I have drop cloths that I use as shades for my pergola. Previously I used fabric dye to change the color, but after a year or two, the sun bleaches them. So I wanted to try a new method this year and I discovered that chalk paint can be used to color fabric and it’ll last in the sun! So here’s a tutorial for how to dye fabric with paint. This works on upholstery or loose fabric like I’m using.

how to dye fabric with paint

SUPPLIES

Chalk Paint in 8 oz. containers- I used the colors soft pink, apricot, flamingo, daisy, sea glass, the gulf, belle blue, and dusty blue
Paint Brush (to apply the paint)
Paint Tray (to mix the water and paint in)
Fabric– I’m using drop cloths. Natural fabrics like cotton, linen, canvas, and hemp work best.

FAQS

Why does chalk paint work as a way to dye fabric? It is water based and highly pigmented. So if you have fabric with natural fibers like cotton, linen, canvas, or hemp it’ll absorb the color to the fabric nicely. When diluted with water, the paint particles work their way into the woven fibers of the fabric- very similar to how fabric dye does.

Can you use latex paint to dye fabric? Unfortunately, latex paint isn’t flexible enough to be used to dye fabric. If you add water to it, the paint won’t mix with the fabric fibers like it will with chalk paint. Instead, it’ll sit on top of the threads and produce a rubbery texture. As it dries and is used, it’ll crack and the fabric will become stiff.

Can you use acrylic paint to dye fabric? Yes- acrylic paint works to dye fabric similarly to chalk paint. However, it has much more plastic in it than chalk paint, so it can still end up rubbery, stiff, and can crack when dry. To use acrylic paint to dye fabric, using a fabric medium is suggested as it keeps the fabric pliable.

step 1- mix the paint

To begin, pour some paint onto a paint tray and then water down the paint. The suggested ratio is 1 Tablespoon of paint to 4 Cups of warm water- however I never measured and just eyeballed it. Use a paint brush to mix the paint and water in a paint tray. Then brush the mixture onto the fabric.

If it looks thick or has a paint-like texture, add more water. If it is too thin and has very little color, add more chalk paint. Though it is good to note that the final color will be a more muted version of the chalk paint color since it is literally being watered down. If you’re worried about the color, test the chalk paint “dye” on scrap fabric beforehand.

Since I was applying the paint to drop cloths that are an oatmeal/beige color, that also affects the final color. The paints I used that were more pastel in color were very muted. I ended up liking how the more vibrant paint colors came together.

step 2- apply the paint

Next, begin applying the paint. To do that, simply use a wet brush dipped in the paint/water and brush it onto the fabric. I kept a large container of warm water close by so I could frequently add water and paint into the paint tray to mix and then brush on. Because you essentially have to manually soak the fabric with water and paint as you go, it takes a while to apply the wash.

For this project, I was working on 15′ long strips of drop cloth. Each one took me about 35 minutes to apply the watered down chalk paint to. It was slow and tedious, but worked nicely. The paint was pretty even.

Because this technique is more organic and watercolor-like, slight variation in color actually adds to the charm. Though I didn’t see it much with this process. Work from one end of the fabric to the other keeping it wet as you go (which helps with a more even application).

As a second alternative, I also soaked a few strips of the drop cloth before applying the paint. These took about 25 minutes to apply the chalk paint to- so the process was faster! However, once it was dry, these pieces were streakier. So I’d suggest working with dry fabric.

I also have a third alternate option- use a large bucket to mix warm water (4 cups) and chalk paint (1 tablespoon). Mix well so that the pigment from the paint doesn’t settle to the bottom. Submerge the fabric into the dye bath for a few minutes while mixing the fabric and water/paint. Then remove.

For this third process, I didn’t test out, but I did want to mention that it’s an option. Because my fabric strips were so long, I was worried about getting all the fabric evenly submerged and dyed. But if you’re working with a more managable size of fabric, it might be good to try.

step 3- set the paint

Finally, squeeze out the excess dye and let the fabric air dry. Hanging it outside on a clothesline works nicely. It’s recommended to then heat set the fabric. This is the step that makes the color permanent. To do this, either iron the fabric on a medium setting or put it in the dryer on hot for 20-30 minutes.

Once dry, the fabric still felt soft and flexible- not crunchy or stiff like regular paint would feel. To upkeep the fabric, I’d recommend spot cleaning when possible. If washing, use cold water on a gentle cycle and air dry.

Now the fabric is set, it can be used as desired. At this point we hung the pergola shades up.

after

It was so fun seeing the fabric shades up and in full color! For the past year they’ve been very faded and I really enjoy the pastel rainbow shades!

A pergola is great for a yard- it makes it feel much more like a room. But they usually don’t have shades so in the summer it’s too sunny to use them (especially in the daytime). So the shades make it much more useful and beautiful!

I’ve heard from a few people who have used this method to dye fabric with paint, and they said it withstood the test of time- even in the sun! I’m hoping this is a more permanent option so I can enjoy the colorful shades longterm.

price breakdown

For this project I didn’t actually spend any money. I used chalk paint, brushes, and a tray I had on hand. The most paint I used on one shade was 8 oz. and that normally costs $16 so it did save a lot of money using paint I already owned.

time breakdown

This took me 4 hours to paint on the dye! Which is slow. I did it over 2 days and then set the fabric. On day 3 we hung the pergola shades.

I honestly ended up loving this method so much more than traditional fabric dye. The colors turned out soft, pastel and watercolor-like, and I love that I could completely customize the shades using paint colors I already had on hand.

It definitely takes some time to apply, especially on large pieces of fabric, but the end result feels so cheerful and unique. I’m really hopeful this will hold up better in the sun than my previous dyed shades did.

If you try this project, I’d recommend experimenting with a few paint colors first because the watered-down versions can look very different once they dry onto fabric. But overall, this was such a fun and budget-friendly way to add color to outdoor fabric!

I have a blog post on taking the drop cloth and making it into the strips and how we hung the shades with snaps. Read that here.