Sorry color drenching, this is the new way to 'drench' a room – designers explain why wood drenching is the key to adding rich texture to your home

Drenching has become one of the most favored ways to decorate a room. From color and wallpaper to tile and pattern, going for a bold, all-encompassing scheme is the designer-approved way to elevate a scheme.

But there's a new approach proving popular this year that adds rich, warm tones and natural materials to your home. Wood drenching is the new way to cover a room in a cocooning material, offering an alternative to the more colorful, busy drenching trends.

From tiny rooms that only have a small space to make a big impact to living rooms and bathrooms, here's everything you need to know about this design trend, and how you can tastefully wood drench your own space.

What is wood drenching?

Wood drenching works the same way color drenching or tile drenching does. It's about enveloping a room in a consistent material to add warmth, texture, and a bold statement.

But where wood drenching differs from other approaches is it's a natural material that can be made more pared back rather than a maximalist scheme. Wood's natural tones add an organic finish, warmth, and texture to a space without bold colors or busy designs.

'Wood drenching is all about creating a warm, inviting space that feels organic and rich in texture. To me, it has a nostalgic quality – almost like a ’70s cottage revival,' says Kailee Blalock and Taylor Troia, founders of House of Hive Design Co.

'However, beyond the retro influence, we also love referencing Craftsman homes and mid-century spaces, which have long embraced wood as a primary design element. It’s a way to bring depth, character, and a sense of craftsmanship into a room,' they add.

In the same way that color drenching a room can give the illusion of taller ceilings, wood drenching has a similar effect. 'Wood has a psychological effect that tricks the eye into making a room appear larger. The lines of the wood pieces and the depth of the texture work in harmony to create a space that will wow,' says Leah Bailey, founder and principal of Leah Bailey Interiors.

While wood drenching boasts plenty of aesthetic benefits, it also harbors mindful ones, too. 'Being immersed in a room drenched with wood can evoke a connection with nature,' explains Linn Gresham, senior designer at Leah Bailey Interiors.

'The craftsmanship and refined simplicity of wood can speak to us at a sensory level. There is a user interaction with wood that creates a meaningful human experience and warmth that no other texture can create.'

Wood drenching ideas – 5 ways to nail the trend in your home

Introducing wood drenching to your home might seem daunting, but there are plenty of ways to bring it into your schemes whether you want to trial a small room or go bold with a wood drenched living or dining room. Here's how interior designers are embracing this warm, textural decorating trend.

1. Add extra coziness to a relaxing room

The warmth that wood drenching creates makes it a particularly charming choice in cozy rooms dedicated to relaxing. It adds a rich decor element and a sophisticated feel while remaining inviting.

'We find wood drenching particularly appealing in rooms like studies and libraries where you want a cozy, warm feeling with natural elements. We especially love it in rooms with working fireplaces and in quiet spaces for reading and lounging,' says Kara Cox, North Carolina-based interior designer and founder of Kara Cox Interiors.

'We love to use wood drenching in specific spaces of a home where the room is separate and has its own cohesive feel to create a mood and ambiance unique to the space like this dark, paneled oak home library.'

2. Wood drench a small, intimate room

If you're new to decorating with wood or the drenching decorating style, starting small is always a good idea. Wood drenching a small, intimate room has even more impact, so it's a win-win!

'While you can wood drench any space, we love using this technique in smaller, more intimate rooms where the impact is heightened. Home bars are a perfect example – especially when you want a moodier, more masculine feel,' says Kailee and Taylor.

It can also work particularly well in small home offices or functional rooms that often fly under the radar. 'I would suggest starting with a smaller space or a ceiling so you don’t have to commit to a large common room and can thoughtfully introduce it in elements like built-ins, trim, a wine room, or an office,' adds Leah.

3. Use wood drenching to emphasise architectural details

In homes with beautiful architectural details, wood drenching can help create a sense of cohesion. In spaces with tall, vaulted ceilings, taking wood paneling over the walls and ceiling ensures the highest point of the room still feels like part of the design, rather than a forgotten element.

'Wood drenching lends great warmth and texture to a space, instantly making it feel cozier and more intimate. It works well in vaulted cavernous spaces that need a lot of warming up,' says Susan Galvani, interior designer and founder of Spruce Interior.

'I would suggest cladding a ceiling in wood panels and repeating that wood finish in various furnishings used in the space,' she adds, which is exactly the approach she took in this open plan kitchen. Your eye is instantly drawn up to the striking design and continues the warmth of the rest of the room.

4. Elevate a hall or entryway

Hallways and entryways can be tricky to decorate. They aren't rooms in themselves but rather connect the different spaces of the home. Wood drenching is the perfect trend to bring into these sometimes awkward spaces.

'While we wouldn't opt to use wood drenching just anywhere, we do love to incorporate a wood drenched area when the architecture calls for it and when it works into the feeling we want to evoke in that given space. We chose to wood drench the entryway of our Emerald Bay South project, as well as parts of the adjacent family room gathering space,' says Melissa Rohani and Lisa Berman, of Studio Gutow.

'The original bones of the home date back to the 1930s and incorporated many elements of traditional craftsman architecture that the homeowners wanted to maintain and celebrate. A wood drenched entry vestibule allows guests to be greeted with the elegance of natural walnut cladding the walls and ceiling, and serves as a cozy contrast to the usual bright white walls of beach-side homes,' they explain.

'Wood drenching in the entryway set the foundation for the finish and material choices we used throughout the rest of the home, including natural plaster on most walls, natural wood cabinetry, and a mix of hardwood and stone flooring.'

5. Mix and match colors and textures

There's so much versatility with wood drenching. While many people opt for a room drenched in one tone of wood, mixing in different finishes and textures can add extra visual interest, especially in a larger room.

'There are so many ways to incorporate wood drenching! Mixing and matching wood tones is another great way to add depth. Wood doesn’t have to be uniform to create a stunning space,' says Kailee and Taylor.

In this room, a warm-toned wood floor has been paired with vertical wood paneling in a cooler tone, while the upper third of the walls have been finished with horizontal white wood panels. Various metallic details have been introduced too, adding a touch of contrast to the scheme.

'A good wood drench works best in rooms juxtaposed by rooms with paint or metal – contrast is what really makes it sing. When our clients are presented with the idea of addressing a special space with wood, they rarely turn the idea down. It can be very durable and easy to keep, so it is utilitarian as well as aesthetic,' adds Linn.

So, will you be wood drenching your home this year? It's clear it's a timeless, characterful way to add warmth and texture to various rooms and is a great natural alternative to the bolder variations of the drenching trend. Or, if you're worried about bringing wood into more modern or practical rooms, you could try stone drenching instead.