Ombre walls are set to make a comeback as homeowners and designers alike explore ways to make spaces more interesting. Ombre walls, a technique where multiple shades or hues gradually fade into each other, can add depth, dimension, and a unique focal point to your living space, making them a popular choice for accent walls, bedrooms, living rooms, and other interior areas.
James Mellan-Matulewicz, Creative Director at design brand Bobbi Beck, shares his top tips when it comes to adding ombre to your walls.
“There are two ways to achieve an ombre wall; paint or wallpaper. Painting an ombre wall is not quite as tricky as most would think and can be a bit more fun than putting up wallpaper. However, it can be limiting from a design perspective as it’s very difficult to get smooth gradients and tricky to blend multiple colors. Paint is therefore recommended if you’re looking for a more rustic finish in a single hue.
Wallpaper on the other hand offers much greater variety when it comes to design. As the design is a non-repeat, you would be buying a mural, which are typically made custom to your wall size and sold by the square meter or square foot. However, murals are relatively simple to install and don’t differ too much from installing standard rolls of wallpaper.
Styling tips for choosing an ombre wall
“There are three main things to think about when choosing an ombre wall design; color, direction and texture. From a color perspective, the options are almost endless, but the options can be broken down.
A simple starting point is a single hue, with a gradient from light to dark. This is good for more minimalist schemes where you don’t want too many colors, but want something more interesting than just block colors on the wall. The gradient from dark to light could be subtle or dramatic depending on your preference.
Two hues blended together is a great way to integrate a coordinated color scheme into a room in an interesting and unique way. The possibilities are endless with this so it’s just about choosing colors that compliment each other and work with the rest of the space.
While most people think of one or two colors with ombre walls, there’s no reason you can’t go for even more colors. There will of course be a limit with how many colors would work well together, but if you’re looking for something more interesting, then why not go for a multi-color option.
When it comes to the direction of the gradient, the most popular option is to have it vertical. It’s more common to have the darker shade on the bottom and the lighter shade on the top, but reversing this could offer something more interesting.
For something even more unique, you could have a horizontal ombre, with the colors blending from left to right or even a diagonal gradient. Vertical gradients can work well in rooms with low ceilings as it can help give the impression of extra height. Horizontal gradients help when you’re trying to encourage a sense of motion, like hallways, landings and walkways.
Finally, the last thing to consider is texture. While the focus for an ombre wall is color, adding some texture or graphic detailing to the design can help take it to the next level.
You don’t need to stop there. You could achieve an ombre effect while integrating a more literal design into the space, like a gradient forest or mountain mural.
One of the most attractive things about ombre walls is their versatility. They can work in pretty much any spaces and can be adapted to multiple styles. Whether you're a minimalist or maximalist, a color-lover or a fan of neutrals, an ombre wall can be a great design solution that will add depth to your room."
Learn more about creating ombre walls with wallpaper at Bobbi Beck.
Editor's Note: All images in this post appear courtesy of Bobbi Beck.