Color Drenching Mistakes to Avoid, According to Interior Designers

Thanks to modern technology, some people skip physical color swatching before painting these days, opting to look at their potential paint on a computer screen instead. Michel and Simon said that’s a big mistake for color drenching since the color will be so crucial to the space.

“Colors can look really different depending on where the room is in the house and how much light it’s getting,” Michel said.

Simon said it’s also important to look at the swatches at different times of day, tracking how it looks in different light, so you can truly get a sense of how the color will look in your home over time.

“I have actually made the mistake of color drenching one of my bedrooms, and I didn’t test the lighting properly,” she told Business Insider. “It just did not read in the way that I wanted it to. I was rushed, and I did it, and I didn’t love it.”

“Learn from my mistakes,” she added. “Make sure that it’s something that you really love.”

You’ll want to think about the size of the room you’ll be color drenching. Both Michel and Simon said they prefer it in smaller rooms because the color can make it feel cozy and give the illusion of a larger space.

On the flip side, it might not be as effective in an open-concept space, as the paint wouldn’t have as much visual impact as it would in a smaller room.

“I would not suggest it in open floor plans,” Michel said. “If it’s a huge room and it has your kitchen and living room, color drenching just wouldn’t make sense.”

Although you’re painting the whole room one color, both Michel and Simon said using the same sheen on every surface may make the room feel flat.

“If you go all matte all the way around, it can fall a bit flat,” Simon said. “If you go high gloss around the entire room and the ceiling, it can be glare central. I would recommend doing maybe more matte on the walls, and then sheen on the ceiling.”

Michel agreed, saying her team prefers to use a satin sheen on millwork like trim or molding, a flat sheen on ceilings, and an eggshell sheen on walls.

“A high-gloss ceiling makes it a little bit more reflective, so if it’s a dark room, that can help a lot to bring light,” she added. “Not thinking about the sheens would be one big mistake.”

The color will be the focal point of the room, but you don’t want to overlook the details that can take the space to the next level. For instance, Simon advised against leaving your outlets white if you’re color drenching a space.

“With outlets, I would recommend trying to blend them in as much as possible,” she said, noting that you paint them to match the drench hue or swap the covers for brass, nickel, or chrome to make them feel more intentionally designed.

Likewise, you don’t want to buy furniture that’s all the same color as the walls, as it may detract from the overall look. There will already be enough of whatever color you choose, so you can use your furniture to create contrast.

“I would bring other visual interest in through different colors and patterns,” Michel said. “I would do a contrasting color on any window coverings, bring in velvets. I feel like when you already have a color-drenched room, that helps make it feel luxurious and elevated.”

“Contrast is everything,” Simon said. “The more you can mix materials and colors, the better. Nothing screams ‘I bought everything at the same place’ like the matching furniture sets.”

Color drenching is a bold design choice, but both Simon and Michel warned that not fully embracing it can make it fall flat.

“A mistake that can happen is just not committing to the bit,” Simon said. “It’s going to break the illusion if you have the walls and the ceiling painted, but then the trim or the door isn’t. That stark white is going to really pop out even more.”

“If you’re going to do it, just go all the way,” she added.

“You have to go bold,” Michel agreed. “I have never talked to a client who didn’t like it after doing it. You kind of have to trust the process because it seems scarier before you do it.”