Would You Double Drench? This Viral Paint Trend Is Taking the Interiors World by Storm
Just when we were getting comfortable with the brazen suggestion that we douse an entire room in one color—or "color drench"—the paint company Little Greene decided to go one step further. On September 18th, the U.K.-based brand released an online guide to what they coined "double drenching," which involves using two or more related colors within a space to cover all surfaces for dramatic effect. We're doubly interested too.
But before you high-tail it to your local paint shop to find a new color complement to your existing aubergine-on-aubergine bedroom, let us break down the double drenching approach—and how to successfully pull it off in your home.
What Is Double Drenching?
You've heard of color drenching, a phrase that first made the rounds in 2021, which involves a full-on, single-hue punch across all surfaces in a room, including walls and ceilings, window treatments, and light fixtures (think ELLE DECOR A-List design firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero's audacious use of Benjamin Moore's Alligator Alley in this colorful Miami apartment, a total color cocoon of green on green on green). Double drenching, on the other hand, appeals a similar no-holds-barred ethos—but with more color.
“One of the wonderful things about ‘Double Drenching’ is its versatility," Ruth Mottershead, a creative director at Little Greene, writes in the online guide. "Double Drenching can work to add unexpected contrast to modern homes where architectural detail is lacking, highlighting the ceiling, walls and woodwork or zoning spaces, or it can draw attention to more classical architectural elements within period properties.”
How Can You Double Drench in the Home?
Of course, there are rules to this thing. One cannot confidently combine two or more colors without heeding the nuances of tonal variations that make for a harmonious look. First, Mottershead advises homeowners to pay attention to analogous color schemes and opt for colors that sit near one another on the color wheel. For example, one might pair a rich navy blue with a darker indigo blue on the ceiling, finishing off with a pop of cobalt blue on the window frame or door frame (Mottershead recommends Little Greene's Royal Navy, Dock Blue, and Smalt).
"The subtle contrasts provide visual interest without being overwhelming," she writes. "Each shade complements the other, creating a balanced and serene environment, conducive to relaxation and sleep, whilst retaining character and personality.”
Employing neutrals in strength across specific architectural details like the molding or window ledges, can also make for a subtly beautiful effect. And if subtle isn't what you're going for, contrasting colors in the vein of last year's zeitgeisty Barbenheimer moment can create powerful visual interest.
Double drenching, Mottershead added, is a fitting trend amid a growing interest in embracing deep and mid-tone hues. "It's an expansion of this color confidence, taking the concept into a highly creative, sophisticated and nuanced approach to decorating," she adds.
So go ahead, embark on a little colorful double-dealing in your own space.
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