The Color-Drenching Trend That Ditches Paint For Wallpaper

Drenching the home in color, pattern, and texture has become one of the most prominent trends in today's home designs. It seems like everyone is covering the walls, floors, and ceilings in monotonal looks. One way homeowners are achieving this aesthetic is by replacing the typical paint used in color-drenching with cozy wallpapers. Wallpaper is unique in that it can add pattern, color, and even texture to your space, depending on the design, of course. And drenching rooms in patterned wallpapers has become the interior design trend that's replacing outdated accent walls, allowing folks to immerse themselves in their color palette and unique aesthetic.

Wallpaper-drenching is so much more than its predecessor, color-drenching — a technique which uses the same color on the walls, trim, ceilings, and even floors. While you might see similarities, wallpaper-drenching allows for more versatility by bringing in pattern. Wallpaper is a facet of pattern-drenching, which is a popular trend that covers a room's surfaces and textiles in the same pattern. However, textured wallpaper could add a unique tactile element that pattern and color can't replicate on their own. Further, while wallpaper-drenching often encompasses the walls and ceiling of a space, it doesn't typically extend to flooring or furniture. This can make wallpaper-drenching a little less of a commitment, and allow for a more varied look than color or pattern-drenching.

Inviting wallpaper back into the home is the '80s trend no one saw coming, but it's back with a gorgeous twist. Wallpaper-drenching ushers the pattern beyond the walls, creating a cozy look that adds instant charm. A popular method of wallpaper-drenching is to cover the walls and ceiling in a single, flowing pattern. This curates a nook-like feel that is soft and eclectic. Some folks have also chosen to lean into the pattern-drenching trend by adding a wallpaper pattern to the walls and ceiling, and mixing it with a checkerboard or stripe-painted floor for a more maximalist vibe.

Another clever way to wallpaper-drench your space is to consider adding wallpaper to the top half of a room above wainscoting painted in a color pulled from the pattern. This adds breaks up the look and feels more inviting in small spaces like the bathroom, where an overload of pattern could hinder the aesthetic. Of course, a staple of wallpaper-drenching is utilizing the often-neglected fifth wall: the ceiling. Some homeowners have chosen to wallpaper the ceiling on its own to create a unique visual look. Paired with pattern or color-drenching, this can be a trendy interior design choice.

The most popular patterns are subtle, paisley prints, small and spaced-out floral patterns, and vintage designs. However, stripe-drenching is the bold decor move designers are loving right now, so wallpaper in a vertical or horizontal stripe may be the way to go.