Ombre is the subtle transition from one colour into another and it is not just for hair, nails or clothes! An ombre wall creates a colourful focal point in any room. You can choose similar colours for a soft and smoothing effect or contrasting colours for a dramatic effect. The options are endless, for example, an ombre sunset look could be achieved with various shades of yellow or you could be daring and try an ombre rainbow which could be quite colourful and bold. This is a pretty simple painting technique but it is advisable to practise on a smaller surface first.
The flow of the ombre can go in either direction. The space appears larger and the ceiling higher if you choose to transition from dark at the bottom to light at the top. For a cosier effect, transition from light at the bottom to dark at the top. Either way, painting an ombre wall will add texture and interest.
What you will need to create a 3 colour blend:
- Three selected paint colours – the amount depends on the size of your wall.
- Three paint rollers and trays. Pour each paint into its own tray.
- A pencil or chalk.
- A tape measure.
- Two paint brushes for blending. An artist brush or angle brush might make it easier to blend the middle sections.
How to Ombre (Dark Top; Light Bottom):
Step 1 (The Choice): Choose three paint colours that you love. Visit one of our stores for tips on selecting the ideal shades for your ombre wall. Universal Paints use the NCS (so that you can easily see what colours work well together.
Step 2 (The Prep): Paint the entire wall with the lightest colour for a fresh smooth base and then let it dry completely.
Step 3 (The Maths): Measure three equal sections on the wall and mark lightly with a pencil or chalk.
Step 4 (And Go): For the first stripe at the top of the wall use a roller to paint with the darkest colour.
Step 5 (Almost There): Leave a space of about 3cm to 4cm below the dark colour and then paint the middle stripe with the medium colour.
Step 6 (Blending): Mix some dark and medium colour in equal parts and apply this mix with a paintbrush to the space between the stripes to blend it in.
Step 7 (The End): Mix some light and medium colour in equal parts and apply below the second stripe, blending it in until it fades into the base coat.
NB: The blending in steps 6 and 7 works best while the paint is still wet.
This really is a fun painting technique to spruce up a wall, and the best part is that it doesn’t have to be flawless. The trick is to get the paints ready first and blend them quickly before the paint dries.
Watch the following Martha Stewart video on how to paint an ombre wall: https://youtu.be/q09G_v9V3vU