Yes, you can apply acrylic paint walls since it’s durable and can be applied to concrete. Besides, this paint is easy to apply on walls, and it’ll dry quickly. Moreover, users also choose the acrylic paint option because of its affordability.
You can follow five simple steps to apply acrylic paint on walls. You’ll need the tools to help you apply them like an expert.
Besides, some pro tips can assist you in drying the acrylic paint sooner than ever.
Today, I’ll walk through the entire process and show you how to apply acrylic paint on walls along with the above tips.
Why Should You Use Acrylic Paint on Walls?
Basically, you can use this acrylic paint on walls for four significant reasons. Let’s go through them and clear out the confusion.
1. Easy to Apply
First things first, acrylic paint is easy to apply on walls and other surfaces. It’s based on water that you can apply with a paintbrush.
As a result, you can use the paint on both drywalls and the concrete itself. You can create any design and cover the walls.
You’ve many color options; they’re here to vibrate the walls according to your dream ones. You may art anything you love to have on the walls.
This opportunity only comes from acrylic paint; no other paints will allow you to do that simply.
2. Dries Quickly
Another reason is drying time. Since acrylic paint is water-based, it’ll dry sooner than other paints.
Following the successful application, you may wait for an hour to get the dried walls, though the paint will dry in 10 to 15 minutes and might be ready to touch in a few hours.
After 4 hours, you can recoat the paint again without any further delay. The wall paints take a couple of hours to dry and be ready to touch after 6 to 8 hours, if it’s oil-based. And you may recoat the paint after 12 hours.
That’s why acrylic paint is the best option to use on walls.
3. Affordable
The best part of applying acrylic paint on the walls is the budget. You can compare the price of acrylic paint with that of the others.
In most cases, acrylic paint will give you the best budget-friendly options.
You can get the paint within 10 to 15 bucks, whereas the premium one might come with a little more price. Still, they offer the best price compared to wall paints and other options.
4. Flexible and Durable
You can’t paint the walls without flexible and durable paint. Usually, the regular or so-called paint may come off the sources quickly with a splash.
Acrylic paint undoubtedly is a reliable and durable option. It comes with plastic acrylic resin. When diluted with water, the water ensures evaporation of resin elements which results in a durable outcome.
We love how effortless acrylic paint makes painting for beginners. It flexibly sits on most surfaces.
Painting with acrylic forms the artist with new skills every day. It’s a relaxing choice that helps you explore creativity while blending perfectly, sitting appropriately and drying quickly.
When to Use Acrylic Paint on Walls?
Painting walls with acrylic is the best suitable when it comes to graphic artwork or a modernization. Acrylic paint goes pretty well with wooden, concrete and plaster walls.
If you want the paint to last longer or be more textured, consider priming beforehand and sealing once you’re done with painting.
However, if we speak about durability, acrylic paint will last for over ten years on walls under good condition. But either way, you can expect at least 5-6 years of lifespan.
Acrylic Paint or Wall Paint?- Which One Should I Go For?
In the case of repainting your walls, wall paint will definitely be a better option. It’s cheaper and more durable than acrylic.
And they sit well on almost every wall surface including wood, metal or concrete. However, acrylic paint comes in a wider range of shades.
You can be more creative and create never ending designs with this paint. But we believe acrylic paint would be a better pick for interior wall painting. Exterior walls deserve the strong layers of wall paint.
Should I Thin Acrylic Paint for Wall Painting?
This depends on your personal preferences. If the consistency of the paint seems too thick to you, you can consider thinning it with water.
Plus, thinning the paint opens more options for you like creating new designs, shades and effects. However, here are the steps to follow:
- Pour the wall paint in a bucket (amount according to the process)
- Add ⅓ cup of water for every gallon of paint
- Use a brush or stick to mix it properly and you’re done.
Required Tools for Applying Acrylic Paint on Walls
So, you’re about to start painting your drywalls/walls. Now, you need some basic tools to help you paint like an expert.
They don’t require a lot of budget, but their impacts are countless.
- Wall Cleaner
- Latex Paint Brush
- Sanding Paper
- Rollers
- Roller Tray
- Painters Tape
- Drywall Patch (Putty Knife)
5 Simple Steps to Apply Acrylic Paint on Walls
You can’t directly apply the acrylic paint on your drywalls without cleaning and covering the dents and rough areas. That’s why I add two extra steps for them and some extra tools to ensure the best wall paintings.
Including those two, I’ve added the five simple steps to use these acrylic paints on your walls. Don’t skip anything unless you have a clean and well-prepared surface.
Step 1: Remove Leftovers and Clean the Walls
As always, the first step of applying acrylic paint on walls is to remove the leftovers and clean the entire surface. There might be some dust and other leftovers on your walls.
In that case, you can use the wall cleaner to prepare the surface.
For cleaning your walls, make a simple solution using lukewarm water, and liquid soap. Any decent liquid soap would be enough to remove the stains and dirt within a while.
Remember that you must dry the walls before going to the next step.
If you don’t clean and prepare the surface, it’ll give you an uneven painting experience. Eventually, the finishing would be worthless.
You get a rough finishing instead of a smooth surface.
Step 2: Cover the Uneven Areas
After cleaning and preparing the walls, you need to cover the uneven or dents on your walls. When you deep clean the walls, you get dents and rough areas.
You must cover them before applying the acrylic paint. Here, the drywall patch and sanding paper help eliminate the roughness and dents.
First off, sand the entire wall, particularly the rough and dents. Then use the knife to fix scrappy portions. That’s how you can prepare walls for painting (1).
Step 3: Apply Acrylic Paint
Now, you have cleaned and smoothed the walls to apply the acrylic paint. It’s time to prepare the paint on a roller tray.
Put the required acrylic paint. You may decide on the amount of paint by following the rule of thumb. Here, you need 1 liter of acrylic paint for every 140 to 160 square feet.
One gallon of acrylic paint might be enough to cover 400 feet of walls. If you have 350 to 400 square feet, you may need two gallons of acrylic paint for two coats.
After getting the exact paint, you can use the roller and paintbrush to start painting. Cover larger areas with the roller and to be perfect on smaller areas, use thin paint brushes. It’ll take a few hours to cover the entire walls depending on your skills and design.
Step 4: Dry
Once you successfully apply the acrylic paint over the prepared walls, you must let it dry. The surface must be dried in 10 to 15 minutes, but it’ll be ready to touch after a couple of hours.
Then, you should pat-touch the walls to see if the paint is dried enough to apply the second coat.
Remember
Second coats are very beneficial for filling in the gaps, making the surface even smoother and more textured. Moreover, they ensure durability.
Step 5: Recoat and Dry Again
After 4 to 5 hours, the painted walls will be dried enough to get the second coat. This time, you can apply the acrylic paint faster than before because you’ve already prepared the walls and applied the first coat.
Now, you’ll follow the same pattern and use your brush and roller to cover the walls. That’s how you can paint the drywalls with acrylic paint and get the desired results.
How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Walls?
Painting the walls with acrylic paint is easy. But making the paint last for years after years is not that easy. You need to seal the paint to extend its shelf-life.
Basically, sealer or primer plays the same role in creating a smooth base for the paint.
Sometimes, you can seal the paint after painting the entire walls. The sealer or varnish will help you paint in the following ways −
- Protect the paint from UV Rays
- It helps the paint stick to the surface and won’t break after drying.
- Create a persistent water layer
- Make the paint durable and last for years.
But the question is, how to seal the acrylic paint on walls? Using a regular varnish or any other sealer, you can seal the paint in three simple steps. But before that, let’s see what you’ll need to seal the painted walls:
- Any sealer you like
- Paint brushes
- A roller or large paint brush for varnishing
Step 1: Dry the Paint
First, dry the painted wall. You can’t seal the paint after 4 to 5 hours since the sealer might damage the paint.
In that case, you must let the paint dry for a minimum of 12 hours and then go for the sealing option.
Step 2: Apply the Varnish
Once you get the dried paint, you may go for sealing the acrylic paint. Use the varnish and apply it with a paintbrush.
Avoid using too much varnish at a time. Apply a light amount of varnish and let it dry for the second coat.
Step 3: Dry and Recoat
Sometimes, the first coat would be enough to protect your acrylic paint. But the second coat is a safe one.
Therefore, drying the applied varnish properly will take 24 hours or so. Then, apply the second coat over the applied acrylic paint.
It’ll give you the best finishing ever. Remember, you must dry it properly or leave it overnight. Only then will the surface be ready to use.
Drawbacks of Applying Acrylic Paint on Walls
You got the benefits or reason to use the acrylic paint from the beginning of my write-up. Do you know that acrylic paint has some drawbacks as well?
Though it’s better to apply on walls, you must consider the disadvantages while working with this paint.
You mostly face three significant drawbacks of using acrylic paint on walls. They are −
- Acrylic paint dries so fast that you can’t get enough time to apply it slowly. So, you must have some DIY skills to apply this paint quickly.
- After drying, the acrylic paint might get darker. Therefore, you may fail to get the desired result. The solution is applying a bit of white. It might look too bright when it’s still wet. Wait for it to dry, and certainly, you’ll get the desired shade.
- You cannot clean up the rollers and brush easily since the paint will stick firmly. However, following the proper methods will help.
How Can I Remove Acrylic Paint From Walls?
Although acrylic paint dries quickly, if you ever make mistakes you can wash or clean them from walls as well. However, this process is easier than it sounds. Follow these simple steps:
- Denatured alcohol works the best for removing acrylic layers even if it’s the strongest one. So take a little amount of it on a cloth.
- Cover the area you want to remove the paint from with the cloth for a minute.
- Now start rubbing the area in circular motions until the paint starts coming off with the cloth.
- Lastly, use a damp cloth, and take soap on it to clean off the alcohol as well.
Can I Use Acrylic Paint On Both Indoor and Outdoor Walls?
Acrylic paint is suitable for both interior and exterior walls. It sits on the walls without damaging a bit of them.
It will be a pocket-friendly pick most importantly. This paint would be very durable as well.
Although some say, it’s not quite good for outdoor painting, even the quite good certification stands for a lifespan of at least 5-6 years.
Indoor surfaces won’t go through much trouble, so a layer of acrylic will last over 10 years. If you’re planning on a renovation or graphic artworks, we would definitely recommend acrylic paints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can add acrylic paint to wall paint to change the color and get the best design. They are easy to use and can be sealed thoroughly with a varnish. That’s why applying acrylic paint on wall paint is much easier.
Unfortunately, the acrylic paint will wash off the walls, but it has a solution. You can seal the acrylic paint and protect it from water and other damage. Follow the sealing method and use the varnish or any other sealer.
No, the acrylic paint is not the same as the wall paint. The first one is a chemical-based paint since acrylic polymer and resins are used. In contrast, the wall paint is water-based.
Bottom Line
Can you use acrylic paint on walls? Yes, you can. But you must have the required skills and tools to apply the paint quickly.
Otherwise, the paint will be dried off, and you will fail to get the best result. Besides, you need to seal the acrylic paint using a regular varnish to protect the paint from washing away, UV rays, and other damages.