Let Dip-Dye Creep Up on Your Home
If you're a fan of this ongoing trend, learn to introduce it to your walls, curtains and bedding
Jo Simmons
6 April 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Dip-dying is a simple and effective way to introduce colour to fabric. The fabric’s natural ability to absorb liquid causes the dye to creep up it, becoming fainter as it climbs. It produces a very soft, organic look, with the base of the fabric a strong shade, but the colour looking softer and more watery higher up. Dip-dying works beautifully with fabric, so it’s a natural fit for blinds, curtains, cushions and throws, but today’s innovative interiors are also interpreting the trend and reproducing it on walls and furniture for an exciting look.
Dip the walls!
Take the trend for dip-dyed fabrics and develop it, by replicating it on a wall. This beautiful design starts dark near the floor and graduates up through soft pink into white and grey at the top. It takes skill to paint this effect – or cheat with some of the lovely ombre wallpapers on the market – but the result has a gorgeous, painterly feel and turns a simple wall into a work of art.
Take the trend for dip-dyed fabrics and develop it, by replicating it on a wall. This beautiful design starts dark near the floor and graduates up through soft pink into white and grey at the top. It takes skill to paint this effect – or cheat with some of the lovely ombre wallpapers on the market – but the result has a gorgeous, painterly feel and turns a simple wall into a work of art.
Be bold
Dip-dying is a great way to bring a zingy, bold shade into your room without it dominating the space. Keep the top section of your curtains or blinds in perfectly pale white, but try a hot, on-trend shade at the base, such as yellow or neon pink. If that sounds too strong, try this effect on sheer curtains. The light that naturally filters through fine fabric will help to soften the bright tones.
Dip-dying is a great way to bring a zingy, bold shade into your room without it dominating the space. Keep the top section of your curtains or blinds in perfectly pale white, but try a hot, on-trend shade at the base, such as yellow or neon pink. If that sounds too strong, try this effect on sheer curtains. The light that naturally filters through fine fabric will help to soften the bright tones.
Capture the colour scheme
This bedroom is dominated by white and blue, and a dip-dyed throw on the bed ties both shades together in one piece. The relaxed, organic feel of dip-dyed fabric means this throw looks perfect draped casually, rather than neatly folded.
Discover more soothing bedroom colour combos
This bedroom is dominated by white and blue, and a dip-dyed throw on the bed ties both shades together in one piece. The relaxed, organic feel of dip-dyed fabric means this throw looks perfect draped casually, rather than neatly folded.
Discover more soothing bedroom colour combos
Play with scale
Dip-dyed curtains can create a sense of cosiness in a tall room with big windows. The darker tones at the base of these curtains seem to anchor the space and draw the eye down to seating level, so that this big, light-flooded living room also feels intimate.
Dip-dyed curtains can create a sense of cosiness in a tall room with big windows. The darker tones at the base of these curtains seem to anchor the space and draw the eye down to seating level, so that this big, light-flooded living room also feels intimate.
Perk up a neutral space
The soft, graduated look of dip-dyed fabric helps it sit subtly within a neutral scheme, introducing colour and detail, but without looking imposing. Here, short curtains that give privacy to the upper bunk have had their hems dipped in pink.
The soft, graduated look of dip-dyed fabric helps it sit subtly within a neutral scheme, introducing colour and detail, but without looking imposing. Here, short curtains that give privacy to the upper bunk have had their hems dipped in pink.
Try it on blinds
Dip-dyed blinds work on so many levels. They create less of a splash than pattern, while still introducing colour to a space. They also seem to mimic the soft bands of colour found naturally in the sky, so that even when blocking views of the outside, they remind anyone sitting inside of the heavens. Finally, depending on how far down they’re pulled, various amounts of graduated colour will appear, creating an ever-changing look.
Dip-dyed blinds work on so many levels. They create less of a splash than pattern, while still introducing colour to a space. They also seem to mimic the soft bands of colour found naturally in the sky, so that even when blocking views of the outside, they remind anyone sitting inside of the heavens. Finally, depending on how far down they’re pulled, various amounts of graduated colour will appear, creating an ever-changing look.
Add just a splash
Where would we be without cushions? They are the perfect way to introduce any new pattern or colour trend into a room without creating a grand statement or spending too much money. So throw a few dip-dyed cushions around your bedroom or living space to enjoy this hot look without fear of committing to a style that may, or may not, drip out of fashion!
Where would we be without cushions? They are the perfect way to introduce any new pattern or colour trend into a room without creating a grand statement or spending too much money. So throw a few dip-dyed cushions around your bedroom or living space to enjoy this hot look without fear of committing to a style that may, or may not, drip out of fashion!
Colour-up in a kid’s room
Dip-dyed curtains and bed linen can be elegant, but this relaxed dying technique can also produce a look that’s more fun, colourful and informal. The wash of colour on this bedding is perfect for a child’s room and looks extra stylish when teamed with a bold, chevron-stripe bedhead. It’s a great clash of exuberant colour and super-sharp monochrome pattern.
Be inspired by more beautiful bedheads
Dip-dyed curtains and bed linen can be elegant, but this relaxed dying technique can also produce a look that’s more fun, colourful and informal. The wash of colour on this bedding is perfect for a child’s room and looks extra stylish when teamed with a bold, chevron-stripe bedhead. It’s a great clash of exuberant colour and super-sharp monochrome pattern.
Be inspired by more beautiful bedheads
Start at the top
This beautiful room uses the natural wood tones of the panelling as the base, darker colour, with the dip-dyed effect applied with paint from the top down. Bold? Yes. Beautiful? Certainly.
This beautiful room uses the natural wood tones of the panelling as the base, darker colour, with the dip-dyed effect applied with paint from the top down. Bold? Yes. Beautiful? Certainly.
Simplify the style
Using the idea of graduated colour, you can achieve a sort of blocky dip-dye effect by painting furniture in bands of colour, starting with a dark shade at the base and becoming progressively lighter. Here, a three-tier chest of drawers lends itself to an ombre makeover.
TELL US
What do you make of the dip-dye look? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
5 Fool-Proof Steps to a Spot On Colour Scheme
The Case for a Colour-Coded Home
5 Fashion Trends That Translate Into Decor
Using the idea of graduated colour, you can achieve a sort of blocky dip-dye effect by painting furniture in bands of colour, starting with a dark shade at the base and becoming progressively lighter. Here, a three-tier chest of drawers lends itself to an ombre makeover.
TELL US
What do you make of the dip-dye look? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
5 Fool-Proof Steps to a Spot On Colour Scheme
The Case for a Colour-Coded Home
5 Fashion Trends That Translate Into Decor
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The graduation of colour is amazing. More like a art installation than house.
Also I'm a bit of a fan of the dip dyed look.