6 Ways to Colour Drench Your Bedroom
Create a strong, cohesive feel in a bedroom with these expert colour-drenching ideas
The 2025 Houzz UK Emerging Trends Report* highlighted colour drenching as a rising trend, up 142% in searches on Houzz. ‘Colour drenching’ refers to a room where several surfaces have been painted in the same colour to create an immersive and often dramatic feel.
It you’re tempted to try the look, check out these designs on Houzz to get inspiration – and don’t forget to save your favourites to an ideabook.
It you’re tempted to try the look, check out these designs on Houzz to get inspiration – and don’t forget to save your favourites to an ideabook.
2. Create a cocoon
This bedroom by Lindsay Pennington has a low, sloping ceiling, which would be a very noticeable feature if it was white. By painting the ceiling and walls the same shade of deep blue, the sharp angle is effectively erased and the boundary between the two is blurred.
Keeping the colour palette restricted in a small space also helps to cut down the visual noise. As a result, the small space feels cosy and cocooning, especially when paired with the rich dark wood of the bedside tables and the warm pools of light cast by the oversized bedside lamps.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
This bedroom by Lindsay Pennington has a low, sloping ceiling, which would be a very noticeable feature if it was white. By painting the ceiling and walls the same shade of deep blue, the sharp angle is effectively erased and the boundary between the two is blurred.
Keeping the colour palette restricted in a small space also helps to cut down the visual noise. As a result, the small space feels cosy and cocooning, especially when paired with the rich dark wood of the bedside tables and the warm pools of light cast by the oversized bedside lamps.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
3. Use two similar tones
Here’s another example of how continuing a colour from a wall onto the ceiling can help to avoid an awkward visual break when you have a low-pitched ceiling.
However, in this example by Pfeiffer Design, the ceiling colour is a couple of shades lighter than the wall behind the bed, so there’s a subtle demarcation, but the result is a lot gentler than it would be with a switch to a crisp white ceiling.
In addition, the colour of the velvet bed frame and headboard is almost identical to the wall colour, so they effectively disappear against the wall, intensifying the dark and cosy feel of the space.
Here’s another example of how continuing a colour from a wall onto the ceiling can help to avoid an awkward visual break when you have a low-pitched ceiling.
However, in this example by Pfeiffer Design, the ceiling colour is a couple of shades lighter than the wall behind the bed, so there’s a subtle demarcation, but the result is a lot gentler than it would be with a switch to a crisp white ceiling.
In addition, the colour of the velvet bed frame and headboard is almost identical to the wall colour, so they effectively disappear against the wall, intensifying the dark and cosy feel of the space.
4. Let design details stand out
This dark and dramatic bedroom scheme by Making Spaces shows how colour drenching your walls and ceiling in a deep shade can allow a few carefully chosen details to shine out in contrast. Here, the bright red of the headboard and bedside lamp jump out against the forest green backdrop, as do the crisp white lights and artwork.
Because red and green are opposites on the colour wheel, they naturally play against each other, creating a strong visual contrast, which is something to consider when choosing your colour scheme.
This dark and dramatic bedroom scheme by Making Spaces shows how colour drenching your walls and ceiling in a deep shade can allow a few carefully chosen details to shine out in contrast. Here, the bright red of the headboard and bedside lamp jump out against the forest green backdrop, as do the crisp white lights and artwork.
Because red and green are opposites on the colour wheel, they naturally play against each other, creating a strong visual contrast, which is something to consider when choosing your colour scheme.
5. Bring in a warm colour wash
Colour drenching can be dramatic, but it can also be soft and subtle, and it works as well with neutrals as it does with bold shades.
In this bedroom by Mia Karlsson Interior Design, a gentle wash of a biscuit-coloured neutral has been applied to the walls, woodwork, cornices and ceiling, which creates an elegant and subtle background for the other elements in the room. When paired with soft brass and natural wood tones, the effect is warm and gentle.
To create a similar effect, choose a neutral shade that has a warm undertone to create a soft and welcoming space, and avoid anything with a cool or grey undertone.
Easily find and hire interior designers on Houzz.
Colour drenching can be dramatic, but it can also be soft and subtle, and it works as well with neutrals as it does with bold shades.
In this bedroom by Mia Karlsson Interior Design, a gentle wash of a biscuit-coloured neutral has been applied to the walls, woodwork, cornices and ceiling, which creates an elegant and subtle background for the other elements in the room. When paired with soft brass and natural wood tones, the effect is warm and gentle.
To create a similar effect, choose a neutral shade that has a warm undertone to create a soft and welcoming space, and avoid anything with a cool or grey undertone.
Easily find and hire interior designers on Houzz.
6. Smooth over awkward angles
A colour drench can also be a practical solution in a room with a tricky-shaped ceiling or several different angles.
Knowing where to start and stop a ceiling colour in this attic bedroom by DECrew could have been difficult. Instead, giving all the surfaces a wash of light blue creates a cohesive feel that reflects the sky outside and feels calm, bright and considered.
The bedspread, rug and headboard also mirror the soft blue paint colour, amplifying the colour drench and creating a peaceful feel.
Tell us…
Do you like the idea of colour drenching? How would you do it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
*Data reflects year over year growth in UK-based searches on Houzz from January-March 2025 versus January-March 2024.
A colour drench can also be a practical solution in a room with a tricky-shaped ceiling or several different angles.
Knowing where to start and stop a ceiling colour in this attic bedroom by DECrew could have been difficult. Instead, giving all the surfaces a wash of light blue creates a cohesive feel that reflects the sky outside and feels calm, bright and considered.
The bedspread, rug and headboard also mirror the soft blue paint colour, amplifying the colour drench and creating a peaceful feel.
Tell us…
Do you like the idea of colour drenching? How would you do it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
*Data reflects year over year growth in UK-based searches on Houzz from January-March 2025 versus January-March 2024.
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This beautiful bedroom by Cairn gives a masterclass in how to fully commit to the colour-drench trend while still creating a calm and restful feel. The walls, skirting boards, picture rails and architraves have all been covered in a soft pink shade, but with slight variations – the woodwork is a little darker than the walls – which subtly breaks up the expanse of colour.
In addition, choosing curtains and blinds that tone with the walls allows them to gently rest within the scheme rather than stand out, so the effect is restful and immersive.
More: 6 Beautiful Plaster-coloured Bedroom Ideas