Making The Grade: How To Decorate With Ombre

Ombre, which means ‘shaded’ in French, is the gentle blending of one shade to another, usually through a dark to light tone. If committing to ombre hair is a fashion step too far then the new home accessories in ombre pattern are a great place to start. And where better than the window as the perfect backlight to show off its unique qualities.

This soothing black and white on an ombre blind is a natural pairing. The transformation goes through tones of grey, giving the feel of a blur of charcoal but with added precision from the sharp folded structure of this Duette blind. Window coverings are the ideal way to use an ombre fabric, as the varying quality of the light that passes through adds extra dimensions to the design.

Ombre yarn is a wonderful way to create an uneven pattern that brings a natural texture and warmth to a room scheme. Ombre dye works especially well on a more rugged material, enhancing the rustic qualities of a woven linen or tweed fabric blind. Used with a neutral tonal range the changing steps in this roller blind manages to add extra interest without an overwhelming decorative pattern.

Looking for ombre materials with a more hard-edged appeal? These wood blinds are ideal for creating a clean design but with a subtle twist. The gradients from a pretty pink to a fresh white in this ombre blind stop the strong colour feeling too overbearing. Window coverings will affect the quality of light, and this pink colour closest to the glass will warm up rays as they enter the room. This can soften the colder light that comes through North-facing windows, making a room feel more cosy.

An ombre interior can work with a bolder touch than a gently phased gradient. This ombre blue décor makes a feature of the central window to the stop the bank of window blinds feeling too solid. The addition of the stepped roller blind in the centre brings a nautical quality to a fresh and quirky format. If you want to keep your blinds in a more conservative solid, try an ombre wall paint effect. Fun to create and easy to change.

The simplest incarnation of an ombre window blind is two shades; one deep one light. This split toned ombre pattern works almost like a dado rail on a wall, splitting the height of the room. The ombre colour mix selection in such a minimalist mix is essential. They must be a tonal shift rather than a hard jump between contrasting colours. Make sure the deepest tone is at the bottom, so that the room still feels fresh if you have the blinds down during the day, as a lighter shade above makes the room feel more airy. Classic visual tricks with a thoroughly modern update.

If you like our ombre decorating ideas, why not combine the technique with the hottest colour of the year for 2019?