Color drenching is well known for its aesthetic appeal, but perhaps a lesser-known benefit of this popular paint trend is that it can give the illusion of a more expansive space.
When one paint color is used throughout a room, including the ceiling and woodwork in addition to the walls, it eliminates the harsh contrasts of contrasting colors, achieving a continuous flow that enhances a room’s proportions.
It makes sense then, for color drenching to lend itself to small rooms to offset their limited square footage. Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of our favorite color-drenched small rooms that show just how effective this bold paint trend is – one we expect to see plenty more of in 2025.
1. A neutral hallway
(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)
This hallway designed by A New Day Design was painted in the shade Clove by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Below, Andrew Griffiths, founder of the design studio explains why color drenching makes the space feel larger:
‘In this Grade II listed home, a new bedroom suite was added into the loft space. This marks a purposeful transition from period detailing and proportions, to a modern space with more compact proportions. We used color-drenching on this modern staircase addition to make a tall and narrow space feel more expansive by blurring the lines between different surfaces.
‘To have finished the staircase in a different color would have had the opposite effect, bringing definition between surfaces would highlight their more compact scale compared to the rest of the house. The same color is used on the walls in the original hallway, bringing flow and coherence with the color drenching then marking a more contemporary shift as you head from the second to the third floor.’
2. A lacquered burgundy living space
(Image credit: Marie Flanigan Interiors, photography Julie Soefer)
Paint finishes are an important consideration when working with just one paint color, and this space designed by Marie Flanigan Interiors uses a gloss finish for a sophisticated look while giving the illusion of more space.
‘Lacquered finishes can completely transform a small space, especially when paired with bold, color-drenched palettes,’ explains Marie Flanigan. ‘By reflecting light, these glossy surfaces create depth and an almost mirror-like effect that visually expands the room. Moody, saturated hues can exude warmth, and the reflective finish amplifies both natural and artificial light, lending the room a cozy yet spacious feel.’
‘In small rooms, the gloss enhances the existing dimensions rather than absorbing light like a matte finish might. It’s a stunning way to embrace bold design while making the most of every inch,’ adds Marie.
3. A bright orange ‘Coral Bar’
(Image credit: Rinfret, Ltd. Interior Design, photography Douglas Friedman)
‘To give a small space personality the key is color,’ explains interior designer Cindy Rinfret of Rinfret, Ltd. Interior Design who designed this bright orange ‘Coral Bar’ within Tommy Hilfiger’s Palm Beach home using a lacquered paint finish.
‘It instantly gives a room personality and a cozy space a sexy feel. Color, such as in this Coral Bar invites you in and makes you want to stay for a drink. I find the lacquer’s reflective quality is also very flattering and puts your guest in a festive mood. A room does not have to be large to have a big personality,’ Cindy tells us.
4. A dark blue home office
Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design
(Image credit: Tobin Davies)
Home offices can often be on the smaller side, so they’re a great place to explore color drenching. In this blue study designed by Bambi A’Lynn Interior Design, Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue was used throughout the space.
‘We painted this entire study – including walls, bookcases, and trims – an inky blue to give it a cozy and cohesive feel,’ explains Bambi A’Lynn Bratton of the Austin-based design firm. ‘We balanced the rich drama and contemporary finish of the drenched walls with a lighter blue on the ceiling to give the room a bit of relief and keep it from feeling too dark.’
5. A maximalist living room
(Image credit: Nadia Watts Interior Design, photography Nickolas Sargent)
Interior designer Nadia Watts color-drenched this room unexpectedly: using wallpaper on the ceiling in a similar hue to the walls to create a cohesive, playful look.
‘Color drenching is a great way to quickly expand the feeling of a space,’ says Nadia. ‘In this project, we chose a custom wallcovering for the ceiling to get the color-drenching look with a unique blend of wallpaper, paint, and furniture. The sofa and rug carry the color throughout the room making it feel cohesive and elevated.’
6. A calming home office
(Image credit: Colleen Simonds Design, photography Emily Gilbert)
Farrow & Ball’s Dix Blue (which reads as more of a green-blue) was used to color-drench this calming home office designed by Colleen Simonds.
‘Painting walls, trim, and ceilings all the same color makes the room feel cozy and enveloping,’ explains Colleen. ‘There are no visual ‘breaks’ anywhere, so the space can appear larger. It’s an easy way to set a mood and tone with just paint.’
7. A dark green snug
(Image credit: Black Salt Home Design, photography Peak Visuals)
‘For this room, the clients really loved the idea of dark green for the built-in cabinetry but were a little hesitant to drench the whole room in the same dark color,’ explains Anabel Herring of Black Salt Home Design. ‘Often, clients are fearful of darker, bolder colors, especially when using them on all surfaces in a room. However, when all surfaces are painted the same color it reduces breaks in the room making the space feel seamless and expansive.’
‘Sometimes built-in cabinetry can overpower a room, especially if it’s painted a darker color than the walls and ceiling, so painting them the same color allows the room to feel less cluttered, removing the visual weight of the built-ins. We chose to contrast the darker paint color with lighter, more neutral furnishings for a balanced look,’ says Anabel.
8. A playful breakfast room
(Image credit: Alexis Warren Designs, photography Anna Routh Barzin)
‘I color-drenched my breakfast room in Farrow & Ball’s Yeabridge Green to create one continuous sight line,’ says interior designer Alexis Warren. ‘This technique works because it allows the eye to follow a consistent line from the baseboards to the ceiling versus breaking up the room by having the trim or ceiling a different color.’
‘Color drenching tricks the eye into believing there is no end point, making rooms seem taller and larger. This is best accomplished by using a very saturated or dark color to draw the eye in and create interest,’ Alexis adds.
9. A’ double-drenched’ powder room
(Image credit: SPACES by Hollie Velten, photography Madeline Tolle)
Bathrooms and powder rooms are more often than not amongst the smallest rooms in the home, so it’s worth exploring a bolder color palette in these space-restricted spaces. Here, color-drenching is taken a step further with double-drenching, where two similar tones are used in the same room for added interest.
‘In this bathroom, we painted it Farrow & Ball’s Faded Terracotta and cut it on the upper half so it would feel two-tone drenched,’ shares designer Hollie Velten of SPACES by Hollie Velten.
If you’re wondering how to make a room in your own home feel more cohesive, look no further than color drenching. Whether you opt for delicate neutral tones or bolder shades, you can be sure this paint technique will enhance the flow of your space.
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