While ombré hairstyles have more recently become in vogue, the style—a gradient color effect where two shades are gradually blended from one hue to the other—has long been a popular choice for event design. Because why choose just one color when you can achieve a vibrant, photo-friendly effect by blending two or more?
It's a popular design choice for floral walls, stage backdrops, photo ops, and even dessert tables. Scroll down to see some of our favorite ways an ombré color palette has been used at events.
At the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show in 2022, guests were greeted by a 300-foot flower bed that resembled a field of flowers in gradient colors, from pink to orange to red, which lined the entrance walkway. In another area was a vibrant, ombré-like installation (pictured) from David Rubin Land Collective, a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning studio committed to practicing with an emphasis on socially purposeful design strategies. See more: How the Philadelphia Flower Show Bloomed Bigger and Better in 2022
Photo: Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
In 2019, Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum hosted its Rococo Rebellion: A Winter Soiree, an event inspired by the gatherings that the institution’s namesake once hosted. Rococo-inspired macarons in an eye-catching ombré palette were crafted by pastry artist Hana Quon of Cafe Madeleine.
Photo: Matthew C. Teuten
At Beautycon L.A., Target Beauty's eye-catching booth utilized oversize paper flowers in blended shades of orange, yellow, and red. MKG handled design. See more: 15 Ways Beautycon L.A. Helped Guests Get That Perfect Selfie
Photo: Jakob Layman
At DIFFA’s annual Dining by Design fundraising event, Rockwell Group—in partnership with The Rug Company—created an elliptical curtain made of 400 strands of hand-dyed, blue ombré carpet fibers. The space showcased the Lola rug, designed by David Rockwell and his daughter, Lola.
Photo: Alan Berry
An ombré wall of blooms, including cabbage roses and hydrangeas, was created by Todd Fiscus of Todd Events for a Fort Worth wedding in 2015.
Photo: Courtesy of Sara Donaldson
In 2018, the National Cherry Blossom Festival's annual Pink Tie Party fundraiser took place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Design Foundry designed the event, which included cascading rows of umbrellas that created a pink-to-blue ombré effect that complemented a painting of cherry blossoms. See more: Pretty In Pink: 16 Spring-Friendly Ideas From National Cherry Blossom Festival Events
Photo: Pepe Gomez
CNN's SXSW house had an apple theme in 2018. The front of the building was covered in vines and apples, and the stage backdrop featured apples painted in an ombré design. The fruit also served as centerpieces. CNN worked with Advoc8 and Pink Sparrow to produce the event.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury for BizBash
In 2017, Toronto’s Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery hosted Power Ball XIX: Stereo Vision, which was designed by Candice&Alison. At the benefit, guests nibbled from a wall of edible marshmallows by Archimallows. More than 8,000 treats were individually attached to the wall using skewers; the gradient-colored marshmallows tasted like peach.
Photo: Tobias Wang
In summer 2021, Moxy Times Square’s Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge debuted a rooftop rose garden complete with over 10,000 roses, along with photo ops; pink rose cocktails; and other fun, themed treats like the “Pink AF Pancake Stack.” Highlights include a carousel wrapped in a custom rose print, walls covered in roses and greenery, and florals draped in an ombré pink palette.
Photo: Courtesy of Moxy Times Square
The ombré theme continued throughout the Moxy rooftop space, with varying shades of pink roses blending into each other.
Photo: Courtesy of Moxy Times Square
For VidCon 2018, Twitter worked with Say Ok for its lounge, which featured multiple rooms designed in monochromatic colors that complemented and blended into each other, creating an ombré effect. Each colorful room featured props, furniture, carpets, and pillows that matched the color scheme. See more: VidCon 2018: 26 Colorful Ways Brands Targeted Generation Z
Photo: Courtesy of Twitter
Forbes Travel Guide celebrated its 60th anniversary with a star-studded dinner in Beverly Hills. Designer Marc Friedland handled decor, and an elegant step-and-repeat floral wall used an ombré effect to form the shape of a V—a nod to the guide’s “Verified” listings.
Photo: Courtesy of Forbes Travel Guide
Toronto-based catering company Eatertainment offers an ombré macaron peg wall with vanilla, rose, cotton candy, grapefruit cayenne, and Peruvian chocolate flavors.
Photo: Courtesy of Eatertainment
At Lollapalooza in Chicago, Kehoe Designs designed a luxury VIP space featuring pink, bright orange, gold, and black accents. An ombré pink and orange color scheme was also incorporated into the fringe ceiling decor. To enhance the ambiance, Kehoe included a black-and-white gallery with photography, illustrations, and sayings.
Photo: Courtesy of Kehoe Designs
