Whilst colour drenching certainly isn’t a new concept, it’s one that’s taken the interior world by storm over the last couple of years.
As far as I’m concerned, as both a hands on renovator and designer, it’s a concept that ticks all the boxes. No cutting in is required, the finish is flawless with the right paint type, and it’s effective in both small and large rooms.
Farrow and Ball’s Dead Flat range makes it so easy. Their multi surface paint can be used on walls, woodwork and ceilings – and it’s fully scrubbable. This makes colour drenching so much easier as you’re not having to contend with three types of paint in the same finish. Additionally, by using this type of paint, it results in the same sheen throughout for that true, colour drenched look.
Certain shades can certainly create that ‘boxed in’ feel with drenching which can feel daunting, but this is usually the case in very small rooms which have opted for a ridiculously audacious colour.
If it’s a concept you’re on the fence about or are looking for some colour inspiration, here’s 19 different Farrow and Ball shades to try it with, and how to pull it off to a tee.
19 Farrow & Ball Colour Drenching Ideas for Every Room
1. Light Blue
Blues are a trending colour this year and into 2026. It may feel counterintuitive leaning into a cool toned colour in a north facing room, but light, breezy blues can have an uplifting effect, and are almost as versatile as neutrals.
This silvery blue by F&B is peaceful and calming, and it creates such an enveloping feel in a room such as a bedroom. If you want a soothing alternative to a green shade, this is the way to do it.
2. Green Smoke
Something I always say is, it’s impossible to feel bad when surrounded by a good green. And well, Green Smoke is one of the best!
This smoky green blue is inviting, easy on the eye and will make a high impact statement when colour drenched. I have a fairly similar shade to this in my south facing office, and it does a wonderful job at tempering the intensity of the sun whilst also feeling cosy.
If you have a dark north facing room and are toying with the idea of leaning into the darkness, just be mindful of the role of the room. A dark colour like this will swallow the light in the darkest corners, so always test on an A4 sheet of paper beforehand to see how it feels to sit with it on both light, and gloomy days.
3. Faded Terracotta
One room pleasing shade is Faded Terracotta. I just adore the natural warmth from this soft, pale orange. It’s inspired by the pale hue of the Californian sun, and if you don’t like the idea of a pink, try this instead.
A great colour for both dark and light rooms, it really excels itself in this open plan kitchen and dining room in the image below.
4. Blue Gray
This is one of the coolest blues in Farrow and Ball’s collection. It features a mix of blue, green and black pigments for a paint shade that has a metamorphic quality to it.
It’s quite endearing when colour drenched in the entirety of a room and would look wonderful in a coastal or earthy inspired colour scheme.
5. Slipper Satin
This neutral is definitely a contender for one of the most popular F&B neutral paint shades. It has a grey-green complex which honestly makes it adaptable to use in both light and dark rooms.
If you’re still not sure about colour drenching, a neutral like this is a perfect place to start. It’s not offensive in any way, and certainly won’t make you feel boxed in. Once you give it a try, you will see how much more elevated, warm and uplifting it is VS sticking a bog standard bright white on the ceiling.
6. House White
Looking for the perfect off-white can be an endless battle when there are so many choices. So, if you’re dealing with a north facing room, firmly stick to whites with a yellow, pink or red undertone. Oh, and consider House White!
Described as a clean citrus white, this shade has a slight green undertone for a lovely balance. It’s a strong and fresh white and looks absolutely beautifully in this high ceilinged dining nook area. The addition of the tongue and groove panelling adds instant character to the space.
7. Olive
Smaller spaces can really benefit from this saturated look, especially in open spaces like the below as you create such a beautiful depth of colour between the rooms which is ludicrously inviting.
I particularly love this approach in attic spaces or rooms with sloped ceilings as it stops making a focal feature out of the slant, and instead embraces it truly and wholly. Olive is a rich, earthy green that has an inherent link to nature. Layer with other shades of green, red, browns and creams for an earthy colour scheme.
8. Brinjal
Some of my favourite colour drenched spaces are the smallest ones! You can have a lot of fun in spaces like downstairs toilets, creating a high impact look, but one you’re not spending a lot of time in.
Brinjal is as bold as brash as they get, without feeling tacky. Adopted in a full gloss finish throughout in the below powder room, it feels luxurious and high end.
9. Mizzle
A natural step up from a neutral is a green like Mizzle. It’s soft, not stimulating in any way and is a perfect candidate for a colour drenched look.
Green sits in the middle of the colour spectrum so it is virtually the easiest colour on the eye. This goes some way at explaining why it’s such a soothing colour to be around. A beautiful choice to cocoon a bedroom or living space where you spend a lot of your day.
10. Down Pipe
Time for some fun with darker, defining shades! If you’re planning on leaning into the darkness or embracing a darker shade, I say go all in. It will create more of a high impact finish, and it can actually make a room feel cosier than if you stick to a bright white on the ceiling and woodwork.
This dark lead grey has always been a popular choice from F&B and it looks beautiful in this large sitting room in the image below. The room also has huge bay fronted windows here which helps to lighten the overall look.
11. Deep Reddish Brown
If this colour isn’t already on your radar, it needs to be! A deep and earthy brown that feels warm too.
Colour drenched in the below downstairs toilet and it has the most rich and sultry finish that is wonderfully elevated. I actually love this colour in a windowless small room such as this, you can lean into the darkness in confidence and the results will always be breathtaking.
12. Brassica
How to do colour drenching in a bathroom? Well, this one has taken it one step further by wrapping it around the vanity unit for even more of a colour adopting approach.
What better colour to do it with then Brassica. It feels unexpected for a bathroom colour, but it just works. A rich lavender colour that is sophisticated and surprisingly works well with most colours.
13. Railings
You may have seen Railings as an effective accent colour, but have you considered going the full hog with this colour?
This approach is not something I would recommend for a room that is multi-use, or one that you use a lot throughout the day, as whatever light the room receives, it will feel oppressive.
However, there is a time and a place for it, and in situations such as a cinema room, you couldn’t pick a better colour. It’s so much more elevated than a jet black, and is incredibly handsome and dramatic.
14. Bancha
Slightly darker than the shade Olive, Bancha whilst dark is wonderfully fun and uplifting. It’s soothing, comfortable and a lovely shade for home offices, libraries, living rooms and even bathrooms.
Introduce natural materials such as wood and brass, and do lean into other earthy tones for a really cosy and soothing space.
15. French Gray
For a mid-range green, French Gray can do no wrong. It’s workable, versatile and pretty much a great choice for any room in the home.
Name a better colour match than red with a green. Red accents are trending, much to do with the ‘unexpected red theory’. There’s just something special about how it finishes a colour scheme off, and it sets the tone in an earthy colour scheme.
16. Red Earth
The below living space is finished in F&B’s Dead Flat finish which just creates the most beautiful, flawless finish throughout.
This light terracotta shade becomes even more mesmerising in a colour drenched approach. It’s traditional and works just as well in smaller rooms, as it does in larger spaces.
17. Inchyra Blue
Dark colours can be particularly endearing in entryways if you want to lean into the darkness. This dark blue grey looks sensational in the space below.
If you want to elevate a colour drenched room, tongue and groove panelling or perhaps another style of panelling just helps to go some way at creating a more elevated, and finished look. The grooves add instant verticality, so your eyes are instantly drawn up to the ceiling.
18. Sulking Room Pink
Here’s another example of an effective form of colour drenching in a tiny toilet area. This south facing toilet receives a lot of light so Sulking Room Pink tempers the light coming in beautifully which creates a sultry, moody look.
It’s also not an overly feminine shade, despite it being pink. The black elements in the room ground the overall colour scheme and balance the colour drenched look.
19. Pink Ground
A sweet shade of pink is the perfect antidote to a cold, dark room. This dusty pink is slightly more feminine and dainty, yet it holds large dose of yellow pigment for a soft blush finish.
This is another versatile paint colour that would realistically work in any room, but it really comes into its own in a bedroom like shown below. Pair it with green for the best complementary contrast you can get, trust me!
