The Color Drenching Mistake That Designers Recommend You Avoid

If you've taken a scroll through design TikTok or Instagram lately, there's a solid chance you've seen some gorgeous rooms styled with the color drenching paint trend. The term refers to painting nearly every surface — walls, trim, doors, radiators, bookshelves, the ceiling — in the same color (or at least very similar shades). The effect is a cohesive, calming look that can make a room seem larger but still warm and inviting.

But designers warn there's one mistake too many people make when they try their hand at color drenching — they paint over permanent room features like wooden trim, antique fixtures, or stone fireplaces. These fixtures then lose their character and texture, appearing cheap or fake. Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't color drench a room with a stunning built-in fireplace or creaky wooden floors. With the right approach, you can make the trend work for you while still embracing the natural beauty of your home.

It's understandable why people want to go all-in with color drenching — you might as well go big or go home, and social media posts show some pretty striking one-color rooms. But that's part of the problem. In relatively small, well-curated posts, a brick fireplace in a lovely shade of blue or a once-wooden trim now a dramatic black can look modern and bold. Up close, though, the paint might be chipping or just not sit well on such a textured surface. The result? Cheap-looking fixtures that appear plasticky or fake.

Plus, color drenching works best when it doesn't look like everything has been dipped into the same giant vat of paint. Great interior design creates depth by mixing a variety of textures and shades, making the space engaging and exciting. When your eyes don't have different elements to focus on, everything can become muddled together. By playing around with using color to complement — rather than erase — the room's permanent fixtures, you can highlight key focal points and design a high-end, statement room.

Designers have tons of experts tips for color drenching without losing any of the room's natural beauty in the process. The first step? Choose the right coat of paint. This may require tons of paint samples, but the effort you put in will be worth it. Pay attention to the fixtures that give your room character and charm, like wooden floors or marble countertops, and look for colors that enhance those elements. And remember that this trend is all about capturing your personality and expressing yourself through your home decor, so think about the colors you love and the mood you want to create.

Once you choose the right color, don't be afraid to give your room dimension by using multi-sheen paint finishes or layering options. For instance, you could keep the ceiling matte but give the walls a glossier sheen, or add an extra layer of paint to trim to help it stand out a bit. This will create dimension and depth throughout the room, rather than letting it get bogged down by too much of the same paint.

When in doubt, remember that color drenching is about creating a tranquil, one-of-a-kind space, not about following exact rules to cover every surface in the same color of paint. Go bold with color, but also give the permanent fixtures of the room their time to shine, too. They can complement each other and create a look that's not trendy, but timeless.