colour drenching | why bathrooms are going bold in 2025
In the ever-evolving world of bathroom design, confident use of colour is making a powerful statement. Two of the most exciting and popular trends leading this change are colour blocking and colour drenching.
For interior designers, architects, and specifiers developing bathroom projects in 2025, these colour-led techniques offer dynamic ways to introduce energy, personality, and design coherence into what has traditionally been a purely functional space.
what is colour drenching?
Colour drenching involves using a single colour across multiple surfaces in a room. This could be walls, ceilings, woodwork, and even fixtures. This creates a powerful sense of unity and immersion. In bathroom design, colour drenching can be especially effective in smaller spaces, “wrapping” the user in a carefully curated atmosphere. From calming deep greens to bolder navy blues or earthy clay tones, drenched interiors evoke emotion and depth intentionality.
Double drenching takes this concept one step further, introducing a second dominant colour to create visual contrast, even tension and creates a much bolder aesthetic. It’s ideal for designers who want to experiment with contrast while still retaining a cohesive feel.
how colour blocking differs.
While colour drenching is about immersion, colour blocking plays with colour juxtaposition. This technique uses solid blocks of contrasting or complementary colours across different surfaces, zones or architectural features. Think statement walls, vividly framed alcoves, or bold stripes across tiles and painted finishes. In the bathroom, colour blocking allows designers to highlight specific areas which may be of particular interest. A good example would be zoning the vanity unit in one colour and the shower area in another.
Colour Blocking is a technique rooted in the principles of modern art and design and lends itself beautifully to modular bathrooms, where each component is both useful and beautiful.
why colour drenching matters in 2025.
There’s a broader movement across interiors to reflect individuality and self-expression, and bathrooms are no exception. Clients are seeking spaces that tell their individual story.
For architects and designers, colour blocking and drenching open up new opportunities to build character and mood into bathrooms without sacrificing function. These approaches work particularly well with custom and configurable taps, mixer taps and finishes that can echo or contrast with wall and tile colours.
the role of brassware finishes in colour drenched bathrooms.
So, coming closer to home, at Varied Forms, we see this movement as a chance to expand what’s possible in bathroom brassware design. Hence our range of different finishes including Soft Black, Warm Brass, Dark Bronze and Silver Steel. Our bathroom fittings are designed to be part of a colour story rather than a neutral accent.
Whether pairing Warm Brass with terracotta tones or using Soft Black against a backdrop of sage green finish selection plays a key role in successful colour drenching or blocking. Designers have the freedom to create highly coordinated or playfully contrasting looks using taps, shower fittings and accessories as key visual anchors.
design freedom in configurable products.
Perhaps most excitingly, these trends align perfectly with the increased demand for configurable and personalised taps which is at the heart of our passions at Varied Forms. Modular bathroom fixtures allow professionals to select the right form, finish and function for each unique space. With over 800 product variations available, Varied Forms provides the tools to bring colour-forward concepts to life in a way that feels completely tailored.
As 2025 unfolds, expect to see colour continue to push boundaries in bathroom design. Whether it’s through full drenching, striking blocks, or tonal layering, bold bathrooms are here to stay.
Designers, this is your invitation to explore the opportunities that colour (in all its combinations) offers to create expressive, individualised bathrooms that speak your client’s language and bring bold ideas to life… let’s get coordinated
