How to Paint an Ombre Accent Wall

1

Prep
Clean your surface. Using a cloth or cellulose sponge dampened with water and a little mild dishwashing liquid, wipe down the wall(s) to be painted to remove dust and dirt. Rinse the walls with clean water to remove soap residue. Patch any holes with lightweight spackling, lightly sand*, then remove any dust.

Don’t forget to remove furniture in the room to give yourself room to work. Tape around the edges of your surface.
2

Paint Base Color
Begin by painting the entire wall the lightest shade of paint (we used Honest Blue SW 6520) and let it dry 3-4 hours.

Tip: Look for paint that has paint and primer in one, such as SW Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint. A paint and primer in one will ensure good coverage on the wall, which will make a fresh surface for your paint to blend.
3

Plan
To achieve the ombre look, measure three equal sections on your wall and mark lightly in pencil.

Note: The top section will be the lightest color. The darkest color goes at the bottom, leaving the third color for the center.
4

Paint Middle Section
Paint the middle section with the second-lightest color (we used Sporty Blue SW 6522). Use a roller for a nice even look. No need to be exact with your edges, you will be blending them together later.
5

Paint Bottom Section
Paint the darkest color at the bottom of the wall (we used SW 6524 Commodore). Leave a little room between your two colors.

Tip: For a more subtle ombre that uses similar colors, consider choosing three colors that are in the same color family. Stay away from the darkest color if you can, for a more soothing palette. If drama is what you’re looking for, then consider a bold hue for your darkest color, but select your color with care.
6

Create Wet Edge
Using a 4” paint brush, repaint the bottom edge of your middle color.
Tip: Work in small sections so that the paint does not dry during the blending stage. You will need to be working with wet paint while blending.
With a different 4” paint brush, repaint the bottom color adjacent to your new wet edge of your middle color.
7

Blend in Small Sections
Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to blend the colors evenly. Start by creating an “X” with the paint brush, blending the two colors together. This is when you want the colors to mix and blend together, forming a gradient. Continue working in small sections to ensure you are consistently blending with wet paint.
8

Repeat STEPS SIX and SEVEN for top colors. Let dry for 3-4 hours.

Enjoy!

Supplies For This Project