Think of it like the sky in an Impressionist  painting. And let me tell you, it turned out amazing. 

Which begs the question: Why try for a perfectly blended gradient, when you can have something wonderfully imperfect and much more interesting?

​Ombre is a gradient of a color family that transitions from light to dark or vice versa.

Or, It can be a blending of different hues with a smooth transition between them. Think of it as a sunset on your wall, but without the risk of sunburn.

Why choose ombre for your wall?

1. It’s visually interesting. An ombré wall adds a touch of drama and depth to your space, making it feel more dynamic and exciting.
2. It’s customizable. You can choose any colors you like, from bold and bright to soft and muted. You can do an accent wall or the entire room.
3. It’s relatively easy to do. Even if you’re not a professional painter, you can create a beautiful ombre effect with a little patience and practice.

So, are you ready to dive into the world of ombre painting? Let’s get started!

Before you start painting, let’s plan your own ombre wall masterpiece.

Here are some design decisions to consider:

1. How many colors or shades? The traditional ombre uses three colors, but you can experiment. The number of colors its sup to you. For a more dramatic effect, try two contrasting colors. For a softer look, use shades of a single color.
2. Color placement: Decide how you want to distribute the colors. Do you want equal sections,or do you prefer something more unusual? Consider splitting the wall into thirds, or experimenting with different proportions like 20-30-50 or 20-60-20.
3. Direction: While horizontal ombre is the most common, you can also paint vertically or even in a circular pattern.The choice is yours!
4. Which shade or color, where? Traditionally the lightest shade would be at the top, with the middle section a darker shade, and the the bottom of the wall would be your darkest color. Again, you can do it your own way!

Remember, the beauty of an ombré effect is its flexibility. So, don’t be afraid to experiment and find a design that suits your style and space.

Pictures always help, right? So I curated this pinterest board filled with just ombre walls (many are wallpaper but they are still great for discerning a style you like) for inspiration.

• Paint in the colors of your choice, interior paint and only latex paint
• Painter’s tape

• Paint brush for each color
• Paint roller and tray for each color
• Drop cloths, to protect the floor and furniture
• Misting bottle (NOT a spray bottle) filled with water
• Rags or shop towels
• Ladder and or step stools
• Laser level, optional, but super helpful

The links are to the exact products I used. I sure appreciate you using my links whenever possible.

• Remove any hardware, such as light fixtures, outlet covers, switch plates
• Patch any holes or cracks and sand smooth
• Clean the walls to remove dirt, dust, and grease
• Tape off areas you don’t want to be painted

If your walls are a different color or if you’re unsure about the quality of the existing paint, prime them for a smooth and even finish.

In my case the walls were already a light grey, which is a great color for primer. So I just used some of the grey paint to cover over the samples the kids had painted to narrow down their choices, and where the wall needed to be patched. 

Many tutorials have you paint the entire wall or room with the lightest of your colors. I do not find that necessary, as long as you are starting out with good paint that is all one light color.

• Use a laser level or painter’s tape to mark the horizontal lines where you want the colors to transition.

• Always start at the top of the walls so any running that might happen can be fixed as you work your way down the wall. With the top most paint, cut in around the ceiling, windows, doors, and corners just to the height of that color
• Roll the top color onto the wall, filling in that area above the transition line, stopping several inches shy of the actual transition.

PRO TIP: A greater distance between the two colors makes for a more subtle transition. The tighter together, the more dramatic.

• Now with the middle color, work in small sections and cut in and roll this second color. Roughly the same distance the first color stopped shy of the transition line, you want to start this second color below the transition line. Roll just a bit of this section so your paint stays wet. Once you finish blending, you will roll the remainder of this section.
• Use a misting bottle to lightly mist the transition area.
• Blend the two colors together using a damp paintbrush of each color, working towards each other.
• For a softer transition, mist your paintbrush and work it along any edge that needs softening. Keep a rag handy for any runs!

This is where you decide the style of your transition — a slow single fade, or more like rolling waves, an exaggerated crosshatch or many others options. Make it your own — that’s the fun part!

As you guessed, I opted for rolling waves. Sometimes it looks like rolling mist, sometimes waves, and even a few times clouds.

PRO TIP: Paint one wall at a time. It is important for the paint to remain wet when blending.

PRO TIP: With a bit of paint on one paint brush, mist the brush tips and barely dip it in the second color. You will pick up a bit of of the second color, the water acts as a shield preventing the brush color tainting what in the can.

• When you’re happy with that first transition, cut and roll the second color on down the wall to where you want to begin blending with the third color.
• Open your next can of paint, pour a bit in it’s paint tray and repeat Step 5.

PRO TIP: To keep your paint fresh for the next day, I wrapped the roller and brush of each color in separate plastic bags and stored them in the refrigerator overnight.

I hope you are finding inspiration. I love sharing projects and all the tips and lessons I learned in the process. If you’d like more, please consider subscribing:

Thanks bunches. Now on to Additional Lessons from the Nursery:

• We used three different colors from the same family of Behr marquee colors: Dusty Lilac, Mulberry Stain, Audition.
• This is a very small room and we were able to get by with a pint of each, plus the original sample jar of each. We used a narrow roller and tray for each color. 

• I started with a smaller wall and one that I knew would be mostly covered with a shelving unit to work out my ombre technique and let the kids see if they liked it before I got too far.

• On an adjoining wall, I experimented with the height of the transition. We quickly decided we liked the original version best, and then it was simple for me to paint right over it and bring the blending right down to the same height.

• The last wall, the largest gave me trouble. The dark paint, when it’s wet is exactly the same color as the middle shade when it’s dry. If you run into this, here is what helped me:
  • Mix a bit of of the two paint colors in a cup so you have some that is pre-blended
  • Mix a small bit of water into your paint cans if they are starting to feel sludgy and don’t want to mix easily
  • Clean your paint brush as they may be getting too thick with old paint
  • Use the tip of a sponge roller to dip in your paint and blend it more smoothly
  • Shine a light source on the wall at an angle to highlight the wet paint with its shiny finish

PRO TIP: It’s always best to remove painter’s tape while the paint is still wet. However that probably won’t be the case for you here. So use caution, pull slowly and at a 45-degree angle.

​Okay, I’ll just put it out there! For the sake of “authenticity” and “keeping it real”. I’m a dyed in the wool perfectionist!

I’m a perfectionist at heart, but I’ve learned to embrace the unexpected and I love to have fun and push the boundaries.

When I suggested this wavy ombre technique for my granddaughter’s nursery, I knew it was a bit unconventional. The unexpected waves of color add a playful and whimsical touch to the nursery, while the overall design is still calming and soothing.

I am so grateful to our daughter and bonus-son for allowing me to flex my creative muscles a bit — to have fun in my DIY playground.

I hope you give this technique a try on some future project — maybe an accent wall to build your confidence!