Got your kit, you're settled in, ready to paint… but want to make sure you nail it? Here are 10 tips tried and tested by our community for gallery-worthy results.
1 Paint one color at a time
This is THE golden rule. Instead of painting area by area and switching colors each time, pick one color and fill in all the matching areas on your canvas. You save time, avoid mistakes, and your brushes will thank you.
2 Start with the largest areas
Large areas are easier to fill and give you a quick preview of your painting. It builds confidence and motivation before you tackle the details. Use your widest brush for these areas, that's what it's there for.
3 Work from top to bottom
If you're right-handed, start at the top-left corner and work down. The opposite if you're left-handed. This simple trick keeps your hand off wet paint, a classic beginner mistake!
4 Load your brush just right
Dip just the tip of your brush (about a third of the bristles) and tap off the excess on the rim of the pot. Too much paint clumps and bleeds into nearby areas. Too little, and the numbers stay visible. You'll find the balance fast with a little practice.
5 Close the pots right away
Acrylic paint dries in the air. Get into the habit of closing each pot as soon as you've loaded your brush. If a pot dries out a little anyway, no worries: add a drop of water, stir gently with a toothpick, and the paint loosens right back up.
💡 Backup tip If a pot has really dried out, add 2-3 drops of warm water and let it sit for 10 minutes before stirring. The paint will return to a perfect consistency.
6 Rinse your brushes between colors
A clean brush means true, vibrant colors. Rinse it in your glass of water, gently wipe it on a cloth or paper towel, and move on to the next color. It takes 10 seconds and changes everything.
7 Use two thin coats instead of one thick one
Especially for light colors (yellow, white, pale pink), the numbers can show through a single coat. The fix? Let the first coat dry completely (15-20 minutes), then add a thin second coat. The result is much cleaner and more even.
8 Use a toothpick for tiny areas
Some areas are so small that even the finest brush feels too big. Pro tip: dip the tip of a toothpick in the paint and gently dab the color on. It's precise, fast, and very satisfying for the details that make the difference.
9 Step back regularly
When you paint up close, all you see are numbered areas and patches of color. Put down your brush, stand up, and look at your painting from a distance. That's often when the magic happens: the shapes emerge, the colors come together, and you realize just how beautiful your work is.
10 Don't be afraid to go outside the lines (a little)
The lines between areas are there to guide you, not stress you out. If you go slightly over, it's no big deal at all. Acrylic paint is opaque: you can always paint the right color over it once it's dry. In fact, small overlaps soften the transitions and give the finished piece a more natural look.
✨ Bonus: paint in good company
Paint by numbers is the perfect relaxing moment to share. As a couple, with friends, with your kids, or even on a video call with a friend painting the same kit, it's the ideal activity to unplug together. At Maison Artsen, our kits have plenty to paint with others or build a whole collection.
Want to put these tips into practice?
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