Colour drenching – painting walls, ceiling and trims in the same colour – was a lesson for all of us in the power of paint to accentuate the positives of a space while minimising the defects. A few years on, and the art has been refined, with the advent of double drenching creating a more layered and nuanced approach to the use of colour in our paint selections.
The key to double drenching is the choice of two or more shades of the same colour – or the use of two closely related hues, such as teal and blue for example. For the latter, try selecting two colours next to each other on the colour wheel.
The look is one of subtle tonal differences, a space in which all decorative elements are in harmony, simply by using one or two colours in varying strengths.
The above image demonstrates how double drenching can achieve depth and contrast within a space, while maintaining harmony. A mid-tone peach hue was selected for the walls, such as Wattyl Podsol, with a much lighter tint of this colour used on ceiling and window trims. Artworks, furniture and carpet are all selected from the same colour palette.
The sheer, lush decadence of green is on full display in the image above. Green says nature, like no other colour and in this living space the rich greens of the velvet couch, the plant, the walls and the lights create layers of colour that produce an ambience of calm and contemplation.
The combination of light neutrals, as in the living area above, is used to achieve a sense of space and light, while maintaining visual interest with the introduction of darker elements within the same hue, as can be seen in the artwork and the rug.
An easy way to achieve this layering of hues, tints and tones is to choose one of the colour cards in a Wattyl store – these give ten tints and tones of a single hue and can be used to get a sense of the effect when using two different, but closely related hues, in the one space. The colour cards can also be used as a guide when selecting furniture and accessories.
Swatches and sample pots, together with cans of paint, of colours from the new Colour by Wattyl Fandeck, can be ordered online and instore at Wattyl Paint Centres, Mitre 10, Home Hardware, Crowies and other leading paint specialists.
