DIY soft ombre effect
March 25, 2013
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As you know I’m still working on a purge of the entire house – I’m only about a third of the way done but I’ve already cleared out a TON of stuff. Part of the purge was a reorganizing of the kiddo’s toys. We had a huge wall of cubbies installed in the basement (more on those soon!) and all of the toys fit down there SO nicely!
Until recently we had a big Target basket upstairs in the family room for some of the toys:
Excuse my flip flop shot – it’s the best one I could find of this wall. Ahhhh…flip flops.
Usually that basket was overflowing -- but when the cubbies were built all that was sorted through and taken downstairs. That dresser is full of toys as well – we did a huge clean out there too, but that is the only spot for them now on the main level.
So anyhoo, that spot the basket was in was empty for awhile, which I quite liked actually. It was nice to let it breathe for a bit, you know?
But soon I realized I wanted something there to even out that wall. We have the subwoofer on the other end and it was just looking unbalanced.
So I decided to try out something taller…in the shape of a plant. You see, I’m becoming a plant lady. It’s getting serious people. I’m obsessed. I can’t get enough of them. The fact that they are all staying alive and thriving is not helping.
Must. have. more.
I picked up a new ficus tree at Lowe’s to fill the spot, but like always, I wanted something fun at the base. I love putting my trees in baskets, so when I found this basket at Marshall’s for $8 I knew it would be perfect:
I liked the “dipped” look of it, but it was a little blah for me – I wanted something a little different.
I came up with an idea using paint I already had – so started by I taping off the white part along the bottom with my FrogTape:
Then just painted right over it – I used a foam brush so I could easily smush between the weaving of the basket:
And by the way, no, I didn’t paint the bottom. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
I was planning an ombre kind of effect – yes, late to the trend party yet again. At first I was just going to take my first color and lighten it up with some white paint to make three different tones, but then I remembered, DUH, I am using most of the colors on that paint chip in the basement so I had the lighter tones already. (I shared all of those in this post.)
So the base was the Marina Gray and my next stripe was Silver Lake. I just let the first one dry a little (it only took a few minutes) then taped over the just painted part with the FrogTape and then eyed the top part of the next stripe:
I used the delicate tape just in case the paint pulled off at all but it didn’t at all.
I kept going and ended with the Pebble Beach color I painted the basement laundry room. And I kind of LOVE IT:
Ignore that my stripes are completely different sizes, umkay?
The ombre look is way more subtle than I thought it would be – and I realize now you probably can’t even tell the difference in these colors down in the basement rooms – I so could have just used the same color throughout. Oh well. :)
I left the top rim and area around the handles the natural color since I wasn’t painting the inside of the basket:
I’m glad the ombre look is more subtle – I think if it was more severe the colors wouldn’t have flowed as well.
Mr. Ficus is so pretty, isn’t he? Maybe he should be a Ms.?:
I love how the plant works with the green lamps and the planter pulls in the blue from the rug in the family room too.
I love it! And I successfully brought another plant into the house – my favorite part. ;) It’s more balanced out now too – without feeling heavy. Exactly what I wanted!
Are you a plant fiend too? I’ll share more of my lovelies with you soon. And I have a much bigger ombre project in the works too!
**You can find out more about the DIY box/trough on the dresser here.
What kind of ficus is it?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure! We have another one like it that does well too.
DeleteWhat a great idea! Your basket looks wonderful in that spot. I hope your little one is feeling better too. We've gotten about six inches I'm guessing but the snow is now melting even thought it's continuously falling. Where is spring? :)
ReplyDeleteI too am a plant freak. Have been for over 20 years now. I have them ALL over my home and love to decorate with them. Good luck with you new plant. Just beware, Ficus trees can be very finicky. They will either do great and flourish or begin to drop leaves like crazy.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have another one and it lost some leaves at first but is doing well now. I was told once you find a good spot for them to never move them because they get upset and start losing leaves.
DeleteLove how this turned out - very subtle and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteFicus trees will loose their leaves if they are moved to different lighting...the leaves will fall and grow back thin if the light is low and thicker if the light is high; a very adaptable plant! I like to make cuttings from my big one and I have a few baby's that are thriving...makes a cute mini tree for a buffet or console table.
ReplyDeleteLove the cutting idea -- I had no idea you could do that! Just replant one and it takes off?
DeleteVery nice! Love the ombre basket! Would you curse me if I told you I've been wearing my flip flops for awhile now?! LOL!! Honestly, I'd trade you a week of my sun for your snow cause I know my summer will be HOT and yours will be lovely! Have a great day!! Hope your little one gets better soon!~~Angela
ReplyDeleteI've never seen anything like it. It's perfect!
ReplyDeletemust be on the same wavelength...i've been slowly collecting plants too. been thinking about doing a big guy like your ficus, but i'm scared to shell out the dough because i'm not a very good plant mom. maybe i'll take the plunge anyway. love the basket and the plant looks fantastic! cannot believe you got 11 inches - that stinks!!! still cold and windy in MI, but at least not more snow. hopefully it will melt soon.;)
ReplyDeleteLove the way you do projects :) Who needs to measure or wait for paint to completely dry? - that takes too much time when really all we want is to get to the finished product!! The basket turned out great! I love the look of plants, I just have never been able to keep them alive. Your success is encouraging me to give it another go.
ReplyDeleteLove how the basket turned out! I agree, what' with this crazy weather. Thank goodness we didn't get snow, but the winds are a howling!!
ReplyDeleteLove this and awesome idea! Erica
ReplyDeleteericasrunningjourney.blogspot.com
I was a plant fiend years ago but with age became lazy about caring for them. Maybe I could keep an air fern alive?
ReplyDeleteI just don't see the ombre part but I do like the color! And i love baskets, so I think I will do this too (use baskets for plants)
ReplyDeleteLove the basket! Oh and BTW, they call the variety of ficus with the braided trunk a "Money Tree" :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! Green plants always make rooms look so fresh. We got about 8 inches of snow :( I think spring got lost on the way here :(
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea and I love how you left the top natural...such a nice contrast. One question, are you repotting your plants or leaving them in the black plastic pot they come in? I'm never sure what to do.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I have been searching for a basket to put a plant in for my home's downstairs powder room, but I haven't found one yet! Will have to keep searching.
ReplyDeleteI love the way this turned out!
ReplyDeletehahahaha!! "Ain't nobody got time for that!" Love the basket too! You've inspired me to start my Spring Cleaning purge... maybe tomorrow... eeek!
ReplyDeleteXOXO, Mallory @ Classy Clutter
I love the idea of plants in my house, but I've got a major black thumb. It doesn't stop me from trying though! The basket turned out great. And, only Martha would paint the bottom. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood one! Thanks for the chuckle!
DeleteDifferent size stripes? What different size stripes?
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
Snow days are the best, even though we are all entirely tired of the snow. But I'll bet it was nice to snuggle with your little man. I'm not a fan of ombre but your basket is very pretty because it's subtle...what a great deal on a basket. I wouldn't have painted it because of the hassle! prepping, painting, cleaning the brushes...ugh!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting jealous of your plant-whisperer abilities! We had a ficus once, but it didn't survive, like most plants in my care (and I use the word "care" very loosely). :P
ReplyDeleteI love plants, but they don't love me. They come to my house to die. I wish I could grow them. Im thinking about trying it again...maybe. lol. Tree looks good and love the basket!!
ReplyDeleteI do love the look of plants in a home, but I hate the little flying insects that inevitably arrive after awhile. So I've given up on indoor plants, but living in AZ we have green to look at out the window all year.
ReplyDeleteI must say that every once in awhile I miss those old snow days from our years in Michigan.
Enjoy!
So cute! I love it! : )
ReplyDeleteKayla
www.lovelucygirl.com
Love your new bedding. Could you please give the names of each piece? Love your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy reading your blog. Also from the Hoosier state, the southern part, but need to tell my hubby we need to make a trip to Indy to do some shopping. Our town is little like the old home you talked about and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
ReplyDelete