Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Or Hessian Fabric?

Burlap or Hessian fabric is made from jute fibers. Bags, flowers, lampshades, chairs, decors, and craft ideas manufactured by Burlap or Hessian are very famous. 

If you want to decorate your house at a reasonable price or make fashionable changes in your lifestyle, go with this particular fabric. In case you’re already thinking of decorating Burlap, I’ve decided to answer the most asked question,

Can you paint burlap or hessian fabric with acrylics? Yes, you can paint burlap or hessian fabrics with acrylics. Oil-based paints are not suitable for jute fabrics that’s why you have to rely on water-based paints. And acrylic is a water-based paint that has multiple advantages and dries so quickly.

You can use spray acrylic paints to create thin linings and precise colors. Or you can mix the color and apply it to a flat object to create designs and sharp lines. Let’s give you a tour of the ways you can achieve perfectly designed burlap or hessian fabrics with acrylics.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Or Hessian Fabric?

Does Acrylic Paint Work On Burlap?

As long as you’re not using oil paints, you can paint on burlap. Acrylic, chalk, spray, and fabric paints can be used on burlap. Most people use acrylics because it’s easy for both amateurs and professionals. 

As jute has a higher power to absorb, it easily plunges acrylic-based paints. On top of that, acrylic has the added benefit that dries fast. You can color your jute products multiple times and for being water-resistant, water won’t hamper the quality of the paint.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On All Types Of Burlap?

No matter what type of burlap or Hessian is, you can blindly put Acrylic paint on them believing it will never ruin your products but rather make them look beautiful.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Natural Burlap?

Normally, the natural burlap is off-white or brown. But you can dye or paint them if you want to. If you’re only doing a base color, then it’s easy, you just have to put multiple layers of acrylic paint on.

But if you’re planning on doing designs, you need to stipple the colors, make sure there’s not a single leak and then paint using stencils as it’s difficult to draw over.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On The Equinox Faux Burlap?

Equinox faux fibers are used to make tablewares. Who doesn’t like a little design on their tableware? That’s why painting equinox faux burlap is important and easier with acrylics. In equinox faux, other fibers are mixed with jute fibers.

So, it’s essential to use water-based colors like acrylic so that fibers can soak up the colo. Also as acrylic dries faster, you can keep adding layers until every fiber catches the design or painting.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Polyester Faux Burlap?

This type of burlap is used in home decor. And it’s a blend of different types of fibers with jute fibers. So, polyester faux burlap is used to make your home trendy and pleasant. There are three steps of how to use acrylic paint on polyester faux burlap.

  • Firstly, you need to prepare your burlap by knitting it tightly in a woven canvas so the material isn’t too loose to hold the color.
  • Secondly, use a stencil or tape the design you want to color.
  • Thirdly, you either use acrylic spray paint for thinner lines or paint with a flat object and color.
  • Lastly, remove the stencil or tape immediately.

After it dries out, you’ll see how beautiful it turned out.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Bitumen Burlap?

When jute fibers are mixed with bitumen to make it usable outdoors also, that is bitumen burlap. Have you ever seen camping mats? They are generally made with bitumen burlap. Camping mats are of different designs. It brings color and vibrance.

One essential thing is you’ll need a stencil for the design you want to make. Then you’ll follow the same coloring method.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Laminated Burlap? 

Laminated burlap is specially made because it is waterproof and mostly used to make storage bags. Hearing waterproof, you might think, how will paint hold onto this?

This might be shocking but you can paint it with acrylic but it has to be a base color. And it will take 24 hours for the color to soak in. 

Can You Stencil Burlap With Acrylic Paint?

Stencils are a great way to add designs to your burlap fabrics. You’ll need burlap fabric, acrylic paint, a card or plastic, a paintbrush, a knife(craft), tape, and spray.

First, find the picture or design you want to draw on your fabrics. Print it out. Now, cut the picture with a craft knife and cutting mat to get a smooth border. If you don’t want to give so much time, simply buy a stencil from a store.

Slide the cardboard under the fabric and stick the stencil perfectly with tape. Now, mix your acrylic paint, and using a paintbrush, stipple the paint evenly. Make sure you aren’t pushing the brush under the stencil.

Remove the stencil and tape, and boom! There you have it. A perfectly designed burlap. Let it dry for some hours.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Canvas?

Burlap canvases are raw and rustic, so you will see weave on them. And the fabric is thick, it’s also quite wiry and there’s a lot of sort of loose threads coming out.

First, to start the process, get an excellent little foundation with rough sketching. Now, mix up acrylic paint, you can add different colors together.

If you don’t use acrylic on a burlap canvas, you won’t be able to evenly spread the painting as burlap is absorbent and there are threads everywhere.

Now, apply an even layer and let it dry and then paint over the top of that painting in a few layers. Go in over the top of the base coat and add in a lot of little textures now as highlights.

Painting little lines are hard as the canvas is highly textured and there are little holes in between the threads. You won’t probably get smooth strokes the first time you paint it, you have to go through each stroke more than one time.

To paint the edges, use a more dry brush to blend the colors. Now, after finishing let it dry. And you’ll get a painted burlap.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Things Made Of Burlap Fabric?

As jute bags are easy to paint with water-based colors, you’ll see artists or crafters choosing Acrylic to paint the products that are made with burlap or hessian.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Bags?

Painting your burlap bags with acrylic is very easy. Draw flowers or designs on the bag with a sharp pencil.

Don’t use the stencil as tapping to design a jute bag can hamper the fabric. Mix acrylic in a bowl, and use a paintbrush or sponge to color burlap bags. Let it dry for 4-5 hours.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Banners?

What you need to do is buy freezer paper that has a shiny side and a dull side and so you cut it with the shiny side and put it down and pull it off without damaging your burlap.

Cut stencils with a silhouette machine or Exacto knife. Now, take the stencil that you’ve cut out and line it up so that it can be even from the top. Then just take your iron and play with the heat settings a little bit just to get it to the point where it’s going to make your paper stick.

Remember you want the shiny side down. You also want to make sure you have something under while you’re ironing. You don’t want to damage any surfaces and it’s easier just to kind of push it rather than doing swiping-like motions because that can tend to make the stencil sprinkle in on itself.

This is the part where you have to be careful because you don’t want your paint seeping under so instead of using a rolling brush use black foam brushes.

Now mix acrylic paint and put a little paint and you want to remove the excess paint off as that’ll help keep it from seeping under the edges of your stencil then you just want to dab in your stencil.

Depending on how thick you want your paint to be, add layering. You won’t have to wait much as acrylic dries quickly. If you want it to be darker or give it a vintage-worn look, just leave it kind of thin.

Be careful when you’re pulling your stencil off that you don’t let it touch the other parts of your burlap where you’re going to get paint from your stencil onto your clean burlap. Now just let it dry.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Lamp Shades?

Water down your acrylic paint to two-thirds or one-third for the burlap lampshade. Using a paintbrush, color the base.

Now, using the mixture of your acrylic paint with water, with long and swift strokes, apply the paint evenly. Try to paint vertically. Create designs and color them the same way.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Chairs?

You need a spray bottle with water, a paintbrush under chic paint in the color of your choice, a plastic cup, and some painter’s tape. With winter tapes, cover the edges of the wood. Pour down acrylic into a cup and give it a good stir.

Use country paintbrushes to paint. Before you start painting, spray the chair with some water. This is going to be easier for the paint to absorb into the fabric if it’s a little damp.

It will depend on the type of upholstery how much things soak into the fabric and thus how much paint you’ll need to cover your surface. The tighter the weave, the less paint you’ll need for opaque coverage.

Try not to paint a very coarse fabric as most of it will soak right in. And you’ll need a lot of patience to get nice coverage as your fabric dries it will stiffen up.

Afterward, paint the first coat and wait for an hour, make sure that your first coat has had enough chance to dry, and then apply the second coat. You have to wait every time you put a new coating on. Finally, use natural wax to finish the chair.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Burlap Flowers?

If you want to color burlap flowers, it is better to paint the fabric first and then color them. Painting the material is the same as painting a burlap canvas or anything that is made up of burlap fabric.

However, if you want to paint after the flowers are made, using acrylic spray paint is the best option.

How To Paint Acrylics On Burlap?

There are a couple of things to consider before painting burlap. Burlap is a loose material so you are gonna have a lot of paint seeping through so keep this to a really small decoration and have a tighter knit woven like a canvas.

Take a little bit of green painter’s tape and make stripes. Make sure that you press firmly on the edges so you don’t have any leaking. Now, use a natural bristle brush and just pretend it’s kind of like a stencil brush, mix acrylics with water, and stipple the paint on.

The reason behind stippling is that it will not soak through. You can use a little bit of tape to paint. Remove the tape almost immediately as you finish painting so that it doesn’t have the chance to dry and you get a nice and crisp line. You could add smaller lines to the side as well.

Does Acrylic Color Need A Medium To Paint On Burlap Fabric?

Acrylic paint is unique and very functional. But if you want to paint a piece of fabric, you need a medium. Because the fabric isn’t smooth and has a lot of holes and texture. By using the medium, you can easily paint burlap fabrics with acrylic.

Suggested Materials You May Need

Medium makes it easier to finish painting with a smooth and long-lasting texture that doesn’t possess the threat of staining. Using a medium is a must when you’re planning on painting your burlap fabrics with acrylic.

#1 Delta Creative Ceramcoat : (Recommended Textile Medium For Acrylics)

To make sure, the paint stays for longer and the burlap fabric isn’t hampered from cracking or peeling of color, it is essential to use a medium. And Delta Creative Ceramcoat serves as a great medium for painting acrylic on burlap fabric.


Over To You

Burlap is a perfect and most likable pick nowadays for making bags for regular use, banners for weddings or simply decorating the house at a reasonable price.

As Burlap fabric serves multiple purposes, you might have questions on how to make these fabrics more admirable. Well, that’s why I have written the ways you can paint your burlap fabrics with acrylic paint. 

In case, I’ve forgotten to write any product that’s made with Burlap and is very famous, do let me know through comments. While you’re at it, do share your thoughts if my article helps you to paint your burlap fabrics.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply