Watch this video to see Jessica demonstrate this technique!
What you will need:
- 3-5 paint colors
- A spray bottle filled with water
- A paint brush for each color (not necessary, but makes it easier to work with)
- Small jars or plastic cups to separate each paint color
Step 1) Surface prep
You will want to properly clean and prep you piece, I usually clean with one part vinegar and one part water, then lightly sand. If needed, prime using Country Chic Paint's Clear Bonding Primer. For more surface prep tips, check out this surface prep tutorial.
Step 2) Choose Paint Colors
Choosing your colors can be a lot of fun! Pick colors that you think will look lovely together - the possibilities are endless. Whether you are looking for something bright and cheerful, or calming pastels, really any colors will look great! For this example I used the colors Bee’s Knees, Elegance, Bliss, and Full Bloom.
Step 3) Apply paint
I start by painting the colors roughly where I wanted them to be on the piece. There is no blending required at this point. The painting doesn’t have to be perfect as you will be going over it with another coat of paint later on. I went in the order of Bee’s Knees, Elegance, Bliss, then Full Bloom.
Step 4) Blend
Once all the colors have been applied, and the paint is dry, it’s now time to begin blending. For this step, I recommend pouring the paint into separate jars to avoid diluting your whole container of paint.
Now the fun begins by blending the paint colors together! I started by adding a light coat of Bee’s Knees where Bee's Knees meets Elegance on my previous coat of paint (this helps to fill in the gap). I used my spray bottle to lightly spray some water to keep the paint moist and easy to blend. Using the same brush, I dipped a small amount in Elegance and did long brush strokes back and forth. Since the Bee’s Knees and Elegance are still wet, the two colors blend together easily. I continued doing long brush strokes until I felt the colors were blended to my satisfaction. Using a new paint brush (or after cleaning the first one) I continued this process between Elegance and Bliss, and finally Full Bloom and Bliss.
At times, I used a paper towel to remove some of the paint that I didn't like the look of. Keep in mind that the more water you spray, the more the paint will drip down (which can make a very fun look as well).
Have fun blending the colors until you feel it looks good. If you aren’t liking the results, either gently wipe off with a paper towel, or wait until it is dry and paint over!
Once everything is dry you can leave your work as is, or seal it with Wax, Hemp Oil, or Clear Coat.
Here's the finished result!
Here are some other examples of ombré furniture I've created:
For more furniture painting tutorials, click here.
