Drenched in Style: Colour, Pattern & Material Trends That Will Transform Your Home

Some interior trends tiptoe onto the scene; subtle, soft, barely a whisper. Others, like the trio of drenching techniques dominating 2025, make a splash and don’t apologise for it. Colour drenching, pattern drenching, and material drenching are bold, immersive ways to inject personality into a space. They’re confident. They’re unapologetic. And if done right, they’re absolutely stunning!

But what exactly is drenching in the design world? Is it just about slapping a lot of one thing everywhere? Well, kind of, but with nuance. The beauty of these approaches lies in their intentionality. Each one offers a way to tell a cohesive story in a room, using a single design element (like a colour, print, or material) to create atmosphere, emotion, and style.

What is Colour Drenching?

Colour drenching involves using a single colour, or tonal variations of it, across every surface in a space. That means walls, ceilings, woodwork, radiators, even furniture and soft furnishings can all wear the same shade. It’s immersive, cocooning, and surprisingly calming when done in the right tones.

Think rich navy across the entire lounge, including the skirting boards. Or a terracotta-tinted dining room where the walls melt into the ceiling and the velvet curtains echo the exact same earthy hue.

This is great for anyone who loves a strong visual identity and isn’t afraid of colour commitment. It’s great for period homes where you want to highlight character mouldings, or small rooms where a wraparound tone can make the space feel intimate rather than poky.

Top tips for colour drenching:

• Go matte for walls and satin or gloss for trim; same colour, different finishes adds subtle contrast.
• Try a mid-tone rather than a super bright or dark shade if you’re unsure. Too light can look flat, and too dark can overwhelm unless you balance it with light-reflective surfaces.
• Don’t forget to extend the colour to furniture, built-ins, or even the flooring.

What is Pattern Drenching?

Pattern drenching is not for the faint-hearted. It’s the maximalist cousin of colour drenching, think wallpaper-on-every-surface energy. Walls, ceilings, upholstery, curtains, rugs… all covered in the same print or family of prints. It can feel like walking into a jewellery box: decadent, eclectic, and full of surprises.

Designers have used this approach for decades in heritage homes and boutique hotels. It creates visual drama and depth like nothing else. When done right, it’s pure magic. When done wrong, well, it’s a headache. Balance is key.

This is best for the maximalists, vintage lovers, and eclectic souls. It’s ideal in powder rooms, home libraries, bedrooms, or anywhere you want to create an enveloping, theatrical vibe.

Top tips for pattern drenching:

• Stick to one hero print and repeat it with discipline on walls, drapes, cushions, lampshades. Or blend a few in the same palette.
• Use textured solids to break things up; a velvet armchair or sisal rug can ground the pattern.
• Scale matters: large-scale prints feel more modern and forgiving in big rooms; smaller repeats work well in tighter spaces.

What is Material Drenching?

Material drenching is the most tactile of the trio. It’s about layering one material like wood, stone, velvet, rattan, concrete, leather, linen, etc. throughout a space to create harmony and texture. Unlike colour or pattern, this one speaks to the sense of touch as much as sight.

Imagine an oak-on-oak-on-oak living room: wood floors, slatted timber walls, oak coffee table, and wood-framed furniture. Or a marble-dripped bathroom where veining runs across walls, floors, sinks, and even accessories. Material drenching creates a textural story that feels cohesive and luxurious.

This is great for minimalists who love a high-end, curated look without the visual noise. Plus it’s brilliant in bathrooms, kitchens, and modern open-plan spaces.

Top tips for material drenching:

• Mix textures and finishes within the same material family; think brushed, polished, honed, etc.
• Layer materials in soft furnishings too. Think bouclé on the sofa, wool throws, and thick linen drapes.
• Lighting is essential. The right angle or tone can bring out the richness of a material palette.

Which is Best for Your Home?

Let’s be honest, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.

It comes down to your:

• Your personal taste: Bold or soft? Maximalist or minimalist?
• Your space: Does it have high ceilings or low ones? Natural light? Architectural details?
• Your lifestyle: Do you want something calm and low maintenance or energising and expressive?

Here’s a rough guide:

• Colour drenching is great for small rooms and dramatic spaces. But you should avoid it if you hate repainting or changing accessories.
• Pattern drenching is perfect for statement rooms and vintage interiors. But you should avoid it if you prefer visual calm or get overwhelmed easily.
• Material drenching is ideal for modern homes or spa-like environments. But you should avoid it if you’re on a budget or dislike tactile repetition.

Can They Work Together?

Absolutely and when they do, it’s interior alchemy.

• Colour + Material Drenching: A deep forest green bathroom with zellige tiles, emerald towels, and dark marble? Sublime. Just make sure your colour and material work in harmony.
• Pattern + Colour Drenching: Choose a patterned wallpaper or textile as your base colour, then drench the rest of the room in that hue. It creates cohesion without overwhelming.
• Material + Pattern Drenching: Use a dominant material, like rattan, and introduce patterns in the same tone; perhaps floral cushions, botanical wallpaper, or gingham throws.

The trick to blending is repetition and restraint. Pick a unifying thread and run with it; whether that’s tone, mood, or theme.

The Home Edit

Drenching techniques are about commitment. Whether it’s colour, pattern, or material, these trends demand clarity of vision, but reward you with breathtaking results. They’re not passing fads, either! The resurgence of immersive interiors is part of a broader move away from minimal beige boxes and into more expressive, emotion-driven design.

So, which drenched look speaks to you? Whether you go all-in on one or artfully mix all three, the key is to own the look. These trends are as much about confidence as they are about colour charts or swatch books.