How to Paint an Eye-Catching Ombre Wall

Image via: Etsy Shop Love ColorRay – Ombre Wall

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Follow these steps to achieve the perfect ombre wall in your home:

Select Colors for your Paint Project:

The first thing you’ll have to decide is if you want a single color ombre wall (aka, one color that gradually fades to white), or a multicolor ombre wall (a dark shade, medium shade, and light shade). For multicolor, you can either choose three shades from the same color family or slightly different colors that blend together well. Digs Digs has some great tips and ombre inspiration for your decorating.

Gather Paint Supplies:

Purchase the paint in the color(s) that you’ve selected for your wall. You will also need a primer, painter’s tape, a tray, roller, paint brushes, and sponge.

Painting Preparation Tips:

While you’re certainly excited to jump into your project, you won’t be satisfied with the results unless you prep the walls properly. Begin by wiping down the walls to remove any excess dust/debris, sanding down any rough spots, and if necessary, patching any holes. Make sure to also apply a coat of primer to create an even, solid base for the paint to adhere to. HGTV gives some ideas and inspiration for painting your ombre wall.

Creating the Ombre Effect with the Paint:

Use a roller to paint the entire wall with the lightest of the shades you have selected. Paint the bottom quarter of the wall with the darkest shade, and mix the medium and dark shade together to create the color for the section of the wall immediately above that. Paint the final section using just the middle shade. Blend the colors together using a dry paintbrush or sponge until the lines seamlessly blend together.

You don’t have to be a gifted artist to paint the perfect wall! – it just takes the right tools and some time and effort.

Try this Glitter Wall tutorial in your home for another cool effect!

The hard part is over. You painted your entire house or you’ve finally gotten your living room just the right shade of beige. But what do you do with the leftover paint? Depending how much is left, there are a couple of options.

Re-use:

Stored properly, paint can last for years. Keep your cans lidded and wrapped in plastic wrap and store them upside down at room temperature. This keeps the air out to avoid drying. By holding on to your left over paint, you can use it for touch ups or paint small areas of your home. Light colors can be re-tinted at certain retailers so your paint looks exactly as it did when you first applied it. Older paints can even be mixed with latex paints for base coats on new walls.

Image via: Pablo McLoud

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Trash it:

If you have no use for your left over paint, or just not enough to use anywhere, you are going to have to dispose of the paint yourself. Gold Coast painters recommend always checking the level of paint you have in your can before you begin disposal.

Less than an inch?

Take the lid off of your can and let the paint dry naturally outside. Once dry, you can go ahead and recycle the can.

Larger amount? Method 1:

Take the lid off of your paint and pour an absorbent material into the can of paint. Kitty litter works best but a lot of shredded paper can also do the trick. Place the can with the lid off outside to dry. It can take a day or two for the paint to dry completely. Throw the entire can in the trash. You can opt to leave the can uncapped by your trash can to make sure sanitation officers know you are being compliant.

Image via: Joe DeMaio

Larger amount, Method 2:

Dump the leftover paint into a trash friendly container filled with kitty litter. Let the original can dry outside and recycle. Once the paint and kitty litter mix is dry, throw it in the trash.

Always remember to make sure your paint is water or latex-based before disposing of it yourself. Oil based paints must be delivered to hazardous waste centers and never put in the trash. Some of these rules vary by state, so check your local laws before putting anything possibly hazardous into the trash.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.