Colour Drenching: Because More is More (And It’s Glorious)

You know those moments in life when you think, "Go big or go home"? Like when you commit to bottomless brunch and immediately regret that last mimosa (but still order another…or worse, someone yells “let’s do shots!”)? That’s colour drenching in a nutshell—except instead of regret, you get a visually stunning, mood-boosting masterpiece of a room.

So, What Exactly Is Colour Drenching?

Glad you asked! Colour drenching is the interior design equivalent of diving headfirst into a giant tin of paint and deciding, "Yep, this is my life now." Instead of playing it safe with a feature wall (a hard no from me anyways), this trend takes one colour—walls, ceilings, doors, trims, the whole shebang—and absolutely soaks your space in it. The result? A beautifully immersive, cohesive, and effortlessly chic vibe that makes a statement without trying too hard (kind of like that friend who ‘woke up like this’ but you know has a 12-step skincare routine).

Why It’s So Damn Good

First off, colour drenching is the lazy person's dream (hi, it’s me). If you've ever spent hours agonising over which shade of white is the ‘right’ white (spoiler: it’s a trap, they all look different in every light), then you'll love this trend. One colour means fewer decisions, and fewer decisions mean less stress—which means more time for the things that matter. Like wine. Or aggressively fluffing your throw pillows…actually on the last point, the design illuminati says we shouldn’t be chopping cushions anymore FYI. #Devastated.

What It Does Visually

Besides making your space look like it belongs in a ridiculously high-end design magazine, colour drenching has this magical ability to make a room feel bigger, cosier, and just cooler. When everything is the same hue, it blurs the edges of the space, making walls seem taller, ceilings higher, and doorways disappear into the background like an architectural magic trick. It’s the design equivalent of soft focus on a dating app photo—everything just looks better.

Other General Benefits (Because Who Doesn’t Love a Perk?)

• Creates Mood & Drama: Whether you want to go deep and moody (hello, rich forest greens) or light and airy (soft peach, anyone?), drenching your space in colour gives it serious personality.

• Works in Any Room: Bedrooms? Yes. Bathrooms? Absolutely. Tiny, weird nooks you don’t know what to do with? THE best.

• Disguises Ugly Bits: Got a door or some weird architectural quirk you’d rather not highlight? Colour drenching camouflages it like a pro.

• Minimalist-Friendly (Kinda): If you love the idea of minimalism but also really love colour, this is your loophole. One bold shade = maximum impact with minimal effort. Winning.

But Have I Managed to Convince a Client Yet? Absolutely Not.

Look, I’d love to say my clients are lining up to embrace the transformative magic of colour drenching, but the reality? Australians, by and large, are a conservative bunch when it comes to colour. The idea of painting a ceiling anything other than ceiling white sends people into an existential crisis. I’ve seen less panic at a snake sighting (and we live in Australia, so that’s saying something).

I’ve tried it all—mood boards, Pinterest inspo, passionate TED Talk-style monologues about the joys of a fully immersive space. Still, the second I suggest that a ceiling could, in fact, be a colour, I watch my clients' pupils dilate in pure terror. "Isn’t that… a bit much?" they whisper, clutching their Dulux Natural White swatches like a security blanket.

One day, though. One day, I’ll convert the masses. Until then, I’ll keep fighting the good fight, armed with a paintbrush and a dream.

So there you have it, friends. Colour drenching: because sometimes, more is actually more, and in the best possible way. Now go forth and paint your world fabulous. Just maybe don’t start with your partner’s home office unless you want a domestic-level debate on the emotional impact of deep aubergine.

Happy decorating, legends! #ColourDrenching #GoBoldOrGoHome

Dave xx

Turning that interior design problem into an opportunity!

Beginning a property make over can seem a bit daunting.  Where do you start…more importantly where do you stop?

Whilst all of us would love to rip everything out and start again with a cache of high-end finishes and designer knick-knacks, more often than not that is not possible.  It’s at this point many people give up. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing to get great results.

Refreshing a Docklands crash pad for a country based client recently, this very dilemma was front and centre.  The apartment itself was built in the early 2000’s without a single update during that period and was beyond tired.  Think 90’s Australian boy band video clip…but I digress. Without the budget, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and new flooring wasn’t an option.  It is a holiday home after all.

Fortunately, the carpet was in good knick but not exactly a forecast colour trend.  Similarly with the window furnishings.  Not bad enough to replace, but not up-to-the minute fashion either.  Making the best of what we had was simply how this was going to have to work. 

This may seem like a huge compromise.  In fact it was the opposite.  These constraints became the basis of the colour palate and the launching pad for the whole design concept.  Using forest greens, leather, linen, stone and dark wood, the concept was to bring rugged, rural Victoria to Melbourne and give it a chic city-slicker makeover.  Add some carefully curated decorator and new light fixtures to the dated kitchen and bathrooms (along with a much needed deep clean) and voila! What was once a problem was now a considered colour and design, transforming the space from the post long term tenanted apocalypse it was at the beginning of the refresh.

My point?  It boils down to glass half full vs glass half empty.  A problem vs an opportunity… plus a handful of other self-help metaphors you can choose from.  Anywho, don’t be so quick to think “this is all too hard” and just give up. More often than not, a little bit of creative thinking can make any space an aspirational masterpiece…without inviting financial ruin. Life is too short to live in a space that brings you down! 

Of course, if you’re really stuck this is where we can help!  A consultation can be anything from the full enchilada or just a friendly nudge in the right direction :)

Dave

xx