How to Paint on Styrofoam

Styrofoam is a great material for crafting, as it is very light and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The best paint to use on styrofoam is acrylic because it sticks well to styrofoam. Since styrofoam is very porous, you will need several coats of paint to finish. Use a sponge brush to apply the paint and wait for the paint to dry before applying the next coat.

Table of Contents

Choose paint

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Buy acrylic paints for crafting. Acrylic paint is the most suitable paint to apply on styrofoam, as it is non-damaging and adheres well to styrofoam. Visit your local craft store or go online and shop for acrylic paint in your favorite color. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Buy enough paint to use for your project. If you’re going to paint some small marbles or blocks of styrofoam, just buy a small bottle of paint, about 60g. For larger projects, it’s a good idea to purchase a large can of paint so you can apply multiple coats. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you’re not sure how much paint to buy, choose a paint color that you can easily add if needed.

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Avoid buying spray paints as they dissolve styrofoam. Common spray paints like latex or enamel paint will melt the styrofoam when you spray it on. If you want to keep the shape and texture of the styrofoam after painting, these spray paints must be avoided. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The chemicals in spray paint are the culprits for melting styrofoam.

Primer over styrofoam if you must use a paint with poor adhesion. You can buy a regular, handmade primer like Mod Podge, or choose a paint specifically designed for styrofoam like Foam Finish. Apply primer with a sponge brush or regular paintbrush, wait for it to dry completely before painting on styrofoam. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Foam Finish helps seal cracks in the styrofoam and creates a solid base for you to paint on.
Follow the instructions on the primer packaging to find out how long it takes to dry, or if two coats are needed.

Paint

Dip the brush in the paint. Pour the paint onto a paper plate so the brush can be dipped easily. Use a sponge brush to dip the paint disc to get some paint on the brush tip. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You will first pour some paint onto the plate – you can add more if needed.
If you don’t have a sponge brush, you can use a regular soft-bristled paintbrush.

Apply an even coat of paint to the styrofoam surface. Use a sponge brush to spread the paint evenly across the styrofoam surface. You may have to stomp the paint in the cracks and white dots on the foam to make the paint look consistent. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Wait 10-20 minutes for the paint to dry. Styrofoam paints such as acrylic will dry very quickly, and you can apply a second coat in about 10 minutes. Styrofoam is very porous, so you need to check after the paint is dry to see if more coats are needed to cover the white dots. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Touch the foam with your finger to see if the paint is still wet.

Apply another coat of paint until you are satisfied with the result. If you need to apply more layers, remember to wait for the paint to dry before applying the next layer. Once the white dots are gone and the paint looks uniform, wait for the final coat to dry before applying styrofoam. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Advice

If the styrofoam surface is rough or uneven, sand it down with sandpaper before painting.
Insert a skewer into the foam to give the sponge a place to hold the sponge while painting – remember this will leave a small hole in the foam.

Things you need

Acrylic paint for craft
Brush
Paper plate
Sealing primer (optional)

Steps

Choose paint

Paint

Advice

Things you need

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