versus the trending strictly monochromatic interior."

The other important piece to consider is where color drenching can be used. The question may arise whether or not it only suits certain interior designs and styles, but Dale assures readers it can work with a variety of home styles. "Historically, color drenching has been used in lots of beautiful light, mid-tone, and bold hues in traditional and new traditional interiors, as they tend to have more ornate molding, woodwork, and details that makes the technique look extra incredible. However, modern aesthetics also look great color drenched in moodier mid-tone to deep tones." If you like the idea of this trend but want to get even more brazen, double drenching lets you play with more colors within the same family. Still, as Dale noted, it's traditional color drenching that will give you a timeless and chic finish that also offers a curated design.