How to colour drench paint technique

It pays to spend a little time preparing for any DIY project to make sure you have everything you need. Protect the floor with a dust sheet, put on your apron and get creative!

Tools:

• Wall paint in two colours – enough for the space you're painting
• Furniture paint (check what your furniture is made of and make sure you source the right product). Browse our paints for metal and wood.
• 2 x paint rollers (plus an extension pole if you need one)
• Paint tray
• 2 x smaller paint brushes for details
• Mixing sticks
• Measuring tape
• String, scissors, chalk and pencil
• Masking tape (optional)

Before you get started, plan your project. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you pick up a paintbrush:

How light is the room?

North- and South-facing rooms have a different quality of light, so take the position of your room into account when you're selecting paint colours. Dulux Colour of the Year 2027 Soulful Sage™ can lift any room and works well with the sunlight, so it makes a good choice in any space.

What colours would look good together?

Buy colour testers and create paint swatches on paper so you can see what any colour will look like in situ, and which colours will go together. Dulux colour stories give you instant ideas for colour combinations that work. To find out how Dulux 2027 colours could transform your walls, order a Dulux colour tester.

What finish do I need?

Make sure you buy the right product for the job – whether walls, ceiling, woodwork or furniture. Dulux has products for every DIY paint project.

Sketch out a design

For a double-drench effect, decide where you want the colour change to be and which colours you want at the top and the bottom. There's no fixed rule – it's your chance to get creative.

If the walls are in a bad condition, it’s always a good idea to wash them with sugar soap, rinse and leave to dry before you start painting. If they’re in a reasonable state, give them a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth and leave to dry. 

Start painting the top of your wall with your first chosen colour – using an extension poll on your roller if necessary. Extend the paint just beyond the point where you want to change colour. Leave to dry.

Once the top section is dry, take a measurement from the floor up at several places across the wall, marking where you want your second colour to start. Then, take a piece of string (the length of your wall) and cover it with chalk. Fix this to both ends of the wall (with tape or a drawing pin) at the colour change marks and ‘ping’ the string to make a light chalk guideline on the wall. Remove the string. 

Taking a paintbrush, carefully start to paint the outline of the bottom section of wall in your second colour, following the chalk guideline. Once you’ve completed the edges, you can fill in the central section with a roller. Leave to dry and paint a second coat if necessary. 

As well as painting the woodwork with your chosen paint colours, you can extend the drench effect by painting everything from your furniture to your lamps in the same colours. Make sure you use the right paint for each surface and have a bit of fun. Here, the tall lamp – painted darker at the top and lighter at the bottom – echoes the colour change on the wall, while the picture frame – painted only in the lighter Soulful Sage™ – creates an eye-catching contrast. 

All you need to add? Your own personal style.