The idea of painting a tablecloth is so exciting to me. To have a unique piece as part of your tablescape that you created is so cool! I love putting together a nice table setting, like the one I did a couple of years ago for Thanksgiving. This time, we’re leveling up our skills with this DIY painted tablecloth. Here’s how I achieved this look.
What you’ll need:
- Paint
- Tablecloth
- Fabric painting medium
- Stencil
- Paint sponge (I used a cosmetic wedge to apply my paint but it got a little messy on my fingers)
- Iron
Pre Wash Tablecloth
You can purchase any solid color cotton tablecloth you would like. For budget friendly options try the dollar store, clearance items at department stores or Amazon. I went with this cotton tassel tablecloth that I found adorable. It was a little more than what I would have liked to pay but the color and the tassels are just what I needed.
Make sure to pre wash the fabric with softener before painting. I just threw my tablecloth for a quick wash in the washer and let it air dry overnight. This is recommended before painting. More on this as you read on.
Choose Stencil
There are so many stencil options online. I knew I wanted a floral designs and so I purchased this stencil set to choose from.
I practiced on a white sheet of paper first to see how I liked the pattern and made my decision.
Choose Paint Color(s)
This is where you can get creative! Make sure to choose acyclic paint and I’ll tell you why below. You can either do one color (I thought about doing an all blue floral pattern) or multiple colors. I purchased two samples of Behr paint in the colors Toasted Bagel (for the flowers) and Cypress Vine (for the leaves).
It’s exactly what I wanted!
Mix Paint With Fabric Painting Medium
This fabric painting medium is the star of this DIY painted tablecloth project. Did you know that you can convert any acrylic paint into fabric paint by just adding fabric painting medium?!! I did not know this before starting out this project. When I first thought about painting a tablecloth I didn’t think about how it would hold up if I washed it after. After almost starting to paint thats when it hit me. How was this going to hold up in the wash? I did some research and found fabric medium!
Here’s how it works. You’ll want to mix 2 parts paint to 1 part medium, or as instructed on bottle. I purchased two 2oz bottles of the medium and mixed each bottle to 4 oz of paint.
Mix it well and voila!! Now your acrylic paint is ready to be used on fabric!
The fabric medium comes white but dries clear and it does not change the color of your paint! It’s washable and prevents paint from cracking, peeling, or fading! It’s also water based and non toxic!
Paint Stencil On Tablecloth
I used some cosmetic wedge sponges I had at home but the paint saturated through and got messy on my fingers. I recommend getting some actual paint sponges to apply your paint.
Initially, I was applying lots of paint onto my fabric but I wanted a softer, more vintage feel so I lightened up the amount of paint and left some parts faded.
The particular stencil I used didn’t have boarders that would easily allow you to continue the pattern. I didn’t really care much for this. My only recommendation when painting on that stencil is to be carful not to get paint on the edges as it’ll transfer onto the fabric. I also overlapped the placement of the stencil so there wasn’t a ton of space in between each pattern.
Heat Set
Once the paint was all set. I used an iron and set the paint with heat as instructed for 30 seconds.
Now your painted fabric can be washed without any issues! It’s that easy to do a DIY painted tablecloth!
My Thoughts
I can’t believe how good this turned out! This tablecloth looks like I purchased it at the store but to say that I used a stencil, chose the colors, and painted this on myself to create a one of a kind tablecloth is so rewarding!
I’ll definitely be using this technique on fabric again! Maybe we can paint a curtain, pillow covers? The possibilities are endless! I’m so happy with how this turned out!
And to tie everything together, I finished off the table with these gorgeous dinner plates which are beautiful to host a nice dinner or tea party.
Love the look of these cotton linen napkins with the wooden napkin rings that can be painted or stained!
I think the outdoor patio dining set is ready to host all the dinner parties this summer. I love creating tablescapes and this with a unique twist is my best one yet!
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