How to Choose the Best Paint for All Your Fall Craft Projects
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Creating a DIY piece of home decor, a Halloween costume, or a table centerpiece is a rite of passage for any design enthusiast. However, starting with the right materials is key to achieving a great finished product. While most crafting supplies are straightforward, choosing the right fabric paint can be tricky.
Different types of fabric paint can drastically affect your project and selecting the right one requires a basic understanding of both the paint types and the fabric materials. For instance, 100-percent cotton fabric will respond differently to paint than polyester fabric. The wrong paint can lead to a design that flakes, cracks, or peels off. Fortunately, expert crafter Carrie Waller is here to provide guidance on all things fabric paint.
“I'm always looking for quick and inexpensive ways to update my home's look, so I can save my decor budget for bigger renovations down the line,” says Waller. “With that in mind, fabric paint is my go-to material for quick refreshes.”
For those less experienced with fabric paints, choosing the right one can be overwhelming, especially with entire aisles dedicated to them at craft stores. We asked Waller to demystify fabric paints so you’ll know exactly what to buy for your next seasonal DIY project.
Shop the Best Fabric Paint for Your Project
The best fabric paint depends on the type of fabric you plan to use in your project. Do you want a long-lasting throw pillow or a simple seasonal craft? Below are Waller's three go-to fabric paint recommendations.
Tulip Soft Fabric Paint Kits
"This is one of those paint brands that I've been using since I was a little kid at art camp," Waller says. "I appreciate that the brand has been around for so long, and I know that I can trust the product to give me a nice smooth finish every time."
Tulip Soft Fabric Paint Kits
amazon.com
$15.00
Jacquard Fabric Paint
"Jacquard is known for its buildable color and soft finish," Waller notes. "It's ready right out of the jar and can be applied with small-detail paintbrushes so you have the freedom to create intricate designs. It's worth the investment."
Jacquard Fabric Paint
amazon.com
$6.89
FolkArt Fabric Paint Set
"This nontoxic satin acrylic paint is great for just about any fabric paint project, but the cool thing about it is that it's a multisurface paint too, so you can finish up your stenciled fabric paint project and move along to painting a plain terra-cotta flower pot right afterward," Waller says.
FolkArt Fabric Paint Set
amazon.com
$22.49
Fabric Paint Basics
When in doubt, use acrylic fabric paint
Fabric paint, which is also known as textile paint, is most commonly made from an acrylic polymer. This acrylic, which is bonded with a color and then emulsified, makes the paint durable against routine use, multiple washes, and sunlight. While alcohol-based options exist, their finishes will be lighter and more porous than acrylic.
Take note of the fabric paint's transparency and consistency
Depending on your project, you'll want to figure out how opaque or transparent you'd like the paint to be, as well as how thick or thin. Darker fabrics usually need a more opaque paint, and most furniture pieces need a thicker finish.
Use liquid fabric paint for larger surfaces
If you're looking to paint a wide surface, look for liquid acrylic fabric paint. This paint can saturate a large area and comes in various finishes, making it ideal for covering big art canvases and furniture pieces.
Opt for fabric markers for detail work
Fabric markers give you more control over painting a specific area, which is why they're best for clothing details and smaller designs on canvases or household items like accent pillows.
Try puff paint for a three-dimensional look
This paint dries with a raised finish, so it's a fun option to try with kids. As with all fabric paints, test out your design before committing it to a final surface—sometimes it's tough to know how puff paint will look once it has dried.
Set fabric paint with heat
In order for the paint to set permanently into the fabric, it has to be finished with heat. Sometimes you can do this by tossing your item in the dryer; sometimes you need to iron it. Check ahead of time that the fabric you're using can be treated with heat since this step ensures that your design will last much longer than it would without it.
The Best Fabric Paint Projects to Try
We asked Waller to share some of her favorite craft projects for fabric paints. These two ideas are impressive but beginner-friendly.
Make Your Own Graphic Tee
“One of my favorite ways to customize a plain T-shirt with fabric paint is to use stencils to spell out a clever saying,” Waller says. “Graphic quote T-shirts seem to be so expensive these days, but it costs next to nothing to make your own.”
Personalize an Ottoman
“Have you ever spotted a patterned, tufted ottoman at a high-end furniture store and wished you could afford it? This used to happen to me all the time, until I realized I could get the look with fabric paint,” she continues. “Now, I keep an eye out for solid-colored ottomans at secondhand shops, and then I paint my own design on the fabric using fabric paint. That way I have full control over the color palette, and I'm able to breathe new life into a piece of old furniture that other people probably wouldn't have looked at twice.”
Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.
It's that time of year agin—when all of the deer in your neighborhood team up on your garden to wreak havoc and eat all of your beloved plants. Protecting your gardens from pests can be pretty tricky—especially from huge intruders like deer—but exactly what you plant might make a difference.
If deer are a huge problem in your backyard, try planting some of these deer-resistant plants—yes, they exist! Deer hate fragrant blooms form certain herbs like lavender and especially sweet smelling flowers like peonies. They'll also stay away from toxic plants—naturally. Here's a list of all of the deer-resistant plants you should be putting in your garden to keep the pests out and gorgeous blooms in.
You Might Also Like
