Drenched in colour

From the Resene decorating blog

When it comes to creating high impact in an interior space, it’s hard to go past the idea of immersing a room in a single colour, known as colour drenching.

Cosy and sophisticated lounge colour-drenched in dark blue through matching walls and furniture

Textures from the wood grain floors and wall battens add visual interest and impact in this cosy, sophisticated living room.

Walls painted in Resene Twilight Zone, floor stained in Resene Colorwood Crowshead, coffee table and sideboard in Resene Indian Ink, vase, tealight holder and bowl in Resene King Tide, tray, pot, star ornament and mirror frame in Resene Excalibur, coaster in Resene Time After Time. Cushions from Nood and H&M Home, chair from Nood, sofa from Me & My Trend, art print from Pop Motif. Project Vanessa Nouwens. Image Melanie Jenkins.

Resene Colour Consultant Connor Watson says colour drenching can give rooms a sense of total unity and harmony as well as making them feel inviting and luxurious.

“By using the same colour tone across multiple surfaces and elements within a room, such as walls, ceilings, trim, even furniture, you will create a cohesive and enveloping environment that can make a bold statement.”

Here are some things to consider before opting to go all-in on one colour.

Making it work

For those worried that using one shade in a room, Connor suggests thinking about texture as well as colour. He says working with different surface finishes with products like Resene FX Paint FX Medium or Resene Sandtex, and different sheen levels in paints like Resene Enamacryl gloss, Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss, Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, or Resene Zylone 2.0 flat, while keeping to your chosen colour.

Breaking up your drenched colour with different textures, or other features like wood battens and wainscoting gives your eye different things to “grab” within the space so it feels accessible and welcoming.

“You should also consider the light reflective values (LRV) of your room,” Connor says. You can find LRV value on the Resene paint cards and the labels of paint tins. A higher LRV, light whites and pale neutrals for example, reflect more light and will make a room feel brighter and airier. Lower LRVs, like deep blues and greens or black, will reflect less light for a cosier, more dramatic look.

top tip If you want a classic minimalist all-white drenched look, consider an off-white like Resene Parchment or Resene Quarter Drought rather than a bright white to avoid too much glare.

Warm and luxurious dining room colour-drenched in emerald green hues across walls and furnishings

Jewel-toned greens envelope this dining space, creating warmth and luxury. Walls and skirting in Resene Stromboli, floor washed in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy, bench seat in Resene Deep Teal, basket in Resene Bastille, table legs in Resene Teak, tabletop in Resene Putty, oblong plate and planter in Resene Casal, bowl in Resene Popcorn, octagonal plate in Resene Tuscany, bottle in Resene Deep Teal, tray in Resene Bastille. Project Moneuan Ryan. Image Bryce Carleton.

“Think about how dark or intense you want the space to feel,” Connor says. “If you're aiming for a cozy feel, deeper tones like Resene Plum or Resene Vanquish can be ideal. For a dramatic effect, more saturated, rich hues like Resene Grapevine or Resene Rock N Roll can work wonders.

“Observe how the colour reflects on itself. Avoid tones that have a strong reflective quality, as they can amplify and become overpowering when applied to large surfaces. A colour that appears subtle on a swatch can feel intense when used extensively.

“The key is understanding the amount of natural and artificial light in the space, as it influences how the colour will appear. Resene testpots can be a big help here, as can the experts at your Resene ColorShop.”

Degrees of drenching

If you like the idea of drenching but are a bit daunted by it, there are some ways to experiment without committing to dramatic use of a bold shade you’re worried you might not like.

For a start, you can adopt the drenching approach, painting even furniture, decor and fittings in your chosen single shade, but work with paler, muted or pastel shades for a high impact that still feels delicate and fresh. Try dusty pink Resene Dust Storm, fresh peach Resene Wax Flower or biscuit beige Resene Sand.

Connor’s number one tip for getting the full impact of a colour drenched space, even with softer colours, is to remember the fifth wall; the ceiling.

Applying your chosen shade to the ceiling of your room, instead of opting for a traditional white, will immediately change the feel of your space, emphasising the sense of being enveloped – or drenched – in colour.

If you’re opting for a richly colour drenched space in a bold shade like leafy green Resene Deli or opulent blue Resene Cobalt, but are worried the space will feel too small, Connor suggests keeping to the same hue, but in a lighter shade like delicate mint Resene Kandinsky or soft grey-blue Resene Smokescreen.

Natural textures and materials on the bedhead and floor bring neutral freshness to this layered deep blue bedroom

Natural textures and materials, and a neutral floor add freshness to the layers of deep blue in this bedroom.

Walls and drawers painted in Resene Shark, window and floor in Resene Bubble White, lamp in Resene Siam. Bedhead from Mocka, bedding from Foxtrot Linen, pendant from Lighting Plus. Project Amber Armitage. Image Wendy Fenwick.

Bedroom colour-drenched in warm rust and red clay tones with a contrasting woody brown floor

Notes of contrast colour are a great way to take the principles of colour drenching and personalise them to your taste.

Wall, vase and cabinet in Resene Half Hairy Heath, floor washed in Resene Colorwood Bark, art in Resene Half Hairy Heath and Resene Shark, lamp and stool in Resene Shark. Bedding from Foxtrot Linen. Project Amber Armitage. Image Wendy Fenwick.

The opposite approach also works, Connor says, if you want drama without colour intensity in your room. Try your deep shade, such as Resene Palm Leaf on the ceiling and drench the rest of the space in soft grey-green Resene Xanadu. This can work particularly well in spaces with high ceilings that you want to feel light but cosy.

“Ceilings are often left white, but introducing a rich or unexpected hue can add a dramatic flair without overwhelming the entire room,” Connor says.

Another way to work with the principles of colour-drenching is to layer different intensities or analogous shades of the same colour within your room. For example, if you want to create a calming, restful blue bedroom but don’t want to go all-in on one shade, pick your favourite as the base colour, then work with other similar shades on accent pieces, trim and furniture. For example, with walls in deep blue Resene Tarawera, try trims and ceilings in Resene Nepal, with layers of decor in shades like Resene Navigate, Resene Undercurrent and Resene Bali Hai.

The numbered Resene colour cards available at your local Resene ColorShop are a huge help here in working out what shades will layer well together. Another approach is to work with the mid-toned neutrals in the Resene Whites and Neutrals Range, and use them in different intensities from eighth strength, through to triple strength. A good example is Resene Sisal a warm beige, which runs the spectrum from a subtle off-white in Resene Eighth Sisal to a rich, greened ochre in Resene Triple Sisal.

Adjust the contrast

The other way to lighten and elevate a colour drenched space is to have just one impact feature in a dramatic contrast shade. For example, a single light shade or decor piece in shimmering Resene FX Metallic Gold will beautifully break up a deeply colour-drenched room in charcoal Resene Grey Friars or navy Resene Coast. A contrast piece of furniture painted in deep maroon Resene Cab Sav with a room drenched in smoky greige neutral Resene Napa.

There are no hard and fast rules for colour drenching your space. Start with one colour you love and bend the rules, adding texture and contrast as you need to, to create the look you want.

Colours mentioned in this article

Colours marked as "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, the testpots can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Drenched in colour

Making it work

Degrees of drenching

Adjust the contrast

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.co.nz