How to Paint an Ombré Wall Technique
Ombré painting is EVERYWHERE. Clothing, home décor and even wall paint techniques. An ombré wall is the paint technique I chose to create a misty and ethereal look in our master bedroom. It started when I fell in love with Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore but didn’t want to make our entire bedroom too dark (I have a hard enough time waking up in the morning.) I decided a good solution was to use the dark charcoal gray color on a focal wall behind the headboard. But, I didn’t want to stop the color in the corners and create a sharp line.
Instead, I wanted a softer edge that would make us feel like we were being hugged by the room.
How to Paint an Ombré Wall Technique
I used Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore to paint the other three walls in the bedroom, but created a random ragged edge where the two colors meet.
This is how the side walls look in preparation for the ombré wall technique.
Materials:
- Dark latex paint color (Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore)
- Lighter latex paint color (Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore)
- A small container with a mixture of the two colors to create an in between gray
- Paint brush
- Dry brush
- Water-filled spray bottle
- ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape
- Damp car wash sponge
- Rubber gloves
- Wet wipes or wet rag
Instructions:
Apply painter’s tape onto the ceiling and window or door casing to protect them from paint.
The key to a great ombré technique is to keep your paint wet as you work it back and forth into the dark and light areas.
Start by painting some of your in between gray paint up and down between the two colors. Use the sponge to pat the paint around and out from the brush strokes. Use the dry brush to feather the edges.
You’ll see what I mean in this video tutorial:
Be sure to step back from time to time to get a better look at the wall. I learned in art school that when you like something, it’s best to stop before you over do it.
Keep your ombré random for more visual interest.
What do you think? I had a lot of comments when I first posted the wall on Instagram. There was quite the debate over whether people liked it or not. Apparently several people thought it reminded them of a natural disaster.
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE IT! And it really does make it feel like there’s a mist moving into the room.
So, do you love it or hate it? Do tell! I’m a big girl, I can take it.
Psst. Don’t forget to enter the HomeRight Paint Stick giveaway! It shaved a lot of time off of my painting process!
Not a fan of Grey. I do like that it looks stormy — but I think I’d be depressed in this room 90 percent of the time. The ombre is fun — but maybe with a different color. Just my taste!
As long as you love it – that’s what’s important. But this is not my favorite of your projects. Most of the time I love your projects – and I Always appreciate your information … thanks
I’m going to try it where I have to paint a wall that goes into another wall where I would never be able to match the color! Fingers crossed! Mine will be creme to gold.
Gorgeous! It looks like fog and even feels misty-moisty. I love it!
I’m not a fan of gray either, but this is really cool! And you make it look do-able.
Thanks so much!
i love this technique and you make it look very do-able, altho i am not a big fan of that shade of grey either.
love! great job
I’ve done this is the past for clients Brittany, however, with different colors. I love the technique you used but I have a traumatic story about the color gray. I can’t do it, just can’t. I have mentioned this before about that color on blogs & everyone wants to hear my “gray story” but I can never seem to write about it. I must say though, you did a wonderful job & as long as you love it, that’s all that matters.
Love grey but not this effect. Sorry!
Sad and strange to discus if you like a painting methode or not;-S
I’m just happy with you, and that you have explained the methode. I don’t know if i will use this, but i like to learn new methodes and it will be helpful some day some how.
so thank you very much for explain the methode and giving and sharing your tute.
I know by my own tutes it’s allways allot of effords.
so i appricaite this allot;-D
and yes i like this.LOL so don’t bother.LOL
I really like it a lot!! I like the grey, and the ombre. I agree, it would not have been good to paint the whole room in grey, but the way you did it looks great!
You did a great job, but I think having ragged edges would drive me nuts 🙁
I didn’t like this when I first saw you post about it, however I was lucky enough to see it in person and it looks fantastic. I don’t think the pictures, while great, do it justice. Your bed is a king and much wider than it looks in the pictures and the walls frame it beautifully. I wish everyone could see it in person!
I like grey, and I think the ombre technique would be cool with different colors, but this combo doesnt work for me. It reminds me of one of those horror movies where someone spontaneously combusts and leaves a scorched wall where they were standing.
WOW!!! I have been looking for something different to do in my master bedroom and now I have found it. Grey, whats not to love.
We did this in our soaping lab with blues. So fun. Looks great =)
Hi Britanny,
Gorgeous room. I was a bit skeptical at first with the dark charcoal color scheme for your wall but honestly I was surprised with the outcome of the foggy effect. I love it and the color is just balanced with your white bed and side tables.
That is such a unique take on ombre painting. I’ve looked up several different tutorials on ombre because that’s what my wife wants to do in the bedroom and so far this is the only one that I have liked. Great job and thanks for sharing!
This is a fantastic wall! i build furniture and clients always ask about accent walls. It’s simply the backdrop. For me I’d really bring in some spot color. y3llows? Blues? We see outstanding scenes when photographer shooting in “storm light”. this is like that.
LOVE IT!!! I am painting this technique in a half bath tomorrow using blue over the gray basecoat! Thank you for sharing this!!!
Ooo, that sounds pretty. I hope you’ll send me a picture when you are done!
Thank you, It looks awesome!! Trying this today with different purples!
loved it.
i am loking for an ideas to use on a small hallway.
i just found it.
i also love gray colors
I love it, colors and everything. I’m about to do an Ombre effect in my stairwell to transition my white main floor up to my blue upstairs. I was especially glad to see that you used a sponge to blend – all the other tutorials I’ve seen used a brush and I didn’t want to have brush strokes in my finished wall.
Also want to share a tip I got from my Home Depot paint lady; I asked if they have clear paint because I want to seal in the wall after I’m done, just to protect it from any future scratches or kids drawings, so I asked if they make clear paint. She sold me a can of deep tint base without any of the tint. When we tested on a paint stick it dried totally clear, and now I can make the sheen even over the whole wall. I haven’t done the project yet but will share how it works!
I lovelovelove your technique and the smoky look instead of a blah line of fade from one color into the other I’ve seen in some tutorials!!! I’m going to try on my bedroom tomorrow it is currently a slate blue, I am going to fade in a dark teal from the wall behind the headboard just as you have done. Thank you for your tutorial, this is exactly what I wanted but had no clue how to get it:-)
I love it. It looks like you caught the cast shadow of a tree or bush from a window…
thanks for the technique – its just what I needed to finish my project 🙂
I love this. Having done faux finishing professionally I would do this in my home. I see putting crystals through the lighter color then having them get smaller and further apart, more random where if fades into the dark. May be my next finish. I can’t wait to explore your other projects. This is my first of your work.
This is nearly exactly the kind of technique I ant to do! Ty for the video, it explains so well. I want a watercolor like wall but the murals are very pricey – around $200 for just one wall in a half bath. So this technique will be perfect!
It’s stunning.
Thanks for sharing, will put this in my bedroom. As an overlay reaching from one corner I am going to put a tree with branches hanging in the lighter part of the ombré. All in shadow form, it will be beautiful.. Thanks so much for the inspiration
Looks pretty. That is a work of art ! I wonder how you could do that with a sprayer.