Ombre is an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your wall.
Its not complicated if you prep the wall and paints before you dive in creating the ombre effect.
Choose two adjacent shades on the color wheel for a subtle effect.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Keep in mind that the more significant the difference in colors, the more dramatic the result.
You may need to do some experimenting to find the perfect hue.
ensure you have plenty of paintand then somewith the help of The Spruce’s paint calculator.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Safety
Inhaling paint fumes can be dangerous.Always ventilate the area well and wear a mask.
What Are VOCs?
VOCs or volatile organic compounds are chemicals that evaporate at high rates when indoors.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Paints, varnishes, and waxes all have volatile organic compounds, which are volatile or potentially harmful.
Transitioning from light at the bottom to dark at the top can make a large room feel cozier.
Using oil-based paints may be advisable, as they dry slower than latex paints.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Beginner painters should consider using painter’s tape.
Tape off the baseboard and other trim before priming.
Let the primer dry completely.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
you might forego the painter’s tape if you’ve painted before and have a steady hand.
You could also consider using special brushes, such as an angle brush or an artist’s brush.
A small artist brush or angle brush can cut into the edge with some painter’s precision.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Measure vertically andmake light pencil marksfor each section.
Use the yardstick and pencil to draw light horizontal lines through the marks.
Then, use the light color to cut in along the ceiling.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Let the paint dry.
What Is Cutting In?
Mix the Paint
Set out three paint trays.
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Fill one tray with the dark color and fill another tray with the light color.
Pour the mixed paint into the third paint tray.
Keep the edge of the paint about 1 inch below the lower horizontal pencil line.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Use a different roller for each color.
Work quickly so that the paint does not dry.
Immediately do the same to blend the middle and top sections, using a different dry brush.
After blending, let the paint dry completely.
Choose an odd number, like five, seven, or nine.
The more sections you create, the more gradual the color change will be.
Start by combining equal parts of your two original paint colors to create a custom half-and-half blend.
If you have seven sections, mix six cups of light paint and six cups of dark.
Paint the center section of the wall with the half-and-half blend.
Add one more cup of dark to the remaining tint and roll the next section down.
Paints for Indoor Use.
National Capital Poison Center.
