One of 2025’s most talked about (and most Googled) design trends is suited for those who wholeheartedly love and embrace color in their homes. We’re not talking about a pop of color here and there, either. Rather, color drenching is a designer-approved tactic that involves committing to a single color in a room and going all in with it. Think of it as monochrome to the max; a monogamous design relationship with a sole color of your choosing; and an antonym to all the beige spaces and swaths of gray that dominated the 2010s.
Color drenching is an exaggerated saturation of a specific color or color family in a space to make a bold statement, explains Hanin Smith, a California-based designer with HIDE Studio Interiors. When done right, it can make a space feel both larger and cozier.
Read on for a color drenching 101 guide tailored for renters who may not want to commit to painting their space, but still want to try out the trend.
What is color drenching?
According to a Google trends report that dove into all things interior design, the search term “color drenching” reached an all-time high earlier this year; color drenching in a bedroom was the top related search.
But what exactly is this design trend that everyone’s Googling?
Technically, color drenching is a paint trend. Designers love it because it can make a big impact in small spaces, making the lines between walls blur.
“Enveloping a room in a single color creates a cozy and dramatic feel,” says designer Lori Wilke with Roseberry Allen. “Painting the trim, doors, cabinetry, walls and even ceiling the same color is known as color drenching. It works best in enclosed spaces, so that when you are in the room and you close the door, your eye is not interrupted by any other color from adjacent rooms.”
If you’re a renter, it’s always worth checking your lease or getting permission from your landlord before you start painting. Oftentimes, switching up your apartment’s interior colors is allowable so long as you return them to a neutral color before your move-out date.
For those who don’t want to go through the hassle of painting (and then re-painting when your lease is up), there are more creative ways to color drench a room. Once you land on a color, for example, you can incorporate it into your curtains, lights, throw pillows, your couch, wall art, and more.
How to color drench with lighting
Lighting plays a big role in color drenching.
Moody, darker hues look great in spaces that get ample natural light, while a lighter, softer color palette looks fantastic in small spaces illuminated with lamps or sconces. (Think: Emerald green in a naturally lit space versus sage green in an artificially lit room).
If you’re mulling over paint colors, you can take a large paint swatch and see how it looks in natural light at different times a day versus how it appears in artificial lighting at various temperatures.
For those looking to drench a space that receives a lot of natural light, you can skip the paint and rely instead on curtains in a bold, rich color. Velvet plays great with the color drenching trend.
Use a Poplight to color drench
Adding accessories and decor is a great way to add visual interest to a color-drenched space. Renter-friendly Poplights can be installed in seconds and since they’re wireless, you don’t need to consider where your outlets are and can instead focus on creating a seamless wall of color.
Poplights come in seven colors, but my favorites for a color-drenching design scheme include the earthy sage green that would look beautiful with plant-filled biophilic design or the dusty rose that’s warm, inviting, and pairs just as beautifully with cool stone accents like marble as it does with a gold bar cart. If you’re loving butter yellow, which is another breakout design trend of 2025, the marigold Poplight is the perfect accent.
Tips for color drenching
Ready to add a one-hue splash of color to your space? Here are a few more tips for pulling off the color drenching trend.
1. Limit patterns.
“For me, the rule of thumb when color drenching is staying away from too many competing patterns that might feel very busy,” Smith says. “It’s already a bold statement to drench a space with color, so it’s wise to offer the eye a little relief to avoid feeling overstimulated in a space.” However, adding in texture gets a green light.
2. Throw down a rug.
Another good way to add visual interest is through rugs that are a single color, but have patterns in different pile heights, Smith says.
3. Play with different shades.
You can accomplish a more mild version of color drenching in small offices, bar areas, entryways and the like by opting for a single color but in different shades. It still lends a bold and moody effect, Smith says, yet allows for some more flexibility.