Ombré Technique

Creating an ombré technique with the new Colorantic colours (Spring-Summer 2022), what fun! Why not? Even the most unwanted pieces deserve a makeover! This chest of drawers was in such poor condition that my family thought I was crazy to try to restore it. However, I decided to undertake this project because every piece of furniture deserves a second chance, a second life. I thought why not try an ombré technique with the new Spring-Summer 2022 colours from Colorantic. They are called Dancing in the Rain and Ranch, beautiful soft spring colours.

Products Used

Colorantic Cleaner and Varnish Remover
Colorantic Chalk Paint: Dancing in the Rain
Colorantic Chalk Paint: Ranch
Colorantic Grip-All Primer
Colorantic Top Coat
Colorantic Sanding Block
Colorantic Granular Hand and Brush Soap
Colorantic 25 mm oval brush
Water mister
Workshop towels
Wood filler
Roll of green tape
An old chest or drawers
Cutting paper

Colorantic products

Preparation

The piece I am using is an old battered pine and particle board dresser that I know needs a lot of love. First, I thoroughly cleaned the piece, inspecting for damage and repairs. To do so I had to use a two part putty to fill in a few major damage spots. Then I used wood putty on some minor stains. Without a doubt all the drawers needed to be redone, holes filled etc. Did I say it needed love? I then sanded and primed the entire piece.

Creating an ombré technique with the new Colorantic Spring-Summer 2022 colours is very easy to do. Just spray water gently on the desired places and rub gently to mix the 2 colours. This creates an effect of slight transparency and gives a unique style to your furniture. The colours blend into each other.

The Steps to Follow

When I was asked to test the new Spring/Summer 2022 colours, not only was I unsure what I wanted to do but also I had no idea what the colours would be. It was like Christmas when I received the package. I sat down and looked at the dresser, with the pots of colour sitting on top with silver hardware when inspiration struck. Since there wasn’t much interest in this dresser anymore, I decided to do an ombre effect with the Ranch and Dancing in the Rain colours. Before I started painting, I drilled the new holes for the hardware. I gave a first coat to place my colours in the right place, the second to finalize the placement and the third to finish mixing the colours.

I decided to decorate the sides of the drawers with a pretty paper that I had on hand. I also applied 2 coats of varnish to protect the entire piece of furniture. Varnish will increase the durability of the chest of drawers. Finally, I had fun putting the finishing touches with little accessories and that’s it, we’re done! What a wonderful project. I love mixing colours. It is so fun, satisfying and relaxing.

Learn how to create a gradient with Colorantic™, mixing colours and tones for an ombré and cloudy effect.

Start with the darkest colour at the base of your furniture, such as the legs of a table or chair.
Mix a small amount of your second colour into the first colour to make it lighter.
Apply the lightest colour on top of the first colour using a clean brush to spread the paint evenly before it dries. It should be noted that this extended application of the lightest colour causes each colour to blend into the next colour.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you reach the lightest colour on the top part of your object or piece of furniture.
Seal the paint using Colorantic natural wax.
At this stage of the process, you can also apply a darker colour of wax to the colour on the lower part of your object or furniture with Colorantic dark or black wax. In addition, if you wish, you can also create a faded effect, using sandpaper to create different worn areas before applying a layer of natural beeswax again.

To learn more about this technique, consult Colorantic’s blogs and videos.

To Finish

Did you know? Colorantic paint reactivates with water. Our paints are made from a base of real liquid chalk and water. This means you can work on your final blended colour for a few days. You just have to know when to stop. The process of painting furniture can take you on an unexpected creative journey. Have fun with Colorantic chalk paint products!

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In Conclusion

I recommend that you try the ombré technique on a piece of wood, on a board or even on a sheet to practice before you start your project. This will allow you to do trial and error. If your vision doesn’t come to life, you can always start over. It’s just paint!

For further questions or concerns, call Colorantic at 819-795-4442. They are very knowledgeable and helpful. They will be able to advise you according to your project and answer all your questions about the different techniques to be used.

If you want to have even more ideas for upgrading furniture, you can join our Facebook group or follow our publications on various online platforms.