Bye, White Paint! Anne Hathaway Embraces 'Wood Drenching' Instead – It's the Modern Take on Arts and Crafts Style That Designers are Loving Right Now

'Drenching' refers to the practice of adorning every surface in a room with a single color or material, and 'wood-drenching' just might be the chicest way to do it. Anne Hathaway's dining room shows exactly how inviting, stylish, and warm this look can be.

The actress's wood-drenched dining room within her historic 1906 Arts and Crafts-style home in Ojai, California feels like an ode to the natural material. After purchasing the property with her husband, Adam Shulman, in 2019, Anne worked with Studio Shamshiri, to transform it into something between a chalet and a storybook cottage. Her dining room feels especially intentional, featuring wooden floors, walls, ceilings, and a staircase that mirror the wooden furniture. Only cozy brown carpets add an alternative texture.

This winning combination of wood, wood, and more wood doesn't work only in Anne Hathaway's home; designers say it's one of the chicest and most timeless ways to decorate any space, beating even white paint in 2026 interior design trends. To help you explore the stunning style, here's a glimpse into the actor's space. I've also curated an edit of products to help you wood-drench your own home, and gathered designer commentary on recreating the trend.

Recreate Anne's Look at Home

First, it's important to note that although decorating with wood has always been popular (Anne's home was designed in 2019 after all), the material is having an especially bright moment in the sun this year. Shelley Cochrane, Design Expert at Furniture Village explains: 'Natural materials and textures have emerged as a key interiors trend for 2026. In dining rooms, they bring depth, visual interest, and a tactile quality that transforms the space. Wood, in particular, takes centre stage with its natural grain adding rich character and distinctive charm to a dining space.'

Furthermore, wood drenching is gaining popularity because of its soothing properties. Anthony Scott, Design Expert at Havwoods tells Homes & Gardens, 'Naturally cocooning and rich in texture, wood is the ultimate cozy material – no matter where it is used in the home. Its organic beauty, rustic tones, and detailed patterns all evoke feelings of comfort and connection with the great outdoors. When used for walls, ceilings, cabinetry, or more traditionally on the floor, wood contributes to creating a calming and relaxing interior that is both comfortable and nostalgic.'

As we see in Anne Hathaway's space, wood deals in striking and unique textures, which almost become patterns in and of themselves. This is why the look is topping dining room trends. Anthony advises: 'From the smooth surface of wood flooring to fluted wall panels, texture is at the heart of wood-drenching. Unlike other materials, wood has the ability to add both dimension and balance to spaces, pairing with almost any interior design style. To create a multi-layered wood-drenching look, combine tactile textures that add weight and depth with different colourways and species.'

So, how do you style the look from wood ceiling to wood floors? According to experts, there's an art of balance to it. Anthony suggests: 'While wood-drenching may seem like a minimalist approach to interiors, there is no need to play it safe and remain with one colorway, pattern, species or style. Multiple surfaces mean multiple opportunities to be creative, so pair contrasting materials and patterns together to create an eye-catching home. For example, combine rustic flooring with kitchen cabinets in a darker wood or pair a classic herringbone floor with fluted wall panels.'

Anne Hathaway's space demonstrates that the best approach is to keep it pared back, letting the wood texture be the star of the show. Shelley echoes this advice, stating: 'To highlight its beauty, pair a wooden table with simple, understated accessories that allow the grain to remain the focus, letting the material itself define the room.'

As drenching trends evolve, we look forward to seeing this movement take new, textural approaches. From Anne Hathway's wooden dining room to a steel-drenched kitchen, the single-material look is here to stay.

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