Some trends are complex and heavily involved while others are simple. One of the hottest trends of the year falls into the latter category.
TikTok has brought the #ColorDrenching trend into focus in 2025. The concept of this trend is a fully saturated space with walls, furniture, and accessories all drenched in the same vibrant hue. It’s an immersive design approach that relies on cohesion rather than contract. It’s monochrome without monotony and suggests an environment that’s curated and emotionally resonant.
Color saturation has its genesis in high-end interior space and editorial design, but it’s becoming a growing trend on the trade show floor. A color-drenched booth creates a fully immersive brand experience that stops attendees in their tracks and invites them into a story told through color.
Over the next few sections, we’re going to delve into how you can incorporate this viral design trend of color drenching strategically into trade show and exhibit environments. We’ll discuss how you can use this technique to create immersive, emotionally resonant brand experiences and how CORT’s customizable furnishings can help you achieve them.
In 2025, color drenching has gone from a viral social media trend to a meaningful strategy for an emotional design that can influence how event attendees feel and engage within a space. It’s more than a trend; it’s morphed into a design philosophy. It’s also more than matching walls and accessories and has turned into a vehicle for shaping how people feel in a space.
Elle Decor notes that color drenching has “matured beyond simply painting walls and trim in a single hue — now we’re creating immersive, cocoon-like environments using rich, dramatic tones. ‘Color-drenching — where walls, trim, ceilings, and even furnishings are saturated in a single hue — is gaining momentum, particularly with rich, moody tones like oxblood, deep aubergine, and electric teal. It’s an emotional response to the sterility of the pandemic years; people want their spaces to feel dynamic, expressive, and full of personality,’ [designer Philip Thomas] Vanderford explains.
Emotional resonance is more important than ever, particularly in the trade show environment. Color can help attendees feel what they want to feel in an instant, whether it’s comfort, excitement, or curiosity. Color saturation can bring a visceral impact that attracts guests and sets the tone for everything that follows in a branded experience.
Slipcovers, ottomans, and seating in bold hues that match your brand.
Full-height drapery that coordinates with everything else.
Acrylic bar fronts, tabletops, and accents in branded colors.
LED-lit furnishings that extend the palette with dramatic lighting effects.
Color drenching is about designing with intention. Here’s how you can achieve it with strategy and impact.
Create a cohesive brand identity by choosing a color that aligns with your brand’s tone and messaging. This color will deliver a consistent, recognizable presence when you incorporate it across furnishings, drapes, flooring, and accents.
Deep, saturated hues like navy, charcoal, or forest green add drama that enhances visual impact. You’ll have a high-contrast backdrop that immediately draws people in and looks amazing in photos.
You can make a smaller space feel more spacious when you bring in a single hue from floor to ceiling. This technique creates a seamless, flowing visual effect that removes distractions and opens up the space.
Choose the right color based on the emotional experience you want to create. Some examples include sage green for serenity, oxblood for confidence, or terra cotta for warmth. Reducing visual clutter with a monochromatic scheme puts attendees at ease and creates a calming atmosphere.
Tonal and textural variations take the monotony out of monochrome. Incorporate different finishes within the same hue family — like matte, gloss, velvet, or acrylic — to maintain depth while staying on theme.
Apply color psychology to align your hue with your message. Color influences behavior; for example, blue promotes trust, yellow inspires optimism, and red generates energy.
Modular seating and soft seating pieces available in custom fabric colors.
Cohesive layouts for lounge zones, meeting areas, and brand activations.
Flexible furniture elements that can be reconfigured without losing the color story.
Drapes, lighting, and customizable bar fronts for full environmental impact.
Let’s explore this trend in action with one of the breakout shades of spring 2025. Butter yellow evokes joy, brightness, and clarity which is perfect for brands looking to stand out while still feeling warm and approachable. This color — think pastel meets sunshine — is soft yet energetic and optimistic yet sophisticated.
Butter yellow has become a staple on the red carpet as well as on the runways; designers from Valentino to Carolina Herrera have been showcasing it in their recent collections. It’s exhibiting remarkable staying power and versatility across industries as it moves from fashion to interior design.
“‘Whether through upholstery, accent décor, or painted finishes, butter yellow is being embraced as a way to add warmth without overwhelming a space,’ says Nivak Remas co-founder Kevin Chan,” reports Forbes.
You can apply butter yellow across an entire booth to curate a standout environment that’s immersive and mood-lifting. It’s an exciting option for any area where you want people to feel both energized and at ease.
Custom slipcovers in butter-yellow upholstery for loveseats and ottomans.
LED-lit bars with both custom-branded yellow panels and logo integration.
Branded tabletops and pedestals in coordinating custom-branded yellow.
Floor-to-ceiling draped in white sheer lit in the perfect butter yellow hue with LED lighting.
Color drenching is more than a viral trend; it’s a visual language that creates an emotional connection, enhances spatial flow, and leaves a lasting impression. It’s both possible and practical to achieve a color-saturated environment when you incorporate CORT’s customizable furnishings, scalable layouts, and curated color solutions.
When the time comes to bring your brand’s hue to life, partner with CORT Events for a monochromatic event that fits your branding and evokes the emotional interaction that you want attendees to experience.