03 | Design Techniques:
Color Drenching
Color drenching is gaining popularity as a design trend, although it is a classic look and feel in many homes in the UK.
What makes it successful is its simplicity as a unifying statement which ties an entire space together. Bonus points for layering textures, metals, and textiles to create dimensionality to your space.
Using a color drench often creates the effect of making a space feel larger, as the monochromatic color extending to the base and trim elongates your perception of the plane of the wall.
This technique is wonderfully versatile. It can be used to create spaces which communicate bright and airy, dark and moody, or anything in-between.
A color drench in action
One of our projects had an under-utilized entry vestibule, which are very common in Baltimore rowhouses as a design element.
We suggested using a color drench as a way to create a bold, warm welcome as you enter. Pairing the proposed color scheme for the remainder of the residence renovations with a bold oxblood paint created a sense of contrast where before, as we can see in the before picture, it was quite a bit of creamy-off white extending throughout the first floor.
One easy way you can elevate your design with a color drench is by varying what kind of sheen you are using for your paint: by mixing sheens you can create further sense of depth by leveraging the light bouncing off the various sheens together. For instance, use eggshell at the walls, and a satin or semi-gloss at the doors and trim.
We love the final effect of the color drench here!
