What is Double Drenching
Double drenching is a new and emerging decorating technique similar to the color drenching trend. While traditional color drenching involves using a single shade across walls, ceilings, woodwork, and furniture for a seamless, immersive look, double drenching expands on this by incorporating two or more colors. These shades might be similar in tone for a subtle layered effect, or they might contrast sharply to add drama and visual interest.
This technique creates a more dynamic and expressive space while maintaining a sense of cohesion. It’s an especially effective way to highlight architectural features, like moldings, trims, or alcoves, by painting them in a slightly different tone or a bold contrasting hue.
Although double drenching is most often used with paint, it works beautifully with wallpaper too. By choosing a wallpaper that matches or complements one of the key room colors, you can enhance the double-drenched effect. This approach helps emphasize the dominant tones within the wallpaper and subtly draws out other features in slightly different shades. When done well, double drenching creates a cohesive, detail-oriented space that feels both thoughtful and dynamic.
How to perfect the double drenching technique
Like with any decorating decision, it’s important to start by considering the room you’ll be transforming. Double drenching can have a powerful, immersive effect on a space, so it’s best to think about whether this technique suits the room’s purpose. For example, choosing a predominantly darker color paired with an even deeper shade of the same tone would work beautifully in a bedroom if you’re aiming to create a relaxed, cozy, and warm atmosphere. We’d recommend using a color like olive green for drenching a space like this, and complementing it with a lighter shade of olive that carries a hint of yellow. Green hues are a calming color, often associated with nature, making it perfect for a bedroom and ideal for double drenching.
The beauty of this technique is how easily it can be adapted to fit any room, no matter its purpose or the amount of natural light available. It’s a versatile trend that almost anyone, regardless of design style or space constraints, can embrace.
Key architectural details to highlight with double drenching
You’ve chosen your room, picked your palette, and now you’re ready to bring double drenching to your space. The next step? Deciding which features to paint in your secondary color to make the biggest impact. While it depends on your space, common choices include doors, door and window frames, baseboards, crown molding, and built-in pieces like bookcases or cabinets.
Three wallpaper designs perfect for a double drenched space
As we’ve mentioned, this interior trend has mostly focused on the use of paint so far, but we’d like to highlight some wallpaper designs that can achieve the same effect beautifully. At its core, this trend is all about inclusion, so we're sharing options for maximalists, minimalists, and lovers of neutral color palettes alike.
Design 1 - Maximalist
The double drenching technique and a maximalist design style are a perfect match. By nature, double drenching is a bold choice - and it’s the maximalists among us who are most likely to embrace it fearlessly. We recommend our Margot wallpaper, a bold tropical print featuring a vibrant, warm rusty red as the dominant color, accented with lush pops of green from the foliage.
Wild Tiger Big Cat Tropical Leaves Wallpaper
Design 2 - Minimalist
While double drenching is often linked to more expressive interiors, it can be just as impactful within a minimalist design approach. By layering subtle, tonal shades, minimalists can use this technique to add depth and cohesion without overwhelming the space. For a softer interpretation, we recommend our Ombre Grey and Blue wallpaper, paired with a deep navy as the secondary color to highlight architectural details. This pairing offers a quiet contrast that feels balanced and intentional, never busy. It's an ideal combination for a bedroom or nursery, just add some glow-in-the-dark stars, and you’ve created a calm, peaceful space to drift off in.
Gray & Blue Ombre Wallpaper Mural
Design 3 - Neutrals
Color drenching in neutral and earthy tones has been hugely popular for a while now. If you want to maintain a tonal, minimal color palette while still embracing the double drenching trend, try pairing your base shade with a deep, creamy mushroom tone, similar to the Pantone shade ‘Mushroom’. This subtle contrast helps highlight architectural details without straying from the neutral theme or overpowering soft, elegant wallpaper designs like our Blooming Neutral design.
Neutral Watercolour Flower Wall Mural
Double drenching is more than just a passing trend, it's a versatile, creative approach to color that can elevate any space, whether your style leans bold, minimalist, or neutral. By thoughtfully layering tones or incorporating subtle contrasts, you can transform everyday rooms into cohesive, visually rich environments.
Whether you're working with paint, wallpaper, or both, this technique encourages you to explore color in a way that feels intentional and personal. It’s all about celebrating the details, and expressing your unique design perspective.