How to Paint on Fabric: Easy Beginner Steps (2024)

Painting fabric allows you to customize your clothes, upholstery fabric, and any other crafts involving fabric. Use paint to create an ornate design on a shabby upholstered chair or add your favorite quote to a canvas tote bag. By painting fabric, you can bring old items back to life and add personal flair to new ones. Painting fabric allows you to quickly and inexpensively update the look of almost anything. It's also a beginner-friendly DIY project, where the most critical step is figuring out the right type of fabric paint for your fabric.

This guide will explain how to choose the right fabric and paint, as well as how to use acrylic paint or commercial fabric paint on your project.

Choosing Your Fabric

Not every paint type works on every type of fabric, so do your research before heading to the craft store if you want the best results.

Natural Materials

Natural materials, including cotton, linen, and wool typically accept paint easily and make great options for a fabric painting project.

Synthetic Materials

Synthetic materials, like denim, polyester, and nylon, can be more difficult to paint on. Denim can be painted on easily as long as it’s pre-washed first. Fabric paint does not work well on polyester and nylon.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is easy to use, durable, and provides great coverage and color. Used correctly, acrylic paints won't warp or fade in the wash. For best results, you'll need to add a textile medium before painting, using equal parts of the textile medium and the acrylic paint. If you skip this step, then the water-based acrylic paint will wash out of the fabric. After you're done painting, you'll set it with heat before washing.

To cover a large area, use a liquid acrylic fabric paint. For detailing, opt for fabric markers that give you more control over the paint.

Fabric Paint

Fabric paint is similar to acrylic paint, but it already has the textile medium within the paint. Typically, fabric paint has a thicker consistency, and you may need to add water depending on the type of painting you want to do. Fabric paint also needs to be set with heat before washing.

Pigments

Pigments are concentrated powders that have to be mixed with a liquid, often soy milk, before being painted on fabric. These also must be heat set before washing. With pigments, you'll be able to get a gradient effect with your color.

Fabric Dye

Fabric dye is a concentrated dye that is mixed with water and vinegar in the washing machine. Items run through a cycle with the dye, coming out a color on the other end. You can also use a large bucket with fabric dye, though the washing machine is an easier, more hands-off approach.

Warning

Paints—including acrylic and fabric paints—can be toxic if ingested or when put into contact with eyes or skin. Keep paint out of reach of children and pets, work in a well-ventilated space, wash your hands thoroughly after handling paint, and allow the surface to dry fully before moving it.

The 9 Best Fabric Paints

How to Use Fabric Paint

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Vacuum
Lint roller
Iron
Washcloth
Paintbrush
Fabric pins or straight pins
Pencil
Cotton sheet

Materials

Fabric paint (liquid or markers)
Cardboard or paper
Painter's tape
Stencil (optional)

Instructions

How to Paint on Fabric: Easy Beginner Steps (1)

Prep Fabric
Always prepare your fabric before painting to help the paint last longer and prevent peeling and fading down the road. The paint bottle typically includes instructions for prepping fabrics. For example, if you’re using acrylic paint, the fabric should also be pre-washed before beginning. Basic instructions may include the following:
- Pre-wash your fabric without any fabric softeners to eliminate surface chemicals and starches.
- Dry the fabric.
- Iron it to eliminate wrinkles.
- If needed, remove all dust and debris using a vacuum and/or lint roller.
Tape off Sections
- If working on a garment, tape off the section you are going to paint.
- Protect parts of the furniture with painter's tape. Tape off sections of wood or metal on the piece of furniture as needed to avoid getting paint on them.
Tip
Have a wet washcloth ready to quickly wipe away any paint that gets on exposed wood or metal before it dries or it will be more difficult to remove later on.
Pencil on Designs
- Use a pencil to draw the design you want to paint onto the fabric. This helps you avoid mistakes when you’re painting with permanent fabric paint.
- Eliminate this step if you are painting the fabric a solid color without any design or if you are using a stencil for your design.
Place Cardboard Underneath Fabric
- Place a piece of cardboard or thick paper underneath the fabric of a garment or inside a bag, for example, to ensure the paint doesn’t bleed through onto your work surface or the other layer of fabric.
- Secure the fabric to the cardboard with fabric pins to keep it from moving while you work.
Paint
- Dip your paintbrush in the paint or grab your fabric paint marker and begin painting. If you're using acrylic paint, make sure to dampen the fabric before painting.
- Start at the top and work your way down section by section to minimize the risk of smudging wet paint with your hand.
- Start with a thin, even layer of paint—just enough to cover the area or complete the design. If you desire deeper colors, add another coat later.
- Paint in long, even brush strokes in the same direction as the fabric texture. Continue painting in this same direction until all the fabric is coated evenly.
- If you’re painting furniture, dab paint into seams and buttons to ensure that all the fabric is completely covered.
Allow It to Dry
- Set the item out to dry once your fabric is completely painted. It will dry quickly in a well-ventilated area (like a garage or backyard) that's protected from the elements.
- Let it sit for at least 12 hours or the amount of drying time specified on your fabric paint product label.
- Do not touch the fabric while it is drying. This prevents any wrinkles and smudges.
Paint Another Layer If Needed
- Once the item is completely dry, you can touch up spots or add another layer of paint to deepen the color.
- Make sure everything is coated evenly to ensure it dries properly.
Heat Seal
Sealing the paint with heat, such as a hot iron, ensures that the paint lasts long and prevents paint from chipping in the wash. This is important to do for acrylic paint and any other commercial fabric paint.
- Remove the painter's tape.
- Lay a cotton sheet over your completely dry, painted fabric.
- Gently run a hot iron over the top.
Tip
Alternatively, you can set the painted item out in the hot sun for a few hours. You can also blow over it gently a few times with a hair dryer.

Tips for Painting on Fabric
Whether you're decorating a t-shirt, jean jacket, quilt, or even pillows for your home, you can mix mediums when using fabric paint by adding embellishments like embroidery, jewels, beads, ribbons, and more. This can be sewn on, embroidered, appliquéd, or you can even use an embellishment machine.
And, while these paints are designed to last on fabric, you can keep them looking fresh and new by hand-washing them in cold water and air drying them to prevent cracks or fading.
FAQ
- What is the best way to paint on clothes?
  
  Commercial fabric paints and dyes typically work best on fabrics. However, you can also use acrylic paint on clothes if you use a natural fabric, like cotton, and properly seal it.
- How do you paint fabric without it getting stiff?
  
  For a softer painted fabric project, dampen the fabric before using acrylic paint or commercial fabric paint. This will help make the final product more flexible and comfortable for wearing or using around the house.
- Does acrylic paint wash off clothes once dry?
  
  If acrylic paint is properly heat-sealed, it will not wash off the fabric. With proper setting, water-based acrylic paint won't wash off, however, it may crack or peel over time. This is why handwashing and air-drying are critical.