All you need to know about this latest trend

Whether you are an advocate of the colour drenching trend – where you paint the entire wall in one uniform colour for a saturated all-encompassing feel - or want to make a feature out of your switches and sockets, our paintable collection will allow you to do either.   

We delved into the trend with paint experts Edward Bulmer and Claire Powell from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, who offered their expert opinion on the dos and don'ts of colour drenching... 

It’s benefits: 

Painting a room all the same colour is something that was done frequently in the past, particularly in rooms that were panelled with timber. This avoided cutting in to the numerous edges presented by panelling. Plastered rooms would also be treated in a single colour, often when they were sparsely detailed. 

Why it works: 

It allows a clarity to the proportion and scale of the room and, for panelling, it results in a room that has no differentiation to parts that might otherwise be picked out, leaving it in its pure architectural state from floor to ceiling. As a treatment for today’s rooms, it can have a modern simplified aesthetic whether the room is new or old. It subordinates the whole wall structure so that fabrics and furnishings can predominate. 

When it doesn’t work: 

It increases the proportion of the colour used and in some cases, can risk overwhelming the room – it requires the careful selection of colour and tone. 

Good spaces to drench in colour: 

Connecting spaces, like halls and passages, can be drenched to keep them simple. Large spaces that can be easily read, will take drenching and it might be a good way to help an old room accommodate contemporary furnishings or art. 

It’s benefits: 

A uniform colour on your walls and ceiling will increase the focus on your fabrics and furniture, so if you have lots of lovely patterns on the go then colour drenching will allow these elements to shine at their best. You’ll find that a colour drench can create a strong, bold statement or encourage a warm, snuggly aesthetic, it simply depends on the colour you choose! 

Why it works: 

Different colours evoke different moods; by drenching a room in a single colour we are able to create a very specific response. Plus, you have the added benefit of not using endless amounts of painter's tape making sure you have those perfect edges! 

When it doesn’t work: 

I would avoid colour-drenching a large room blessed with heaps of natural light with a dark, heavy colour, especially a communal room like a Dining Room. You don’t want to feel like you’re hosting a dinner party in a very large cave! 

Good spaces to drench in colour: 

Bedrooms. A bedroom colour drench creates a lovely, soft cocoon of colour to help you drift away. ( I would use soft colours like Sea Green, Jonquil, Duck Egg).